{"id":107876,"date":"2026-08-13T13:03:21","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T07:33:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seminarsonly.com\/news\/?p=107876"},"modified":"2026-08-13T13:28:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T07:58:02","slug":"amazon-brushing-scam-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seminarsonly.com\/news\/amazon-brushing-scam-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Amazon Brushing Scam? (And What to Do)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Receiving random packages you didn’t order is the first sign of a brushing scam.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Quick Answer: What is the Amazon Brushing Scam?<\/h3>\n

The Amazon brushing scam<\/strong> is a fraudulent scheme where third-party sellers send you low-value, unordered items. They do this to generate a tracking number that proves a delivery was made to a real address. Once delivered, the scammer uses a fake buyer account created in your name to write a “Verified Purchase” 5-star review<\/strong> for their own product, artificially boosting their search ranking on Amazon. You are not charged for these items, and you are legally allowed to keep them.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

How the Brushing Scam Actually Works<\/h2>\n

To manipulate Amazon’s A9 search algorithm, sellers need positive reviews. However, Amazon heavily weighs Verified Purchase<\/em> reviews. To bypass this, unscrupulous overseas sellers engage in “brushing.”<\/p>\n

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  • Step 1: Data Harvesting.<\/strong> The seller obtains your name and shipping address from public records, previous legitimate orders, or leaked databases.<\/li>\n
  • Step 2: The Fake Order.<\/strong> The seller creates a dummy account in your name and “purchases” their own item.<\/li>\n
  • Step 3: The Delivery.<\/strong> They ship you a cheap, lightweight item (like a mask, seeds, or phone case) to minimize shipping costs, while the listing might be for an expensive electronic device.<\/li>\n
  • Step 4: The Review.<\/strong> Because a physical package was delivered, Amazon registers it as a verified sale. The seller then writes a glowing review using the dummy account.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Is Your Personal Data at Risk?<\/h3>\n

    The immediate fear most people have is that their credit card has been compromised. In a standard brushing scam, your payment information is usually safe<\/strong>. The scammers are paying for the products themselves to generate the fake reviews. However, it does mean your name, address, and potentially your phone number are in the hands of bad actors.<\/p>\n

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