Author: CedarStone Bank News

There’s something thrilling about opening the mailbox or front door to find an unexpected package. While free gifts might seem exciting, receiving an unanticipated delivery could come with hidden risks.

Scammers are now sending counterfeit “luxury” items, such as rings, beauty products, and even Bluetooth speakers. This deceptive tactic is known as a “brushing scam,” named for the way it helps the scammer “brush up” their sales. Here’s how it works: scammers or sellers of counterfeit goods gather personal details, like your address, online. They then send you items you never ordered and use your information to post fake reviews about their products under your name, boosting their sales in the process.

You might wonder, “Who cares if a fake review is posted in my name?” The issue is, if you’ve received a package you didn’t order, it’s likely that someone has your personal information. Dealing with the fallout from identity theft could lead to significant time and financial loss.

If you’ve received an unexpected package, here’s what you should do:

1. Change your passwords on all your online shopping accounts to protect them in case they’ve been compromised.
2. If the package came from a marketplace like Amazon, report it to the platform so they can investigate and possibly remove the seller.
3. Monitor your credit weekly by checking your report for free at AnnualCreditReport.com to look for any signs of identity theft.
4. Avoid contacting the sender. If you search for their contact details and reach out, there’s a chance you’ll be targeted for further attempts to steal sensitive information.

If you’ve received a package you didn’t order, keep the items and report the scam, along with any fake reviews, to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.