(NewsNation) — More Americans are receiving delivered packages containing goods they didn’t order, which may be a scam known as “brushing” that has become more common across the country, according to alerts sent out recently by Amazon and the Better Business Bureau.
“Brushing” occurs when a package is delivered to a customer who didn’t order the item. In many cases, Amazon and consumer protection agencies like the Better Business Bureau say that the items are sent by a third party hoping to use the transaction as a way to bolster their business.
In an alert to customers, Amazon said the deliveries are typically sent by “bad actors” and the items are sent to publicly available names and addresses.
In each case, companies say that the packages never contain a return address and sometimes come directly from Amazon or another retailer. Under guidelines established by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, customers are not required to return or pay for unsolicited packages that arrive at their homes.
However, both Amazon and the Better Business Bureau warned that the bad actors sending the unsolicited packages could be engaging in activities that could harm customers over the long run.
Why ‘brushing’ benefits retailers
The Better Business Bureau warns that the third-party outfits sending the packages can be foreign and detect a customer’s name and address online.
“They intend to make it appear that you wrote a glowing online review of their merchandise and that you are a verified buyer of that merchandise,” the Better Business Bureau’s consumer warning states. “They then post a fake, positive review to improve their products’ ratings, which means more sales. The payoff is highly profitable from their perspective.”
In many cases, consumer protection advocates said the companies having goods delivered to unsuspecting customers are attempting to improve their business standing by having more positive reviews displayed online. Doing so moves them closer to verified merchant status, which allows them to write and post consumer product reviews online on someone else’s behalf, CBS News reported.
The Better Business Bureau warned that in addition to companies using “brushing” to generate product online reviews, it also allows them to generate better sales numbers. Although the company isn’t receiving payment from the recipient, increased sales — even those padded by bogus transactions — can lead to future sales, which again improves the company’s standing, the agency said.
In a 2021 customer alert, the Federal Trade Commission said companies using the “brushing” scam may use a recipient’s name and mailing information to create a fake account in the person’s name. Customers are also warned that they should check their debit or credit card statements for purchases, as well as their credit report to ensure their credit scores haven’t been affected by the scam.
Where ‘brushing’ is taking place
Instances of “brushing” have been taking place across the country, including in suburban Chicago, Minnesota and California, according to the CBS News report.
In Illinois, one family told a local TV news station they received one to two packages a day from Temu, which is described as an online marketplace that is operated by a Chinese e-commerce company. Most of the products offered by Temu are heavily discounted and are shipped directly from China.
The family told a local CBS affiliate that at first, the constant deliveries were like experiencing Christmas every day. However, over time, the family said the daily deliveries simply became too much.
Other customers — like a woman in Minnesota — said she received a box full of baby reveal balloons that she didn’t order. The package was delivered from Amazon, she said, and also included cupcake stands that she didn’t order, CBS News reported.
An Amazon spokesperson did not immediately return an email to NewsNation seeking comment on how many recent cases of “brushing” the company has received complaints about in recent months.
What to do if ‘brushing’ happens
An Amazon alert said that if unordered or unsolicited goods are delivered, customers should first try to determine if the package was sent as a gift and to check with family or friends ordered a package and had it sent to a different address.
If that’s not the case, Amazon says to report the delivered package to the company and include the number of packages that were delivered, along with the tracking number from the shipping label and any other information that could be pertinent.
“Amazon investigates reports of ‘brushing’ and takes the appropriate action against bad actors that violate our policies,” the company’s alert said. “Amazon may suspend or remove selling privileges, withhold payments, and work with law enforcement during investigations.”
Recipients of a possible “brushing” scam are also encouraged to call the FTC and should also change their Amazon password, especially if the password is used for other online accounts.
The Better Business Bureau also warns that customers should check to make sure they are not the victim of identity theft, especially if they are frequent online shoppers.