Understanding Brushing Scams and Best Practices

This guide explains brushing scams, which involve unsolicited packages sent to individuals, often with the intent to create fake positive reviews using the recipient's information. The document outlines the risks associated with these scams, including the potential compromise of personal data, which may have been obtained through data brokers or breaches. It also highlights the dangers of QR codes included in these packages, which can lead to malware downloads if scanned. The guide provides essential best practices for recipients, such as contacting the retailer, securing online accounts, avoiding scanning QR codes, limiting personal information sharing, using secure websites, and refusing to pay for unordered items. By following these measures, recipients can protect themselves from further scams and secure their personal information, while also helping to prevent others from becoming victims of similar schemes.