Have you ever received a package full of random items that you didn’t order? If so, you might have been a victim of a scam that’s targeting millions of people across the country.
Unexpected orders of random merchandise can indicate what’s known as a brushing scam.
Brushing scams are used by some unscrupulous online retailers to bolster their businesses. Here’s how they work:
Scammers create fake accounts, using real names and addresses, to place orders for their own products. This can be done by third-party sellers who are trying to achieve verified merchant status on a site.
Once that unsolicited package is shipped and delivered, they write a glowing fake review in your name to improve their product’s rating. The goal is to make the product appear more popular and reliable.
While it sounds harmless, your personal information could be compromised.
“It’s already telling us that our data is there, …