I am getting Brushed a lot
For those who don’t know: Brushing is when someone orders a product and has it sent to some random person. This is usually done to essentially “purchase” good metrics for sellers so as to boost their rankings in search results and product suggestions. It also lets them leave themselves good feedback.
I have gotten over 100 items brushed to me in the last 6 months. All of them have been FBA. Recently, I have started listing them for sale under the same listing as the sellers. A few of them have started filing trademark violations on me, which I can’t really dispute without an invoice. Any advice here would be appreciated, but I’m not too concerned about it.
My question is, is there anything that can be done about the brushing? I’m not complaining too much about getting free stuff, 80% of which I can sell, but does anyone at Amazon care that this is happening? I tried reporting it to their frontline CS but the response was “we will take care of this immediately” with of course, no change.
thanks,
-wes
6 replies
Seller_nRFmxiQg4EGrw
First of all, don’t attempt to list any of these items as “New”, since you did not get them from a distributor. You SHOULD be allowed to sell as “Used” in most cases, but you have to figure that if the original seller is stooping to paying someone to generate bogus sales for them, that they probably would not hesitate to do other underhanded things to anyone they see as a threat.
For that reason, I would probably try to sell these things on a venue other than Amazon.
Seller_CW0P5hgbsiqWX
If what you say is really going on, they have to be running a pretty dumb scam for improving their metrics. Sounds like there is something more going on here you are not seeing. The Chinese have been known to run a boiler room trick similar, but a lot less cost effective. The company has 20 employees. Each employee has their own individual Amazon account which they only use at home. Boss says tonight, each employee is to purchase 20 items from the company site. They do as told. The next day when arriving at work, they are reimbursed in full for their purchases. The company sends a 1st class letter to satisfy the sale. Now the company gets 400 new product reviews and 400 new positive feedbacks from last night’s work. How multiply times 7 days a week, and you end up with 2800 boosts a week. 
Seller_8Wfpcf6cHQaPy
First of all, you should not be reselling them on Amazon. Although you are permitted to keep the items, if you want to resell, use a different site.
Second, you need to get in touch with the Customer Protection Review Team.
When you call in, do not waste time speaking to anyone else and ask them, before you start speaking, if they are in fact a member of the Customer Protection Review Team.
Scroll down to: Report fraud or scam, as in my screenshot. Choose the chat option and insist on being connected to the Customer Protection Review Team. Don’t give any order numbers before you are in the correct department, but have all the order numbers ready. The only was this can be traced, is through the orders.
It’s a PITA, but once connected, the team DOES act and very quickly.
Forgot the link! https://www.amazon.com/b/?node=15435487011
From the Better Business Bureau:
Amazon “Brushing” Scam Indicates a Serious Problem for Victims
By BBB In Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas Plains & SW Iowa. August 16, 2019.
Free boxloads of merchandise from Amazon right on your doorstep! What could possibly be bad about getting the Santa treatment all year long? Plenty! Your Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning consumers that there is a scary downside to this recent scam. You are not the one who hit the jackpot. A scam company is the real winner.
This scam is called brushing, and it has been popping up all over the country. Suddenly boxes of unordered (by the recipient) merchandise from Amazon begin arriving. There is no return address except that of Amazon. The receiver has no idea who ordered the items. They are varied. For example, in one case a humidifier, a hand warmer, a flashlight, a Bluetooth speaker and a computer vacuum cleaner arrived unordered.
Why would such merchandise be sent to you if you didn’t request it? The companies, usually foreign, third-party sellers that are sending the items are simply using your address and your Amazon information. Their intention is to make it appear as though you wrote a glowing online review of their merchandise, and that you are a verified buyer of that merchandise. They then post a fake, positive review to improve their products’ ratings, which means more sales for them. The payoff is highly profitable from their perspective.
Why it’s bad news for you
The fact that someone was able to have the items sent to you as if you purchased them indicates that they probably have some of your Amazon account information. Certainly, they have your name and address and possibly, your phone number and a password. Once the information is out there, it could be used for numerous crooked enterprises.
The fake online review angle is only one way they benefit. By using the brushing scam, they also are increasing their sales numbers. After all, they aren’t really purchasing the items since the payment goes right back to them. Increased sales numbers, even though padded with fake purchases, look good for the company and help lead to more sales.
Then there is the “porch pirate” angle. There have been instances where thieves used other people’s mailing addresses and accounts, then watched for the delivery of the package so they can steal it from your door before you get it.
What can you do?
- Notify Amazon. Brushing and fake reviews are against Amazon’s policies so contact Customer Service if this happens to you. They will investigate and take action on the bad actor. Go directly to Amazon’s website to get their contact information. Be cautious of searching for support phone numbers.
- Cosidering changing your account passwords. This may be a sign that your personal information has been compromised. You may want to consider a password manager service to improve account security. Keep a close eye on your credit report and credit card bills.
- You are allowed to keep the merchandise. The Federal Trade Commission says you have a legal right to keep unordered merchandise.
For other questions you may have regarding shipments of unordered merchandise, contact the BBB at (800) 649-6814, or visit the website.
Seller_qh7sauzFHYm8h
I don’t usually get those little packing slips. I did get 1, and it didn’t have a price listed on it at all. I can attach a pic of it later if there is interest.
