New Delhi, January 2, 2025 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau): If you are someone who reads reviews before purchasing things online on e-commerce platforms, this news is for you. Scammers are adopting a new trick called the ‘brushing scam.’ For this, scammers are using popular online shopping sites like Amazon and AliExpress. In this scam, online scammers send packages to people that contain cheap gadgets or small items that they never ordered.
Now you might be wondering why scammers do this. In fact, they do this to write fake reviews and make their products appear better, even if they are of low quality or counterfeit. McAfee mentioned in a blog post that scammers aim to artificially increase sales and visibility.
What is Brushing Scam?
The term “brushing” comes from Chinese e-commerce, where a fake order is created and sent to someone to “brush up” the sales numbers. This practice boosts the supposed popularity of a product, making buyers think that the product is of high quality. As a result, its sales increase.
According to the company, this is a type of fraud in which sellers send packages to people without their permission. These packages typically contain cheap and low-quality items like jewelry or poorly made gadgets. Scammers often use fake or stolen addresses to send these packages. Once the item is delivered, they write fake reviews to make the product look better and boost the seller’s rating.
Here’s how the scam works:
- Scammers create fake accounts on e-commerce platforms.
- They place orders for their own products.
- They send the order to an address they illegally obtained.
- A low-quality product or cheap electronic device is sent to a random person.
- As soon as the package is delivered, the scammer writes very positive reviews about the product, using the name of the person to whom the product was ordered.
- These scammers often send products like costume jewelry, seeds, or cheap gadgets to increase their reviews and ratings. If you receive an unsolicited package at your doorstep, there’s a high chance it’s part of a scam.
What are the damages caused by brushing fraud?
- If you are receiving packages that you did not order, it could mean that your personal information has been stolen.
Scammers often obtain names and addresses by violating data or by illegally purchasing this information.
Summary: Scammers use brushing fraud to send unsolicited packages, boosting product ratings with fake reviews. If you receive such packages, your personal information might be compromised.