topic Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds in Community Chat

More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

KingstonsMom — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:21:34 GMT

It's not just seeds—Americans are receiving all kinds of unsolicited packages from China, containing items ranging from fake Ray-Ban sunglasses to a pair of used socks.

The United States Department of Agriculture believes that the mystery seeds were being sent to the U.S. as part of a brushing scam, which involves sellers sending unsolicited items (which are typically light and easy to ship) and then post fake customer reviews to boost sales.

The USDA said in a statement: "At this time, we don't have any evidence indicating this is something other than a 'brushing scam' where people receive unsolicited items from a seller who then posts false customer reviews to boost sales.

"USDA is currently collecting seed packages from recipients and will test their contents and determine if they contain anything that could be of concern to U.S. agriculture or the environment."

Now, it appears that Americans are receiving more than seeds. While the origins of these mystery items are unconfirmed, the random packages may be a part of a similar scam of which people across the country are on the receiving end.

Georgia resident Kelley Litty told WSB-TV that she received masks from China that she didn't buy: "It says China on the label for masks. 1,000 percent sure I did not order any mask. It's a complete surprise. And it doesn't make sense."

Faith Tankersley told WSB-TV that she received a fake Ray-Ban sunglasses: "I don't think people are sending this in goodwill in my opinion. I'm just afraid that there may be something harmful to them."

In New York, Dawn Proctor told WBNG that she received a package of socks from China: "No invoice attached. No note attached. The socks looked like they were used. We all kind of laughed about it. Thought it was odd and threw them away."

Consumer watchdog Which warned of brushing scams in a 2018 article and reported that Amazon customers were receiving items they had not ordered.

One person named Karyn who appears to be from the U.K. commented on the article on July 29, 2020, and said: "I've been getting parcels from China, there are no sender details other than a postal address which when searched doesn't tell me much, I've checked all my online accounts and there is no money being taken, they are items like nail stickers for false nail art, and a wig cap!

"Neither are of any use to me and nothing I have ordered. It seems crazy they are sending me stuff free of charge that just goes in the [trash]."

Two others also commented and said they had each received multiple packages in July 2020.

If someone has received an item as part of a brushing scam, it may mean that their personal information has been leaked, which can be dangerous.

Ray Walsh, a data privacy expert at ProPrivacy, told Newsweek: "Anybody who receives an unexpected package needs to be aware that their data is being misused by the seller.

"If you receive a brushing parcel it is vital that you hand it in to the police so that they can forward it to the US postal inspector's office for the purpose of tracking where it came from. Items received could be dangerous, which means that they must be disposed of correctly."

Walsh explained that there is no evidence of a brushing scam leading to crimes like identity theft and bank fraud.

"However, it is theoretically possible that victims' data could be exploited for these kinds of malicious purposes," he said. "For this reason, victims of brushing must carefully monitor their bank accounts and credit or debit cards for any unauthorized activity."

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

Peaches McPhee — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:25:26 GMT

Good grief. It just gets weirder and weirder, doesn't it?

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

golding76 — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:29:06 GMT

Well, haven't they been busy?

Scary.

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

NickNack — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:31:57 GMT

Thank you for posting this @KingstonsMom . I heard about the seeds on our local news but hadn't heard about anything else.

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

dooBdoo — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:32:39 GMT

Argh! Another one! Thanks for the notice, @KingstonsMom.

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

Cakers3 — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:36:51 GMT

Used socks?????????? Did they have holes in them???????

I'd be so skeeved out.

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

Cakers3 — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:37:24 GMT

Thanks for the update. I just told DH and will ping DS.

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

Anonymous032819 — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:40:00 GMT

I feel left out of all of the fun.

I haven't received any "mysterious packages" .

Wah!😩😢

😄😆😅😺

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

jeanlake — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:46:30 GMT

Daughter did get debit card hacked from her Amazon use. Had to change her bank info and receive new card. She travels on the job and uses Amazon a lot - free shipping. Bank told her this is where the fraud originated and Amazon patrons are being targeted. Told her to use credit card - never debit. Best to use a 'spend' card. Same old story, I fear.

