TalkScams Team — educational discussion
Unordered parcel may be used for fake product reviews — warning signs and safety checks
TalkScams Team discussion starter — an educational scam scenario, not a victim account.
What is the scam pattern?
Receiving a low-value item you never ordered can be part of a brushing scheme. Sellers may use someone else's name and address to create apparently genuine transactions and deceptive reviews.
Warning signs to recognize
1. A parcel addressed to you has no matching purchase in your account.
2. The seller's identity and payment protections cannot be verified
How to check or protect yourself
1. Change shopping-account passwords and ask the marketplace to investigate.
2. Retain receipts and report suspicious merchants to the marketplace or FTC
Discuss with the community
How would you verify the seller, payment method and return policy before buying?
Original government advisory: https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/08/unexpected-package-you-got-could-be-brushing-scam