New ‘Brushing’ Scam Now A Serious Threat In Minnesota

There seem to be new scams that pop up every week, each trying to take advantage of people in various ways. Usually, there are obvious signs that a scam is taking place, such as a badly written text or email from an unfamiliar source or a call instructing you to do something that doesn't make sense, like buying gift cards.

However, sometimes scams aren't that obvious and even though you know something odd is happening, it's hard to figure out why.

That is the case with a scam that is targeting people in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and throughout the United States, and if it happens to you, it's important to know what to do.

A Recent Scam That Has A Scary Downside

According to the Better Business Bureau, there is a recent scam called brushing that often leaves targets a bit confused at first.

It starts with free boxloads of merchandise from Amazon or other companies being sent right to your doorstep. You didn't order any of the stuff that was delivered and there is no return address or way to figure out who ordered the items.

The items being delivered vary. According to the alert, in one case a humidifier, a hand warmer, a flashlight, a Bluetooth speaker, and a computer vacuum cleaner arrived unordered. Often, the items received are lightweight and inexpensive to ship, such as ping pong balls, face masks, or seeds from China.

Why Are These Items Being Sent To People?

No, you don't have a secret admirer. The companies, usually foreign, third-party sellers that are sending the items are simply using your address and personal information that they've obtained, likely online. Their ultimate goal is to make it appear that you wrote a glowing online review of their merchandise and that you are a verified buyer of what they sent.

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They then post a fake, positive review to improve their products’ ratings, which means more sales and big profits. They also use this tactic to deceptively increase sales numbers. After all, they aren’t purchasing the items since the payment goes right back to them. Increased sales numbers, even if padded with fake purchases, make the company look good and lead to more sales.

That may not seem a huge threat to you, but it can be a sign of bad things to come.

Why Being A Target Of A Brushing Scam Is Bad For You

Getting sent items in a bushing scam means that scammers have some of your personal information, such as your name, address, and, possibly, phone number. Once that personal information is online, it could be used by scammers for various other criminal activities.

There is also a concerning “porch pirate” angle. There have been times when thieves use other people’s mailing addresses and accounts, and then watch for the delivery of the package so they can steal it from the door before the resident gets it. You don't want that element coming to your home.

What You Should Do If You're Involved In A Brushing Scam

According to the Better Business Bureau, here is what you should do if you're targeted.

• Notify the retailer. Brushing and fake reviews are against Amazon’s policies, so contact Amazon Customer Service if this happens to you and the product appears to come from Amazon. They will investigate and take action against those responsible. Amazon also takes security seriously and encourages customers to report fraudulent purchases or other security issues. If the package appears to come through another established business, go directly to their website to get their contact information. If you prefer to contact the business by phone, be cautious about searching for support phone numbers.
• Attempt to identify the sender. If you can identify the sender of unordered packages, consider checking for potential false reviews in your name, then ask for the reviews to be removed.
• Check your account for recent orders. Some targets of brushing scams can be deluged with unordered packages, creating a serious problem. If this happens, consider whether to refuse package delivery at your home address and temporarily direct items that you did order to a package acceptance service.
• Change your account passwords. This may be a sign that personal information has been compromised, and to improve account security, keep a close eye on credit reports and credit card bills.
• Protect your identity. BBB advises to take all necessary precautions to prevent identity theft. Be careful when entering personal information online, and ensure you use a secure site.

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Lastly, if you're wondering if you can legally keep merchandise sent to you in a brushing scam, the Federal Trade Commission says it is your legal right to keep any unordered merchandise.