Report Unsolicited Packages or Brushing Scams

October 9, 2023

Third-party sellers are prohibited from sending unsolicited packages to customers. If you receive a package that you did not order and is not a gift, report it immediately.

When a customer receives a package they didn't order, it may be a scam called "brushing". "Brushing" scams occur when bad actors send packages to publicly available names and addresses.

If you receive a package or item, that you didn't order, first confirm that it was not a gift that was sent to you and check with friends and family to see if they ordered the package. If you confirm that the package addressed to you, wasn't ordered by you or anyone you know, report the package online by going to the Report Unwanted Package form.

You can also contact Customer Service who will support you in reporting the issue to the investigations team. Please provide the following information:

• Number of unwanted packages received.
• A tracking number from at least one of the packages (found on the shipping label)
• Any additional information to assist the investigation.

 You don't need to return the item.

Amazon investigates reports of "brushing" and takes the appropriate action on bad actors that violate our policies. Amazon may suspend or remove selling privileges, withhold payments, and work with law enforcement.

This is how it works.
A person receives packages or parcels containing various sorts of items which were not ordered or requested by the recipient. While the package may be addressed to the recipient, there is not a return address, or the return address could be that of a retailer. The sender of the item(s) is usually an international, third-party seller who has found the recipient’s address online. The intention is to give the impression that the recipient is a verified buyer who has written positive online reviews of the merchandise, meaning: they write a fake review in your name. These fake reviews help to fraudulently boost or inflate the products’ ratings and sales numbers, which they hope results in an increase of actual sales in the long-run. Since the merchandise is usually cheap and low-cost to ship, the scammers perceive this as a profitable pay-off.

This is why it’s bad.
While it may appear to be a victimless crime—you did after all get some free stuff—the reality is that your personal information may be compromised. Often scammers obtain personal information through nefarious means and with ill-intentions, and use it for a number of scams and other illicit activities in the future.

Your fake review may prompt people to purchase worthless stuff.

In other instances, bad actors are using a person’s address and account information to receive merchandise then steal it from the home before the resident is able to intercept it.

Relevant Links:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G33XVXQPUV79Z2ZC

https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/brushing-scam