It starts with users receiving random online packages but there’s a lot more to the brushing scam than that…
The year 2025 has just begun but there’s already a new scam that is doing the rounds in India. The Brushing Scam begins with online shoppers receiving unsolicited packages at their delivery address. This might seem harmless at first as you aren’t being charged for the product and seem to be receiving it for free but this scam has far-reaching consequences.
Here’s everything you need to know about what’s being called the Brushing Scam…
What is Brushing Scam
Long story short, Brushing is a fraudulent tactic to inflate a product’s ratings and reviews on e-commerce platforms like Amazon and AliExpress. Fraudsters send random packages – usually with low-value products like imitation jewellery, gadgets or even seeds – to people who have never placed these orders. This is only the start of how these people become a part of a scam that they are not even aware of.
These fraudsters achieve this by first creating fake account using the information of these shoppers on e-commerce platforms. They then place orders for their own products using these fake accounts. Once the product has been shipped to them, the fraudsters then post fake ratings and reviews on the platform, thereby boosting their product’s sales and ratings.
While this might seem like a tactic that is unethical but potentially harmless, it does not end there.
Turns out there is a lot more to the Brushing scam…
Why Brushing Scams are Dangerous
First of all, the way these scammers get the address of innocent shoppers is through unethical means. They either use online data breaches to procure this information or purchase it illegally from stolen data. Either way, if a person is receiving unsolicited packages, it means their personal information – which could include their identity, their address as well as their bank account information – has been compromised. It means the person is vulnerable to financial fraud or identity theft.
There is also the matter of the fake online reviews. They have been posted in the user’s name with a fake account. These fake reviews affect customer purchases as unwitting customers read these reviews and assume that it is a great product. This could lead to genuine buyers ending up with substandard products.
The third part of this scam and possibly the worst is that these fake packages arrive at your doorstep with QR codes. These QR codes usually talk about free gifts or special discounts. Unwitting customers, having already received what they believe is a free package, scan these codes only to find out that it redirects to malware websites. These websites could infect your device with malware or steal sensitive information.
How to Protect Yourself from Brushing Scam
With all these scams around us, it is imperative that we keep ourselves safe and protected. Here are some ways to ensure the safety of your data:
- Don’t Trust Random QR Codes
Never scan a QR code from random online packages. These codes are usually baits to malicious websites or harmful downloads.
- Secure your Online Accounts
Regularly check your login credentials and keep them updated. Also enable two factor authentication (2FA). This adds an extra level of security. And make sure you monitor your online accounts for unauthorised logins or activity.
- Report Suspicious Activity
If you receive an unsolicited package, notify the ecommerce platform as well as local authorities. This will ensure concerned authorities are aware of the scam as well as a potential breach to your sensitive data.
- Stay Vigilant
Educate yourself about various online scams. The more you know, the more protected you are.
The Last Word
E-commerce websites are all about convenience and trust. With fake reviews, the trust is eroded and genuine buyers will lose faith in the products and eventually the websites. So the onus is on the websites to ensure these scams don’t occur on their website.
From a customer standpoint, safeguarding your data is important as if it falls in the wrong hands, anything can happen. Your money as well as your identity is in danger of being stolen if your personal information falls in the wrong hands.
So, it is the duty of the buyers, the sellers as well as the platform to come together to ensure such scams are nipped in the bud and don’t escalate out of control.
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