HIGHLIGHTS

A new scam named ‘brushing’ is surfacing on widely-used e-commerce platforms, including Amazon.

In a brushing scam, fraudsters dispatch inexpensive items, such as jewelry or gadgets, to individuals using stolen or fake addresses.

After the delivery, they post fraudulent reviews designed to enhance the seller’s ratings and boost the visibility of the products on the platform.

For those who depend on online reviews to guide their buying choices, extra vigilance is advised. The emergence of a new scam known as ‘brushing’ poses risks on renowned e-commerce sites like Amazon and AliExpress, preying upon unsuspecting buyers. Essentially, scammers send unsolicited packages—items you never ordered—to random individuals. These items are exploited to fabricate fake reviews, which in turn make low-quality or counterfeit products seem more appealing than they genuinely are, deceiving potential customers into making purchases.

Understanding the Brushing Scam

The term ‘brushing’ has its roots in Chinese e-commerce practices where sellers artificially inflate sales figures by establishing fake orders and dispatching random merchandise to consumers. This strategy creates an illusion of popularity around a product, leading other shoppers to think it’s a highly rated item. Unfortunately, the reality is often starkly different, as these products could be substandard or completely fraudulent.

In a classic brushing scam scenario, scammers utilize stolen or fabricated addresses to send inexpensive items, ranging from jewelry to gadgets, to unsuspecting victims. Once the items reach their destination, the fraudster writes exaggerated reviews under a fake account, thus elevating the seller’s rating and enhancing the visibility of the product on the platform.

For additional information, check out this article: Man loses Rs 13 lakh in hotel booking scam: Here’s what happened and tips to avoid such frauds

Mechanism of the Brushing Scam

• The scammer establishes a fraudulent account on an e-commerce platform.
• They place orders for their own products, employing stolen or fabricated addresses.
• A low-cost item, such as a cheap ring or imitation gadget, is then dispatched to the selected recipient.
• Following the delivery of the package, the scammer posts overly positive reviews using their fake account, giving the product a false sense of legitimacy.

Typical items involved in this scam include low-cost jewelry, seeds, or generic gadgets.

If you happen to receive a package that you did not order, it’s likely a component of a brushing scam. While it may appear innocuous, these unsolicited mail deliveries often hint that your personal information could have been compromised.

Dangers Associated with Brushing Scams

Receiving unexpected packages can be alarming as it may indicate that your personal data has been stolen. Scammers frequently acquire names and addresses through data breaches or other illicit means. In more severe instances, they may have accessed additional sensitive information, which could lead to identity theft.

It’s crucial to remain aware of your online presence and the data you share. If you notice suspicious activity, such as receiving strange packages or unauthorized transactions, it is imperative to take action immediately. Check your accounts regularly, utilize strong passwords, and consider monitoring your credit to reduce the risks associated with identity theft.

Brushing scams pose a significant threat not just to individual consumers, but also to the integrity of e-commerce platforms. By staying informed and vigilant, consumers can help protect themselves from these deceptive practices.