Attention Amazon Shoppers: Beware of Scammers Ordering in Your Name for Fraudulent Reviews!

Most Recent Update:January 02, 2025, 11:37 IST

Fraudsters utilize counterfeit or pilfered addresses to send packages. Subsequently, they generate fraudulent reviews to deceive consumers, inaccurately enhancing product quality and elevating the seller’s ratings

These fraudsters frequently focus on products such as costume jewellery, seeds, or inexpensive gadgets to amplify their reviews and rankings. (Representative/AP File)

E-commerce shoppers typically examine reviews on online shopping platforms prior to making any purchases. They often rely heavily on these ratings to guide their decisions. It may come as a surprise that fraudsters are utilizing a novel tactic known as brushing scams.

Fraudsters execute this scam by leveraging popular online marketplaces like Amazon and AliExpress. These online con artists dispatch packages to unaware recipients containing inexpensive gadgets or minor items they never ordered.

Their objective is to craft false reviews, thereby enhancing the attractiveness of their products, regardless of their poor quality or illegitimacy. McAfee elaborated in a blog entry that the intention behind these scams is to artificially boost sales and visibility.

What exactly is a brushing scam?

The concept of brushing has its roots in Chinese online commerce, wherein fake orders are generated and delivered to individuals to ‘brush up’ sales statistics. This scheme creates an illusion of popularity for a product, misleading prospective buyers into thinking it possesses high quality. As a result, this deceit enhances sales figures.

As noted by McAfee, brushing constitutes a form of deceit in which sellers send packages to recipients without their approval. Typically, these packages contain cheap, low-grade items like jewellery or miscellaneous gadgets. Fraudsters frequently employ counterfeit or stolen addresses for dispatching these packages. Once the items reach their destination, they then generate false reviews, thereby fabricating an inaccurate perception of product quality and enhancing the seller’s rating.

How does this fraud operate?

• Fraudsters establish fictitious accounts on e-commerce sites.
• They place orders for their own goods, utilizing unlawfully obtained addresses for shipment.
• A subpar item or a low-quality electronic device is sent to an unsuspecting individual.
• Upon receipt, fraudsters, using the name of the recipient, craft overly positive reviews concerning the product.
• These fraudsters often target products such as costume jewellery, seeds, or inexpensive gadgets to inflate their reviews and rankings. If you receive an unsolicited package, there is a substantial likelihood you are a victim of a brushing scam.

What dangers does brushing fraud entail?

• Receiving unrequested packages might indicate a breach of your personal information.
• Fraudsters typically obtain names and addresses via data breaches or illicit acquisition of such information.