{"id":490982,"date":"2022-09-07T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/heres-why-youre-getting-random-packages\/"},"modified":"2022-09-07T14:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-09-07T11:00:00","slug":"heres-why-youre-getting-random-packages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/heres-why-youre-getting-random-packages\/","title":{"rendered":"#Here\u2019s Why You\u2019re Getting Random Packages"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a264ecee2862\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a264ecee2862\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/heres-why-youre-getting-random-packages\/#%E2%80%9CHeres_Why_Youre_Getting_Random_Packages%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Here\u2019s Why You\u2019re Getting Random Packages&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/heres-why-youre-getting-random-packages\/#What_Is_Brushing\" >What Is Brushing?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/heres-why-youre-getting-random-packages\/#Should_You_Be_Worried_About_Brushing\" >Should You Be Worried About Brushing?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/heres-why-youre-getting-random-packages\/#What_Should_You_Do_With_the_Unsolicited_Package\" >What Should You Do With the Unsolicited Package?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CHeres_Why_Youre_Getting_Random_Packages%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Here\u2019s Why You\u2019re Getting Random Packages&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage wp-image-828308 size-full\" data-pagespeed-no-defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/BrushingScam1.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"A person retrieving packages off their front porch.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/box-mailer-on-doorstep-online-order-1802868598\" data-credittext=\"Tinatin\/Shutterstock.com\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/box-mailer-on-doorstep-online-order-1802868598\">Tinatin\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Across the United States and other countries, millions of people are surprised to receive packages they never ordered. In most cases, the source is a scam called \u201cbrushing.\u201d Here\u2019s why you\u2019re getting free loot.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Brushing\"><\/span>What Is Brushing?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019ve received a shipment through the post office or private couriers like UPS, FedEx, or the equivalent services in your country, that you didn\u2019t order, you might be puzzled.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe you were even further confused by the sheer randomness of what the shipment contained. Over the last few years, for example, I\u2019ve received dozens of unsolicited packages, and if you have had a similar experience, you won\u2019t be surprised by the package contents I\u2019m about to list.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve received vegetable peelers, motion-activated toilet bowl lights, flashlights, stickers, perfume atomizers, combs, beard balms, iPhone cases, smartphone car mounts, sunglasses, mouthguards, can openers, selfie sticks, letter openers, dish brushes, and other random small and cheap products I never ordered.<\/p>\n<p>The answer to \u201cWhy am I receiving all these things I didn\u2019t order?\u201d is \u201cbrushing.\u201d If you\u2019ve never heard of it, you certainly wouldn\u2019t be alone. Unlike some of the more old-fashioned scams out there\u2014like mailing the victim a fraudulent invoice\u2014brushing is a relatively new kind of fraud.<\/p>\n<p>The basis of the fraud is fairly straightforward once you get past the \u201cWho would send me these chipmunk-<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">theme<\/a>d chip clips?\u201d part.<\/p>\n<p>Online storefronts with multiple sellers, such as <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/?tag=hotoge-20\">Amazon.com<\/a>, are intensely competitive. In an environment where hundreds, if not thousands, of online sellers are all trying to sell the same thing\u2014hair brushes, jar openers, dog leashes, you name it\u2014standing out from the crowd is the key to getting in front of consumers and making money.<\/p>\n<p>And what better way to get in front of consumers than to have a 5-star rating and a best-seller slot, putting your product right in front of shoppers?<\/p>\n<p>This is where the brushing scam comes in. The entire crux of the scam hinges on the fact that the product has to actually be purchased and shipped to juice the seller\u2019s stats. These days fake reviews from un-verified purchasers just don\u2019t cut it.<\/p>\n<p>Unscrupulous sellers will buy their own products and ship them to addresses in the region they wish to boost their sales. That alone juices their sales numbers. Then, in most cases, they will also leave a review for the product giving it five stars and a positive written review.<\/p>\n<p>Once they\u2019ve done so enough times, the listing takes on a life of its own. Regular shoppers see a product with thousands of positive reviews, and they buy it because it stands out from other products that only have hundreds of reviews and lack a solid 5-star rating.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever bought a product with 5,000+ positive reviews and later thought, \u201cWow, this thing is a real piece of garbage. How did it get so many positive reviews?\u201d there is a good chance the seller artificially boosted the reviews with brushing or similar scams.