Brushing scams: how to recognize and report them

JACKSON, Tenn. — Have you ever received a random package in the mail that you didn’t order?

It’s called a brushing scam, and while it may seem harmless, you should err of on the side of caution.

“A lot of times the scammers buy these items from sites like amazon or eBay and send them to you and the goal is to act like a real buyer and post fake positive reviews to make their product look better and more popular,” said Daniel Irwin, Director of Public Relations and Outreach for the BBB.

You may think you got a free gift out of this scam, but the real danger comes from knowing your information or even address is leaked onto the internet.

“Basically what they do is they take leaked information from online, which is how they get your address and they send you these things and then they create like a burst of fake, positive reviews,” said Irwin.

So, if you become a victim of a brushing scam, what should you do?

Irwin recommends reporting it to the BBB, but also taking the necessary measures to remedy an online data breach.

“When you start to get unsolicited items like that, that’s a reminder to make sure you change your passwords. Make sure you’re updating your security settings and passwords for all your retail accounts,” said Irwin.

If you suspect you’ve been a victim of a brushing scam, you can report it to the Mid South Better Business Bureau via their phone number 901-759-1300.

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