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TLDR
Brushing scams involve unsolicited packages sent to your address using your name. The sender — often a third party seller on a major marketplace — uses the "verified buyer" status to post glowing fake reviews for their products. Beyond...
How it works
Brushing scams involve unsolicited packages sent to your address using your name. The sender — often a third party seller on a major marketplace — uses the "verified buyer" status to post glowing fake reviews for their products. Beyond...
Red flags
- You received a package you never ordered, with no clear return address or unfamiliar sender details. The package contains cheap, unrelated, or oddly branded items you would never buy. Your name appears on the label even though you never made the purchase or opened an account with that seller. What to do Do not scan any enclosed QR codes or use gift cards inside
- treat them as suspicious. Check your bank accounts, online retailers, and credit reports for unfamiliar activity. Report the package to the retailer and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, then monitor your mailbox for further deliveries
What to do
- 1Red flags You received a package you never ordered, with no clear return address or unfamiliar sender details.
- 2The package contains cheap, unrelated, or oddly branded items you would never buy.
- 3Your name appears on the label even though you never made the purchase or opened an account with that seller.
Source
ftc-consumer-blog
Source reviewed by Mythos Forensic Team
https://consumer.ftc.gov/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/08/unexpected-package-you-got-could-be-brushing-scam%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3EFAQ
Is Unexpected package could be a brushing scam: what to do a real scam pattern?
Yes. Treat the message, call, or payment request as suspicious until you verify it through an official channel.
What are the first warning signs?
You received a package you never ordered, with no clear return address or unfamiliar sender details. The package contains cheap, unrelated, or oddly branded items you would never buy. Your name appears on the label even though you never made the purchase or opened an account with that seller. What to do Do not scan any enclosed QR codes or use gift cards inside; treat them as suspicious. Check your bank accounts, online retailers, and credit reports for unfamiliar activity. Report the package to the retailer and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, then monitor your mailbox for further deliveries
What should I do first?
Red flags You received a package you never ordered, with no clear return address or unfamiliar sender details.; The package contains cheap, unrelated, or oddly branded items you would never buy.; Your name appears on the label even though you never made the purchase or opened an account with that seller.
Can LegalAudit check my case?
Yes. Start a free chat and paste the message, link, sender, or payment details for triage.