‘Brushing’ delivery scam sweeps into northern beaches with delivery of parcels containing socks, dirty toys

Weird parcels containing cheap socks, dirty stuffed toys and old rags are turning up on Sydney doorsteps. We explain what’s going on and what to do if you get one of these parcel scams.

Dishonest online retailers are sending mysterious unsolicited parcels to homes on the northern beaches as part of “brushing” scams designed to boost their sales profiles. File picture: iStock

Weird parcels stuffed with junk like cheap socks, ripped rags and dirty toys are hitting the doorsteps of homes along the northern beaches.

Alarmed locals are being caught up in “brushing” scams created by dishonest online retailers in an effort to boost their sales profiles.

“Brushing” involves merchants sending parcels to thousands of real people then posting fake glowing reviews of their products, in those people’s names, which helps the retailers

shoot to the top of online searches.

Residents living around Narrabeen, Avalon Beach and Newport are reporting increasing numbers of the junk-filled parcels, which they did not order, but have the correct addresses and names of the recipients.

Resident Tamara Sloper-Harding told this masthead she found a large unsolicited parcel at her door, filled with old toys including a doll with dirt on its face and numerous soiled soft animals.

Unsolicited parcels containing a pair of cheap socks and plastic propeller toys were sent to an address on the northern beaches as part of a “brushing” e-commerce scam. Picture: Facebook

Ms Sloper-Harding, an Australian navy veteran who served as a peacekeeper in East Timor and now runs a charitable group supporting orphanages and schools in Timor Leste, originally thought it may have been a donation.

The return address on the package was a “town in Victoria”.

Tamara Sloper-Harding, pictured speaking at an Avalon RSL Anzac Day service, received a “brushing” scam parcel. Picture: Adam Yip

“It was very odd,” she said. “Very weird.”

A North Narrabeen local found two parcels in her letterbox, one containing a pair of cheap white socks. The second had plastic cheap “twirly helicopter” toys.

“Both the packages know my address and full name,” the woman posted on Facebook.

“I’m very concerned that I have no idea who sent them. Worst still all my private info is on the package, plus my telephone number.”

A large “eParcel” containing old children’s socks along with unravelled wool, yarn and pieces of cord was sent to another address.

An unsolicited parcel filled with junk rags sent to a private address. Picture: Supplied

An unsolicited parcel filled with socks and unravelled wool. Picture: Facebook

The return address on the package indicated it had been sent from a post office box at Dingley Village, a suburb about 28km southeast of the Melbourne CBD.

Cybercrime expert Simon Smith described “brushing” as more of a “deceptive trade practice” than a security issue.

Mr Smith said for retailers, “reputation is everything when it comes to online shopping”.

“If you have 20,000 or so verified people who have received your product, it means a lot when you are dealing with online marketplaces,” he said.

Manly of the parcels come with a return address in an outer-Melbourne suburb. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Smith warned that “brushing” was a sign that people needed to be more careful about putting their address and identification details on the internet.

Northern Beaches Police are aware of reports of residents receiving alleged “brushing” scam parcels and urged anyone who received a suspicious parcel to contact them or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Residents wanting information on cyber scams can go to the federal government’s Scamwatch website.

HOW ‘BRUSHING’ SCAMS WORK:

(Source: LifeLock by Norton)

— The seller goes online and finds people’s names and addresses using data broker sites or perusing the dark web for data breaches.

— They then open hundreds of new accounts at their online store or a marketplace, like eBay, where the seller will list their products.

— The scammers then “buy” their own goods and send them to your house. By making these fake purchases, they gain “verified” status.

— Scammers use their status as a “verified” account to write positive product reviews. As “verified” buyers, they can post reviews that may be weighed more heavily than other reviewers.

— Some brushing scams involve thousands of fake accounts and reviews that are designed to make it look as if their products have been purchased and by many people.