A local resident was the recent victim of a so-called “brushing scam,” a deceptive practice used by some online retailers to boost their store ratings, the Newtown Township Police Department reported.
At around 5:15 p.m. last Friday, the Wrightstown Township woman reached out to the police after receiving a package of seven bottles of vitamins and supplements that she did not order, according to Newtown Township police, which patrols Wrightstown Township.
A quick online search revealed several articles about brushing scams, leading her to believe she was a victim of such a ploy, police said.
A brushing scam involves an online retailer sending unsolicited items and products to people in an attempt to fraudulently enhance their store’s ratings. The retailer creates a bogus transaction, sending the items to an unsuspecting individual, which then registers as a sale, thus improving their rating on online marketplaces such as Amazon. In some instances, the scammers may also fabricate positive reviews in the recipient’s name to further inflate their rating.
The Newtown Township Police Department has advised the public to keep a close eye on their credit card and bank statements if they receive a package they didn’t order. Should the package contain anything suspicious, authorities should be notified.
To reduce the risk of falling victim to a brushing scam,police recommended the use of unique passphrases of 12 characters or more when setting account passwords. They also urge regular reviews of financial accounts for any unusual activity.
