Brushing scams: Why that random parcel at your door might not be a harmless mistake

You get home and there’s a parcel waiting for you that you definitely didn’t order. It’s labelled with your correct name and address and it looks like it’s from a genuine seller, but you have no idea what it is. Your first thought might be that it’s a mix up with the courier, a surprise gift from a friend, or a forgotten late night purchase.

Before you shrug it off and open it anyway, it’s worth knowing that this kind of unexpected delivery can be linked to a brushing scam. Even if it’s not the sort of fraud that wipes out your bank account, it can still be a warning sign you should take seriously.

What is a brushing scam?

A brushing scam is a trick used by dodgy online sellers who want to make their products look more popular than they really are. They send out cheap, low value items to real people at real addresses, then use that proof of delivery to create fake “verified purchase” reviews on online marketplaces and review sites.

The seller gets to boost their ratings, climb search results, and look like a trustworthy business, even though the reviews aren’t genuine and the product itself might be rubbish.

How it works

It’s not always possible to trace the source, but brushing scams often rely on historic data breaches, weak online account security, and publicly available address data. Typically:

A seller obtains your name and address (from leaked or publicly available data)
They create a fake customer account in your name
They “buy” their own product
They ship a low cost item (phone case, keyring, plastic jewellery, etc) to your real address to make the transaction look legitimate
They post a glowing “verified purchase” review under your identity

Because the item was genuinely shipped, the review can appear authentic on platforms like Amazon, eBay, or other marketplaces. The seller gets fake credibility.

The reason this works is that most online marketplaces place high value on verified customer reviews and as shoppers we naturally trust a product more if it has hundreds of positive ratings from what appear to be “real customers”. Brushing scams exploit that trust, and you end up being used as part of the scam, often without even realising it.

What to do if you receive a brushing package?

Even though you might not lose money directly from a brushing scam, it can still be a red flag that your personal data is floating around somewhere it shouldn’t be. It can also mean that someone has created an account in your name on a shopping site, or that your identity is being used in small ways that could turn into bigger problems later.

Check your bank statements

Brushing scams don’t usually involve charging you, but it’s not unheard of for scammers to mix tactics and it’s better to spot anything suspicious early. If you’re concerned about identity misuse, you can also check your credit report with a credit reference agency such as Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion.

Log into your online shopping accounts

Check Amazon, eBay, Vinted, and any other online marketplaces you use. Make sure you log in directly, not via any links received in emails, as these could be part of the scam. Check for any orders you don’t recognise, reviews posted in your name, or new addresses added to your account.

Change your passwords

If you’ve reused passwords across different sites, now is a good time to change them. Turning on two-factor authentication wherever you can will also make it much harder for someone to access your accounts.

Report it

If the parcel appears linked to a specific retailer (for example, it arrives in Amazon branded packaging), report it through that platform’s customer service. This helps platforms investigate potentially wider fake seller activity.

If you suspect your personal details have been misused, you can also report it to Report Fraud, which is the UK’s national fraud reporting service. While brushing cases are often low value individually, reporting them helps authorities track patterns of fraud and identity misuse crime.

Watch out for follow up scams

Some brushing scams are followed by emails asking you to “review” the product, requests for payment, or messages offering a refund in exchange for personal information. Never click links or provide details in response to unsolicited messages.

If repeated parcels arrive, keep a record and keep reporting them. Building a picture of any patterns can be important. If you’re unsure, contact the retailer directly using their official contact details.

So if an unexpected parcel turns up at your door, treat it less like a nice surprise and more like a warning light. Check your accounts, stay vigilant, and make sure you’re not being quietly pulled into something bigger without your knowledge.

If you have any thoughts on this topic, or any other consumer issues you would like us to cover, feel free to get in touch with us at support@resolver.co.uk.