Cyber & Technical Scams
Brushing Scam
Receiving unsolicited packages you didn't order — sellers use your address to create fake "verified purchases" for fake reviews, but indicates your data has been compromised.
Reported Losses
Financial loss is minimal, but indicates data compromise
Primary Targets
Random individuals whose information is in data breaches
Last Updated
2026-01-07
Also Known As
Unsolicited Package Scam
How Scammers Contact You
How This Scam Works
You receive packages you never ordered, often cheap items like seeds, jewelry, or phone accessories.
**Why it happens:** 1. Sellers (often on Amazon or other marketplaces) want to boost reviews 2. They create fake accounts and need "verified purchase" reviews 3. They use leaked names/addresses to ship cheap items 4. Then post 5-star reviews from fake accounts showing "verified purchase" 5. You're not charged — they pay with their own money
**Why it matters:** While you're not losing money, this indicates: - Your name and address are in a data breach or being sold - Scammers have some of your personal information - You should check for more serious misuse of your data
**Not to be confused with:** Packages addressed to previous residents or wrong deliveries (legitimate mistakes)
Red Flags to Watch For
- ⚠️Receiving packages you didn't order
- ⚠️Items are cheap (seeds, trinkets, accessories)
- ⚠️No return address or foreign sender
- ⚠️Your name and address are correct but you didn't order
- ⚠️Happens repeatedly over time
- ⚠️Items don't match anything on your purchase history
📝 Real Victim Account
"I kept receiving small packages from China — phone cases, cheap jewelry, random electronics. I never ordered any of it. I found fake Amazon reviews under my name for products I'd never bought. Someone was using my address to make their fake reviews look legitimate."
— Better Business Bureau Investigation
How to Protect Yourself
- 1Monitor your credit reports for unauthorized accounts
- 2Check your bank and credit card statements
- 3Change passwords on shopping accounts
- 4Enable 2FA on important accounts
- 5Check haveibeenpwned.com for data breaches
- 6Report to the marketplace (Amazon, eBay, etc.)
- 7You can keep the items — it's legal under FTC rules
🆘 What to Do If You're a Victim
- 1Report to Amazon/marketplace where item appears to originate
- 2Check your Amazon/shopping accounts for unauthorized orders
- 3Review credit reports for accounts you didn't open
- 4Report to FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- 5Consider a credit freeze as precaution
- 6You don't need to pay for or return unsolicited items
- 7If items are seeds, report to USDA (potential invasive species)
🔗 Related Scams
📚 Sources & References
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