According to Which?, random Amazon consumers are being targeted by sellers in what is known as a “brushing” scam.
According to the consumer advocacy group, “shady” retailers were shipping out “Suzhichou”-branded scarves to increase sales and generate fake reviews on the website.
The “sales” then improve their products’ search engine rankings.
Amazon stated that “brushing” impacts all online marketplaces and that it has “robust processes” to combat the issue.
Which? stated that while panic was unnecessary, consumers should report unwanted packages to Amazon.
Last month, Brooke North received one of the scarves: “I thought it was strange because I hadn’t ordered it. Instead of throwing it away, I gave it to my niece who enjoys horseback riding because it was covered with horses.
“I did not contact Amazon because the package was delivered through the letterbox with ‘Suzhichou’ printed on it.”
Ms. North from Greys in Essex, who operates a dance academy in London, stated that she had not received any additional unwanted mail.
Others commented on her social media accounts that they had also received identical scarves.
Jill McIntosh stated, “I ordered bedding, and my friend and I both received scarves.” Martina Cerna stated that she had received one as well.
How do ‘brushing’ frauds operate?
After an unscrupulous seller submits a fake order, Which? will ship a low-cost, low-quality product to a random address, such as one of these scarves.
The order generates a tracking number on the marketplace, and once the fraudster receives the item, he or she can leave a false five-star review, which boosts sales figures.
This leads to more people seeing and purchasing low-quality products because they believe they are highly rated, according to Which?
How did the fraudster obtain my information?
According to the consumer group, identity thieves obtain names and addresses from “a variety of sources.”
Some customers have reported obtaining the scarves after ordering a different item from a Chinese-based Facebook marketplace store.
Details may also have been obtained from a publicly accessible source, compromised in a data breach, or accessed through an insecure website, according to Which?
It was added that individuals who were targeted should report the package and alter their password.
Amazon stated in a statement, “We are relentless in our efforts to detect and prevent abuse from negatively impacting customer experiences.”
“Sellers are prohibited from sending unsolicited packages to customers, and we will continue to enhance the sophistication of abuse prevention in our store as well as take the appropriate actions, such as suspending or revoking selling privileges.”
More than one million British households may have been victims of “brushing” in 2021, according to a report by Which?
4% of 1,839 respondents received a mystery Amazon package.
The Competition and Markets Authority of the United Kingdom is presently investigating Google and Amazon for false and deceptive reviews.
