So yesterday, I receive a "free" gaming mouse that apparently is worth $80.00 on Amazon/Walmart/eBay websites.
I did not order it. It was not charged to my account.
Instead, it appeared in the box. Someone obviously made a mistake.
Should I contact them? Or keep it and sell it on eBay?
You are a beneficiary of a "brushing scam". You should expect to get more free stuff. There have been articles on the Internet about this within the last year.
The Federal Trade Commission and cyber experts have been warning consumers about these deliveries, which can be part of something known as "brushing" scams.
Here's how these scams work: Third-party sellers on Amazon, eBay and other online marketplaces pay people to write fake, positive reviews about their products, or do it themselves. To be able to post the reviews, these so-called "brushers" need to trick the site into making it appear that a legitimate transaction took place. So they'll use a fake account to place gift orders and address them to a random person whose name and address they find online. Then, instead of actually mailing the item for which they want to post a review, the brushers will send a cheap, often lightweight item that costs less to ship.
Sending an item (even the wrong one) creates a tracking number, and when the package is delivered, it enables brushers to write a verified review. If you're on the receiving end, you usually aren't charged for the purchase and your real account isn't hacked — but you are left in the dark as to who is repeatedly sending the mystery packages. In many cases, there's no return address. You don't need to worry that anything bad has happened to you or will happen to you if you get a package that might be part of a brushing scam, experts say. But we all need to be concerned about the scams affecting reviews we rely on when buying products.
Brushing scams reportedly took off on e-commerce sites in China around five years ago. They resurfaced in headlines last summer, when all 50 states issued warnings about mysterious, unsolicited packages of seeds that people across the nation received in the mail. Hunter Biden is busy writing fake reviews every day.
It was an $80.00 gaming mouse. I've shopped on Amazon since HS.
I don't think this was a "scam" but you could be right.
thx
Would it be a brushing scam if it was in the package with other items? There were 3 items all in the same box.
They all came from the Amazon warehouse, according to the shipping label.
I once received a double order from Amazon. When I contacted them they told me to just keep it.
shareThe only thing I ever received free was two packets of Rocky Robin chocolate biscuits when I was about 17. No note or any clue as to who sent them or why. They could have been tampered with and poisoned for all I knew .... so I took them to work and we all ate them!
Before Amazon's time though so it wasn't them.
Why is this even a question? Legally you received something that is not your so it is your duty to turn it in; realistically Amazon probably doesn't even realize they sent it to you so nothing will come of it if you keep it. If a $1400 TV showed up on your doorstep with someone else's name on it, would you keep it?
Call the company, ask them what they want you to do.
I use to work for Amazon and its likely just an error from picking your order and checking the package for accuracy. You can contact amazon or not bother and keep the extra item its up to you.
share