TalkScams Team · Source-backed educational guide · Not a community report
QR code in an unexpected package asks for personal details
A brushing shipment may include a card urging the recipient to scan a code to learn who sent the item or arrange its return. The FTC warns such links can lead to phishing pages.
Source: U.S. Federal Trade Commission · Original advisory date: 2026-08-20
This summary is not a firsthand report or an endorsement or partnership by the source.
Warning signs to recognize
- An unordered delivery contains a QR code requiring login or payment.
- The seller's identity and payment protections cannot be verified
How to check or protect yourself
- Avoid scanning the code and contact the marketplace through its official app.
- Retain receipts and report suspicious merchants to the marketplace or FTC