Have you received an unexpected package? It may be a brushing scam

PITTSBURGH — Many of us are so used to getting packages delivered -- by the U.S. Post Office, Amazon, or Fed Ex -- that we often don’t give it a second thought. But if you’ve recently gotten a random item that you didn’t order, it could be part of a new scam.

It’s also called “brushing” because the scammer’s goal is to “brush up” or boost a product review by creating fake orders, and experts say the scam could put consumers’ personal information at risk.

Ryan Simmons gets packages delivered to his Shadyside apartment lobby all the time.

Last month, he opened what looked like an Amazon delivery and found something that left him stumped. A single pack of beet chews.

“I did think that maybe someone in my family was playing a joke on me. That they were telling me that I needed to eat healthier,” said Simmons.

It’s happening over and over in our area. One woman mailed Channel 11 the single can of tomato soup she randomly received.

Another person told us they got a single packet of tuna fish.

David Gealey is the U.S. Postal Inspector for the Pittsburgh region. He says brushing is becoming more common.

“They didn’t order anything, they receive it, and it’s generally a household item, a low-value item,” said Gealey.

Scammers start by randomly creating a mailing list.

“They have your personal information, which is easy to get because they can just Google a name and address. It’s out there on the web,” said Gealey.

Then they mail or ship products, making it seem like a real transaction has taken place. Next, the scammer then writes a fake review, posing as the person who received the product.

Here’s what investigators say you need to really watch out for: “We do caution customers do not scan any QR code that’s on the package because sometimes that QR code can lead to a malicious site,” said Gealey.

Ryan Simmon’s package did not have a QR code. He did go online as soon as he realized it was a random gift.

“My first thought was to check my account to see if my account had been hacked,” said Simmons.

Fortunately, it had not, leaving him with a sense of relief and that package of a health supplement he had never heard of.

The postal inspector says if you get one of these random packages, you don’t have to worry about sending it back. But you should call your local police or the postal service to report it. He also recommends you do a credit report with the three major credit reporting companies to make sure other sensitive information hasn’t been exposed.

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