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

goldensrbest — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:58:29 GMT

I some what remember ,a few years ago, people getting sunglasses in the mail,for free, maybe some one else remembers this happening.

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

Linmo — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 17:00:20 GMT

Earlier this year, we received 3 packages from China about a week apart. Each package contained the same style/color of sunglasses. DH had ordered frames (which he received) from Amazon a couple of months before that, so we assumed that that vendor had sent the sunglasses by mistake.

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

KingstonsMom — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 17:11:11 GMT

@Anonymous032819 wrote:
I feel left out of all of the fun.

I haven't received any "mysterious packages" .

Wah!😩😢

😄😆😅😺

@Anonymous032819

NO USED SOCKS FOR YOU!

Or me, LOL!

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

YouGoGirl1 — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 17:39:22 GMT

My son bought something for is fish tank on line and paid through PayPal. It was a U.S. address in Wasington state, when the pkg. arrived it came from China, it contained 3 throwaway masks he didn't order he was charged 110.00, he is fighting with PayPal to get his money back. Just beware these people are using USA. Addresses.

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

Krimpette — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 18:36:50 GMT

I received masks on two separate occasions. They only had my first name on the label. I threw away the packaging. I think I'll throw away the masks also.

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

germanshepherdlove — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 18:48:38 GMT

@YouGoGirl1 wrote:
My son bought something for is fish tank on line and paid through PayPal. It was a U.S. address in Wasington state, when the pkg. arrived it came from China, it contained 3 throwaway masks he didn't order he was charged 110.00, he is fighting with PayPal to get his money back. Just beware these people are using USA. Addresses.

@YouGoGirl1 Bezos needs to put a stop to this. I too have noticed that goods directly from China are using an address in the U.S.

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

lovescats — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 02:11:26 GMT

@germanshepherdlove wrote:
@YouGoGirl1 wrote:
My son bought something for is fish tank on line and paid through PayPal. It was a U.S. address in Wasington state, when the pkg. arrived it came from China, it contained 3 throwaway masks he didn't order he was charged 110.00, he is fighting with PayPal to get his money back. Just beware these people are using USA. Addresses.

@YouGoGirl1 Bezos needs to put a stop to this. I too have noticed that goods directly from China are using an address in the U.S.

I don't think amazon takes paypal.

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

Anonymous032819 — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 02:13:57 GMT

@lovescats wrote:
@germanshepherdlove wrote:
@YouGoGirl1 wrote:
My son bought something for is fish tank on line and paid through PayPal. It was a U.S. address in Wasington state, when the pkg. arrived it came from China, it contained 3 throwaway masks he didn't order he was charged 110.00, he is fighting with PayPal to get his money back. Just beware these people are using USA. Addresses.

@YouGoGirl1 Bezos needs to put a stop to this. I too have noticed that goods directly from China are using an address in the U.S.

I don't think amazon takes paypal.

Amazon does not take Pay Pal.

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

mrssweetiebear — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 03:27:14 GMT

My sister in CA got a free pair of Ray Bans in the mail last month. She posted on her FB page asking who sent her the surprise gift and thanking them. She didn't think they were fake or from China at the time. Then someone mentioned the free seed thing that was going on and she changed her mind!

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

Anonymous032819 — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 03:35:25 GMT

@mrssweetiebear wrote:
My sister in CA got a free pair of Ray Bans in the mail last month. She posted on her FB page asking who sent her the surprise gift and thanking them. She didn't think they were fake or from China at the time. Then someone mentioned the free seed thing that was going on and she changed her mind!

I'll take a free pair of Ray-Bans!😆😅

Re: More Mystery Packages From China Besides Seeds

sunshine45 — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 04:21:08 GMT

the workaround to using paypal on amazon is to get a paypal debit card or a paypal cash card that can be used anywhere and is linked to your paypal account.