Beware of this package delivery scam

Free box loads of merchandise from Amazon or other companies are coming right to consumers’ doorsteps.

The Better Business Bureau warns consumers that the recent scam has a scary downside. You are not the one who hit the jackpot; a scammer is the real winner.

The scam is called brushing, and it has recently been popping up nationwide. Suddenly, boxes of unordered (by the recipient) merchandise from Amazon or other online sellers begin arriving. There is no return address, or sometimes it just appears to come from Amazon or another retailer, and the receiver has yet to learn who ordered the items. The items are varied.

The companies are third-party sellers that are sending the items simply using your address that they discovered online. They intend to make it appear you wrote a glowing online review of their merchandise and that you are a verified buyer of that merchandise. They then post a fake positive review to improve their products’ ratings, which means more sales. The payoff is highly profitable from their perspective.

In a recent BBB Scam Tracker report, one Ohio consumer said, "I noticed a small white envelope from an unknown address on my table in front of my house. I did not recognize the carrier who delivered it. Inside was a small box that contained a silver bracelet with a note card that said ‘To my Sister in Christ’ with a poem. I did not order such a bracelet. When I look up the tracking information on the carrier’s website, it states that they received the order from a consumer in New York. There is a QR code on the package and one on the small plastic bag the bracelet came in, which I did not scan as I am sure that was a scam to get my personal information.

Why it’s bad news for you

The fact that someone could have the items sent to you as if you purchased them indicates they have some of your personal information such as your name, address and possibly phone number. Once the information is online, it could be used for numerous crooked enterprises.

The fake online review angle is only one way they benefit. By using the brushing scam, they also are increasing their sales numbers. After all, they aren’t purchasing the items since the payment goes right back to them. Increased sales numbers, even though padded with fake purchases, look good for the company and help lead to more sales.

What can you do?

—Ensure the package was not sent as a gift by a family member or friend. While unlikely, it is possible the package came as a gift from someone you know.

—Notify the retailer. Brushing and fake reviews are against Amazon’s policies, so contact Amazon's customer service if that happens to you and the product appears to come from Amazon. They will investigate and take action against the bad actor. Amazon also takes security seriously and encourages customers to report fraudulent purchases or other security issues. If the package appears to come through another established business, go directly to their website to get their contact information. If you prefer to contact the business by phone, be cautious about searching for support phone numbers.

—Check your account for recent orders. Some targets of brushing scams can be deluged with unordered packages, creating a serious problem. If that happens, consider whether to refuse package delivery at your home address and temporarily direct items you did order to a package acceptance service.

—Change your account passwords. Receiving an unsolicited package may be a sign that personal information has been compromised. To improve account security, keep a close eye on credit reports and credit card bills.

—Protect your identity. BBB advises to take all necessary precautions to prevent identity theft. Be careful when entering personal information online and ensure you use a secure site.