Protect Yourself from Brushing Scams

Unexpected packages on your doorstep might seem like a nice surprise, but not all that glitters is gold. These mystery deliveries could be part of a brushing scam, a growing trend that could signal your personal information has been compromised. Let's unwrap the truth about these packages and learn what to do if a scammer tries to involve you in this scheme.

What is a brushing scam?

A brushing scam typically occurs when someone receives a package containing items they never ordered. Targets might receive small, inexpensive products like ping pong balls or more substantial items like household appliances. Such parcels often lack a return address or appear to come from legitimate retailers. The senders are typically third-party sellers, often from overseas, who have obtained their target’s personal information through questionable means. Scammers send packages as part of an elaborate ruse to manipulate online marketplace algorithms.

How do brushing scams work?

Scammers create fake marketplace accounts to “purchase” their products. They then ship the items to your address, making it seem as though you've made a genuine purchase. Using this phony transaction, they post glowing reviews under your name, artificially inflating their products' ratings and sales figures. This deceptive practice aims to boost their visibility on e-commerce websites and increase sales.

The scam relies on the fact that many online marketplaces prioritize products with higher sales and better reviews in their search results. By creating these fake transactions and reviews, scammers can improve their products' rankings, making them more visible to genuine shoppers.

Bottom line, brushing scams let third-party sellers bypass restrictions on self-reviewing or buying their own products. Since the items are shipped to real addresses and displayed as authentic transactions, it's challenging for e-commerce platforms to detect this fraudulent activity.

What should I do if I receive a brushing scam package?

If an unsolicited package arrives from a named retailer or marketplace, contact their fraud department to report potential brushing activity. This helps platforms identify and take action against fraudulent sellers.

By law, consumers who receive an unsolicited package can keep it or throw it away. Some scammers contact their targets falsely claiming they owe money since they accepted the delivery. The United States Postal Service warns against paying for the contents, no matter how valuable. 

Since consumers who’ve received brushing scam packages may be at risk for more severe forms of identity theft and fraud, it’s also wise to:

• Monitor your accounts. Regularly check your online shopping accounts for unauthorized activity or unfamiliar orders. Set up alerts for new purchases or account changes to catch suspicious activity.
• Secure your information. Update passwords and enable two-factor authentication for all accounts. Consider using an online password manager which makes it easy to maintain multiple passwords using a single password.
• Be cautious with personal data. Do not post personal information on online public platforms. Be wary of phishing attempts that ask you to share sensitive information.

Credit Union of Colorado members receive free fraud monitoring, a service that monitors signature-based debit and credit card transactions for fraudulent activity. If you have questions about this service or your accounts, contact us at (800) 444-4816.