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_You_Be_Worried_About_Brushing\"><\/span>Should You Be Worried About Brushing?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>We\u2019ve used the words \u201cfraud\u201d and \u201cscam\u201d quite a few times so far. And anytime you get something in the mail that you didn\u2019t order or pay for, most people are going to worry a bit. Concern over your Amazon account being compromised or your identity being stolen is a completely natural reaction.<\/p>\n<p>The reality, however, is that these sellers aren\u2019t trying to scam or defraud you like they would if they were engaged in more traditional scams like the kind that flourish on <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a> Marketplace.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re trying to scam and defraud much bigger fish like Amazon and the massive Amazon customer base. They don\u2019t want anything from you. The random thing you got in the mail, as far as they are concerned, is just the cost of doing business and, essentially, a gift.<\/p>\n<p>They didn\u2019t have to hack your Amazon account or steal your identity to send it. Most likely, they simply bought your name, along with hundreds of thousands of other names, from a marketing agency as if they were run-of-the-mill junk mail purveyors.<\/p>\n<p>You got the random thing\u2014be it a motion-activated toilet bowl light or a dog brush\u2014because they needed somebody to mail their product to.<\/p>\n<p>By all means, do check the accounts of online retailers you use to see if the order was actually placed using the account. There\u2019s nothing wrong with playing it safe. But, you\u2019ll likely find it wasn\u2019t, however, and it\u2019s just a random brushing scam delivery.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Should_You_Do_With_the_Unsolicited_Package\"><\/span>What Should You Do With the Unsolicited Package?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While we can\u2019t give legal advice for every region of the world, in the United States, you have no obligation to do anything\u2014including pay for\u2014<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/faq.usps.com\/s\/article\/What-Options-Do-I-Have-Regarding-Unwanted-Unsolicited-Mail\">unsolicited deliveries<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>So if you actually want whatever the random thing is you got in the mail, feel free to use it. Maybe the universe really wants you to have that motion-activated toilet bowl light. And hey, if you lucked out and got a free potato peeler, that\u2019s a win\u2014you should be <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lifesavvy.com\/42476\/ina-garten-says-replace-this-kitchen-utensil-yearly\/\">replacing those yearly<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Though if the random thing in the mail is food, pet treats, cosmetics, or seeds, we recommend disposing of them. Consuming random things that come in the mail or planting unidentified seeds is a bad idea\u2014and the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aphis.usda.gov\/aphis\/newsroom\/stakeholder-info\/SA_By_Date\/SA-2020\/SA-07\/seeds-china\/!ut\/p\/z1\/04_Sj9CPykssy0xPLMnMz0vMAfIjo8ziffxNnA2dgg183N0CXA0cQ_29nDz9DIwMwoz1w_Eq8DPTjyJJv3-Yh5mBo2tIaIifhaGTp6URcfoNcABHAxLtx1QQhd94L0IWAEPQqMjX2TddP6ogsSRDNzMvLV8_Itgx3qky3iWxJBXE1jUCqgUzDMz1I4pTU1OKdZMzMvMSgc6LwmsBKIBRFWAJQUJ-KMgNDQ2NqPJxTAv2THdUVAQASetUvw!!\/?1dmy&amp;urile=wcm%3apath%3a%2Faphis_content_library%2Fsa_our_focus%2Fsa_plant_health%2Fnews-info%2Funsolicited-seeds%2Funsolicited-seeds-shipping-destinations\">USDA would really prefer you not plant<\/a> unidentified and potentially invasive seeds in your backyard.<\/p>\n<p>You can also, if you\u2019re feeling particularly motivated, contact the seller platform the package was shipped through to flag the seller as a potential brushing scammer. That\u2019s an upstanding citizen sort of thing to do, but we certainly won\u2019t fault you for not spending your free time contacting Amazon to file a report that you received an unsolicited bottle opener.<\/p>\n<p>In the end, the biggest takeaway isn\u2019t that you should worry about your identity being stolen or whether or not you have to pay for the random product, but that you should take online reviews with a grain of salt because fake reviews are rampant.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/828288\/brushing-scams-heres-why-youre-getting-random-packages\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Here\u2019s Why You\u2019re Getting Random Packages&#8221; Tinatin\/Shutterstock.com Across the United States and other countries, millions of people are surprised to receive packages they never ordered. In most cases, the source is a scam called \u201cbrushing.\u201d Here\u2019s why you\u2019re getting free loot. What Is Brushing? If you\u2019ve received a shipment through the post office or private&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":490983,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/BrushingScam1.jpg?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-490982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/490982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=490982"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/490982\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/490983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=490982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=490982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=490982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}