Warning! You Got A Package You Didn’t Order! What’s Up?
Are we safe from anything any more? It seems that we're not, right? It's all sorts of scams I'm talking about, and here is another warning about another scam I've never heard of.
The Kentwood Police Department calls it a "brushing scam" where an unexpected package shows up at your door. Fox17 reported that the "package could contain items like jewelry, electronics or more. According to the United States Postal Inspection Service, the package will be addressed to the recipient but with no return address."
WHAT'S UP?
I know it is confusing, but here is what the Postal Inspection Service says:
"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.
Some versions of the scam include a QR code or website claiming to help figure out who sent the package. Investigators say this is where the scam begins."
Criminals collect personal and financial information, which could be used for fraud, identity theft or other scams.
👇 BELOW: DO NOT ANSWER CALLS FROM THESE AREA CODES! SCAMS! 👇
Fox17 reports the Kentwood Police Department says:
Do not scan QR codes from unknown sources.
Do not provide personal or financial information.
Monitor your accounts for suspicious activity.
Report suspicious activity to the retailer or appropriate authorities.
CAN I KEEP THE MERCHANDISE?
Yes you can the Postal Inspection Service says. If you like it, the law says you may keep it. But, be sure you don't get scammed into paying for it. If you don't like it just throw it away. If it's unopened and there is a return address, mark "return to sender" on it and the postal service will send it back.
Finally, keep a close eye on your personal information since it may be compromised!
Don't Answer Calls from These 10 Area Codes - It's a Scam
Gallery Credit: Bruce Mikells
