SCAM ALERT: Is this an Amazon Brushing Scam?
Third-party sellers on Amazon are buying their own products so they can leave five-star reviews, then using victims’ names and addresses to disguise themselves as customers.
Who Is It Targeting: Amazon customers
What Is It: Brushing scam that uses another person’s information to place fake orders
What Are They After: This Amazon brushing scam is tricky because while victims are not charged for the goods that appear on their doorstep, being a victim still means that someone has gained access to your name, mailing address, and other information. Some people may not think of this as being victims of a scam, but there is no way of knowing what else these scammers could be doing with your personal data.
In a post on Reddit, one user randomly received a weeding tool and posted to understand what he received in the mail by mistake, unknowing it was part of a brushing scam.
Another Reddit user let the original poster alerted them to the possibility of this being a scam and referred them back to our resources for assistance.
How Can You Avoid It: If you begin receiving packages that are addressed to you but you did not order, contact the retailer immediately. Change your passwords on your online accounts, just in case the scammer got your address by hacking an account.
According to The Verge, Amazon will start disclosing the names and addresses of US-based third-party sellers on its Marketplace platform as part of an effort to fight counterfeiters. The company announced the change in a note sent to sellers on Wednesday, and goes into effect on September 1st.
If you think you may be a victim of identity theft or an Amazon brushing scam, contact the Identity Theft Resource Center for toll-free, no-cost assistance at 888.400.5530. Find more information about current scams and alerts here.
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