A brush with online fraud: What are brushing scams and how do I stay safe?

Global e-commerce sales are predicted to exceed $6.4 trillion in 2025. And a large share of these will come via marketplaces. But while they ostensibly offer convenience and safety for consumers and expanded reach for businesses, there is a darker side to the industry. In 2024, Amazon alone proactively blocked over 275 million suspected fake reviews, and took “enforcement actions” against thousands of individuals.

This underground industry has grown to the point where everyday consumers might find themselves unwittingly conscripted into the creation of fake reviews. The bottom line is this: if an item turns up at your door that you have no memory of ordering, don’t ignore it. Read on to find out what it could mean.

What’s a brushing scam?

Brushing scams are a type of e-commerce fraud where a seller sends a package to an apparently random person’s address. The item is usually ...