Brushing package scams start quietly. You come home, and there it is—a small brown unordered box on the porch: your name, address, maybe a return label that doesn’t mean much. Curiosity gets the better of you. You open it. Wow, it’s a phone case you’ll never use. Or clothing you’d never wear. Maybe it’s empty. Strange, but harmless? Feels like a freebie.
However, the US Postal Service is warning this month: if you didn’t order it, and it still came with your name on it, someone is using your identity. Not to steal your money. Not yet. First, just your name and address. Just enough to start. This is known as a brushing scam.
Brushing you as a verified buyer
Here’s how it works. A seller—usually overseas—ships out cheap junk or nothing at all to random people. Then they use your name to post glowing reviews of their products online. “Verified buyer,” it says. Five stars. A lie. And that lie leans on your data.
The International Association of Better Business Bureaus reports that sometimes the package appears to come from Amazon or another retailer, and the receiver has yet to learn who ordered the items. 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 or face masks.
No one hacked your credit card. However, someone has your information, and they’re using it to write fake online reviews. You’ve been brushed.
The scam isn’t about you getting a weird little package. It’s about what happens next. They write fake reviews on Amazon or other sellers. The reviews build phony credibility. The seller climbs the rankings. Real customers are fooled. The system bends. And somewhere out there, a shadowy profile grows with your name in it—quiet, slow, and unnoticed.
Why it’s bad news for you
- It means that they have your Amazon account information. Indeed, they have your name, address, and possibly your phone number and password.
- The fake online review scam is only one way they benefit. In some cases, they aren’t purchasing the items, as the payment is refunded to them. However, in others, they may be using your debt, credit card, or PayPal account to pay themselves. Increased sales numbers, even though inflated by fake purchases, appear favourable to them. Scams are prevalent, such as the gift card scam.
Brushing responses
- Notify Amazon or other sellers. Brushing and fake reviews are against Amazon’s policies; if this happens to you, please contact Customer Service. If they are unwilling to disclose who sent the package(s) to you, they may allow you to return it, and you might receive a credit back to your Amazon account. If the charge is made to your bank account, an investigation will be opened, but you might not receive a refund.
- Monitor your bank account. Scammers use this tactic because most people do not regularly monitor their bank account charges. Seeing a charge made by Amazon, and thinking “That must’ve been what I ordered,” is how they slip by. Always cross-reference your digital receipts, credit report and credit card bills.
- You are allowed to keep the merchandise. You have a legal right to keep unordered merchandise. However, you can return the merchandise to Amazon and receive a refund even if no charge was made to your bank account.
- Consider changing your account passwords. This should always be a go-to when there is a compromise of your personal information.
Write a counter review
Look out for strange packages. Especially ones from sellers you’ve never heard of, with return addresses that don’t quite add up. And if that same product shows up in a glowing review under your name? Say something. Write a review that tells the truth. Remind the system that you’re real and you’re watching.
We all like surprises. But in 2025, an unexpected box on the porch isn’t a gift. It’s a crack in the wall. Pay attention. Trust your instincts. And next time a package you didn’t order shows up—Amazon, UPS or others—treat it like a stranger who knows your name. Because that’s precisely what it is.
Brushing isn’t going away overnight. But we’re not helpless, either. Our empowerment begins by downloading my groundbreaking mobile app, FRAUDSTER. It’s available on both Apple and Android platforms, ensuring comprehensive protection for you and your family in the digital world. Begin your cybersecurity journey now by visiting us at www.FraudsterApp.com
