tech
Millions of customers targeted
The scam is called 'Brushing', and it works by dishonest sellers using other people's names and addresses to create fake user profiles.
TL;DR
- The 'Brushing' scam uses fake profiles to make fraudulent purchases and write fake reviews.
- Scammers send inexpensive items to real addresses using stolen personal data.
- This practice artificially boosts product rankings and seller ratings.
- The primary risk is the compromise of personal information, not receiving unsolicited goods.
- Data is often obtained through data breaches, hacking, or illegal sales on the dark web.
- Received unsolicited packages may indicate compromised data like online banking passwords.
- Steps to take include checking with acquaintances, reporting the incident, keeping the item, changing passwords, searching for your online presence, and running antivirus scans.