FTC Warning on Brushing Scams Is a Reminder to Marketplace Sellers to Watch Their Listings
The FTC has a new consumer alert on brushing scams, and small businesses that sell online should pay attention.
The scam starts with an unexpected package. The FTC says scammers use the delivery as "validation" and then post fake reviews online in the recipient's name to make their own business look better. In some cases, the package can also hide a phishing QR code or be a sign that someone is trying to steal account information. FTC alert
That is not just a consumer problem.
If you sell on Amazon, Walmart Marketplace, Etsy, Shopify, or anywhere else that depends on trust signals, fake review activity can distort your reputation and confuse customers.
What owners should do
The FTC's advice is straightforward: if you get a package you did not order, change your shopping passwords, check your credit, and report the scam.
For business owners, the extra step is to treat it like a listing hygiene problem too.
- monitor your marketplace listings for suspicious review spikes
- check whether new reviews match real purchase patterns
- make sure account recovery tools and passwords are current
- tell your team not to scan random QR codes that arrive in a package
If a brushing scam is using your business name or seller account, the damage is not just privacy related. It can create trust problems with buyers who think your brand is behind the fraud.
The owner takeaway
If you sell online, review fraud is not background noise.
It can be a sign of compromised accounts, abused delivery systems, or fake reputation building that affects your own customers. The faster you catch it, the easier it is to document, report, and limit the fallout.
In other words, keep an eye on the box at the door and the review section on the screen. They can be connected.