EBay Mystery Packages: Unordered Items Arriving - What's Next?

Mina Boehm 11 May 2025

Have you ever received packages you didn't order, filled with items you neither want nor need? This increasingly common scenario points to a disturbing trend: brushing scams, where unsolicited items are sent to your address, potentially compromising your personal information and impacting seller metrics on e-commerce platforms.

Imagine the bewilderment of opening your mailbox to find a package you never anticipated. It arrives with a USPS tracking number, perhaps even an order number, yet the contents are nothing more than cheap, unwanted trinkets. A quick check of your online accounts reveals no record of the purchase, no charge to your credit card. You're left scratching your head, wondering what this could possibly mean. It's frustrating, unsettling, and, unfortunately, becoming more commonplace. Consumers across the country are reporting similar experiences, receiving unsolicited items, often of low value, from online retailers. This isn't just a random occurrence; it's a potential indicator of a brushing scam, a deceptive practice employed by unscrupulous sellers.

The implications of these brushing scams are far-reaching. Beyond the annoyance of receiving unwanted goods, there's a real risk to your personal data. Your name, address, and phone number, readily available on the shipping label, can be harvested for malicious purposes. Furthermore, these scams can artificially inflate a seller's ratings on e-commerce platforms like eBay, creating a false sense of legitimacy and potentially misleading other buyers. Understanding how these scams work and knowing how to protect yourself is crucial in today's digital landscape.

Aspect	Details
Scam Type	Brushing Scam
Mechanism	Unsolicited items sent to random addresses. Seller uses the recipient's address to create a fake "verified purchase" and post a positive review.
Items Typically Sent	Cheap, lightweight items like seeds, jewelry, or small toys.
Potential Risks	Data harvesting (name, address, phone number), inflated seller ratings, potential for identity theft.
Recipient's Action	Report to the platform (e.g., eBay, Amazon), contact USPS, change account passwords, monitor financial accounts.
eBay's Role	Investigate reports of brushing scams, remove fraudulent reviews, and take action against offending sellers.
User Protection	Be cautious of unexpected packages, regularly review account activity, use strong passwords, and enable two-factor authentication.
Identifying Features	USPS tracking number, potentially an order number, but no corresponding record in your purchase history. Items are often from overseas.
Financial Impact	Typically, no direct financial loss as you are not charged for the item. However, the risk of future identity theft is present.
Contacting eBay	Contact eBay Customer Service