Thousands of Americans received suspicious empty envelopes in the mail: experts blame Amazon for this
Lately, people in the US have been getting mysterious empty packages in the mail, and experts are blaming Amazon sellers for fraud. Writes about it New York Post.
Photo: IStock
Over the past few weeks, a flood of empty envelopes has hit the mailboxes of residents in more than 30 states, according to Safely HQ. Consumer reporting website founder Patrick Quaid estimates that the number of cryptic packages could be as high as 10.
While the recipients were mostly puzzled, some expressed concern that their names and addresses might be exposed in a data breach. Some braced themselves for the worst, believing that the empty envelopes might contain something sinister and invisible.
“I went outside, ripped off the top of the envelope, pulled it away from my face and squeezed so I couldn’t see the contents,” wrote one excited recipient in Crawfordville, Florida, on Safely HQ. “I left it outside and I’m going to throw it in the trash.”
Many blank envelopes list the sender as an “online seller” at an Amazon warehouse address—in some cases, 188 South Mountain House Parkway in suburban Tracy, California. But the parcels in question were not sent from there, company representatives said.
On the subject: The postal service told when to send holiday packages so that they arrive by Christmas
Instead, Amazon officials suggested that the situation has all the hallmarks of a well-known scam called "brushing", in which sellers create fake transactions on the site with tracking numbers and confirmations of receipt of packages.
After spending modest amounts of money on phantom mailing lists (maybe $3 or $4 a piece), the scammers then create fake customer reviews of obscure products they're trying to sell, said James Thomson, a former Amazon executive who now works as a sales consultant. online sales.
Empty package, Amazon, Delivery - Tracy, California - WAS SENT A SMALL BUBBLE ENVELOPE WITH NOTHING INSIDE. WHY? USPS TRACKING #9400 1362 0633 5671 SafelyHQ https://t.co/nzBUy4wlyD #emptypackage #Amazon #delivery pic.twitter.com/lyHxoc2G1Y
— Safely (@safelyhq) October 7, 2022
“If you confirm that the package addressed to you was not ordered by you or anyone you know, report the envelope online by going to the “Report Junk Package” form,” Amazon spokesman Sam Stephenson said. "Amazon is investigating these reports and taking action when we find intruders breaking the rules."
According to Fakespot, a service that detects fake reviews, found that about 42% of reviews on Amazon are written by fake buyers. The federal government has raised concerns about the growing number of fake reviews on e-commerce sites, and the Federal Trade Commission has promised to fine Amazon and other companies if they don't remove them.
In February, a former Amazon consultant was sentenced to 10 months in prison and a $50 fine for participating in a scheme to bribe Amazon employees and manipulate the company's market. The case is ongoing, with five more defendants facing criminal prosecution.
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Signs of this tactic are reappearing as Amazon sellers gear up for the holiday shopping season vying for the top rankings in the market. Amazon has previously taken action against unscrupulous sellers who provided fake data this summer, according to Chris McCabe, a former Amazon employee turned e-commerce consultant.
“Amazon is cracking down on sellers who upload fake order tracking information,” McCabe noted, adding that empty envelopes are another example of people “playing Amazon and its algorithms.”
Empty package, Amazon, US Postal Service, Delivery - North Las Vegas, Nevada - I got a small bubble wrap envelope from this address. When I opened it it was empty. Wha...SafelyHQ https://t.co/yHtJkkEhV0 #emptypackage #Amazon #uspostalservice #delivery #wrap pic.twitter.com/Sc2XEjoGW2
— Safely (@safelyhq) October 4, 2022
The recipients likely ended up on the list as former clients of the seller, he said. It's also possible that the seller simply picked their names and addresses at random from public records. In some cases, Amazon insiders have been able to sell information about the company's customers to sellers.
For those receiving packages they didn't order, the Better Business Bureau advises changing the passwords of their online accounts and keeping a close eye on credit card statements and credit reports as it is possible that their personal information has been stolen.
Two years ago, an alleged "brushing" scam came to the attention of the Department of Agriculture after people received cryptic packets of seeds in the mail that turned out to be from China. The government has warned consumers not to plant the seeds, saying it could introduce invasive species into the US.
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