{"id":28040,"date":"2025-01-13T14:19:40","date_gmt":"2025-01-13T22:19:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=28040"},"modified":"2025-01-11T14:21:11","modified_gmt":"2025-01-11T22:21:11","slug":"brushing-scam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/brushing-scam\/","title":{"rendered":"Unraveling Brushing Scams: What You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Whenever you order something online, it\u2019s always exciting when it finally arrives at your doorstep.  But what happens when an unfamiliar package shows up \u2014 one you don\u2019t recall ever ordering?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your first thought might be that it\u2019s a simple mix-up.  Or if you\u2019re a positive thinker, you might assume that a loved one, perhaps a family member or friend, has decided to surprise you with a gift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reality might be more sinister, however.  You could be the latest victim of a \u201cbrushing scam.\u201d  If you’re scratching your head thinking, “A brushing what-now?”\u2014 no worries, we\u2019ve got you covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the lowdown on what a brushing scam is, how it works, how it can affect you, and what to do if you find yourself a victim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Brushing Scam?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A brushing scam is an online scheme that involves creating fake sales and reviews for a product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s typically carried out by online sellers on third-party e-commerce platforms like eBay or Amazon, who want to increase their online sales using false reviews they\u2019ve written themselves<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be able to post these reviews, the scammers need to \u2018trick\u2019 the system into believing that a genuine transaction has occurred.  So what they\u2019ll do is obtain a consumer\u2019s name and address, use it to create a fake account, and then ship them products they never ordered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shipping a package generates a tracking number, and upon delivery, it enables the rogue seller to post a ‘verified’ review using the unsuspecting recipient’s information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The seller can carry out this ruse dozens or even hundreds of times, inflating their product ratings, sales numbers, and online reputation.  The scammer\u2019s hope is that this will lead to a rise in actual sales in the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Brushing Scams Work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A brushing scam typically involves several steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Setting up a fake account<\/strong>:\u00a0 Using your name and postal address (which is publicly available information in most cases), scammers create a fake account on the e-commerce platform where they have a seller\u2019s account and then use it to place an order for one of their products.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Shipment and delivery<\/strong>:\u00a0 To make the transaction seem genuine, the scammer goes ahead and ships the item to your address.\u00a0 Usually, they\u2019ll opt for inexpensive and lightweight items \u2014 e.g., cheap jewelry, hair bands, sunglasses, and so on \u2014 to minimize costs.\u00a0 In some cases, they might dispatch high-value items, particularly if they\u2019re also using illicit means to pay for these products, like stolen credit card information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Fake reviews<\/strong>:\u00a0 Upon delivery, the scammer, impersonating you, leaves a glowing review for the product.\u00a0 Since this feedback comes under a \u2018real transaction’ and a \u2018real name\u2019, it’s marked as a \u2018verified purchase review<\/a>‘, which lends it more weight and credibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Rinse and repeat<\/strong>:\u00a0 As mentioned earlier, the scammer can repeat this process multiple times.\u00a0 The huge number of positive reviews boost the product\u2019s rank as well as the seller\u2019s standing.\u00a0 They gain more visibility and are able to attract more genuine shoppers.\u00a0 Over time, this can lead to an increase in the number of real sales and profits for the seller.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"woman<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    How a Brushing Scam Can Affect You<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    At first glance, brushing scams might appear quite harmless, even seemingly advantageous. After all, who doesn\u2019t love a free item?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    However, being a target of a brushing scam can make it look like you\u2019re complicit.\u00a0 Should a particular seller\u2019s scheme be investigated, your name might come up, leading to unnecessary legal complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Remember also that brushing scams don\u2019t just affect you.  The fake reviews created through these scams can mislead genuine consumers into buying substandard goods, believing them to be of high quality.  Over time, this can erode trust in online review systems, which many consumers rely on to make informed purchasing decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What to Do If You\u2019ve Been a Victim<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019ve received a package that you didn\u2019t order, Amazon recommends<\/a> that you first confirm that it\u2019s not a gift ordered and sent to you by a loved one, like a friend or family member.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Usually, if it’s part of a scam, the package will not have a return address.  Once you confirm that the package wasn\u2019t ordered by you or someone you know, here are the next steps to take.<\/p>\n\n\n\n