The holiday season is a time for shopping, gift-giving, and online deliveries. However, the increase in e-commerce activity also creates opportunities for cyber- criminals and unscrupulous sellers to exploit unsuspecting consumers.
One emerging concern is the brushing scam, a deceptive practice in which individuals receive unsolicited packages containing products they never ordered. While these deliveries may initially appear harmless, they can indicate the misuse of personal information and potentially fraudulent online activities.
Consumers should remain vigilant when receiving unexpected parcels, especially during busy shopping periods when it can be difficult to distinguish legitimate gifts from suspicious deliveries.
What Is a Brushing Scam?
A brushing scam is an online fraud scheme in which sellers send inexpensive products to individuals without their knowledge or consent. The primary objective is often to create fake verified-purchase reviews on e-commerce platforms.
In a typical brushing scam, a seller uses a recipient’s name and delivery address to place an order, sometimes through a fake or manipulated customer account. After the package is delivered, the seller may post a positive review under the recipient’s identity to make the product appear more popular or trustworthy.
Although recipients may not lose money directly, the scam can indicate that their personal information has been obtained or used without authorization. The exact source of the information may not always be clear.
Why do Brushing Scams increase during the Holiday Season?
The holiday shopping period brings a surge in online purchases, gift deliveries, promotional offers, and courier activity. This creates an environment in which suspicious packages may go unnoticed.
Scammers may exploit the seasonal rush by sending unsolicited items that appear to be holiday gifts. In some cases, unexpected deliveries can also be used to make recipients curious enough to scan QR codes, visit unfamiliar websites, or contact fraudulent customer support numbers.
These tactics may expose victims to phishing attacks, identity theft, malicious websites, and other online scams. However, not every unsolicited package is necessarily part of a brushing scam; shipping errors and gifts from friends or family can also explain unexpected deliveries.
Warning Signs to Watch Out For
Consumers should pay attention to several potential red flags:
i) Unexpected deliveries: Receiving a product that nobody in the household remembers ordering.
ii) Unknown sender details: Packages with unfamiliar seller names, incomplete information, or questionable return addresses.
iii) Suspicious QR codes: Requests to scan a code to claim a reward, confirm delivery, or identify the sender.
iv) Requests for personal information: Messages asking for banking details, passwords, one-time passwords (OTPs), or additional payment to release a package.
v) Unusual account activity: Unrecognized purchases, changes to account settings, or unfamiliar orders in shopping histories.
How to Protect Yourself From Brushing Scams
Consumers can take several precautions to reduce their exposure to online shopping fraud.
First, check your e-commerce accounts and payment statements for unfamiliar transactions. If you discover an unauthorized purchase, contact the platform and your payment provider through their official channels.
Avoid scanning QR codes or clicking links associated with unexpected packages. Never provide sensitive information or pay additional fees through unverified messages. If a parcel appears suspicious, verify the delivery details with the courier or retailer using contact information obtained from its official website.
It is also advisable to change passwords if you suspect an account has been compromised, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), and use unique passwords for shopping accounts.
Report suspicious activity to the relevant e-commerce platform and retain the packaging if it may assist an investigation.
Conclusion
Unsolicited packages during the holiday season may seem harmless, but they can sometimes signal a brushing scam or misuse of personal information. By recognizing warning signs, securing online accounts, and avoiding suspicious links and QR codes, consumers can reduce the risk of falling victim to related fraud.
Staying alert while shopping online is essential to enjoying a safer holiday season. Before trusting an unexpected delivery, take a moment to verify its origin and remember that protecting your personal information is just as important as protecting your money.
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