Feels sketchy.... Scam possibility?

For the last three weeks I have been receiving amazon packages I did not order. They are addressed to my address and the name on them is not mine nor any name on my account. It is just "Davis" so I can't look up if it is a neighbor or anything.

The missus has opened a few of them and they contain absolutely worthless items. Like under $3 per package. I used the Amazon tool to report packages I did not order but if that works at all there is no indication. 

I think I have received 8 of them now. From a single fishing lure to a 25 cent plumbing fitting.

I would think if it was an honest mistake the buyer would have corrected the address error. The low value items have me concerned it is intentional, but I have no idea to what end.

What says the Hive? Be concerned or just dump them in the trash as they arrive?

It's a scam but you're not the target:

https://clark.com/shopping-retail/amazon-scam-brushing-warning-deliveries-you-didnt-order/

In reply to GameboyRMH :

I've gotten two unsolicited packages from Amazon.

The first was some kind of worthless item (can't even remember what it was) that was clearly an example of Brushing.

The second time, it was a box filled with $400+ worth of seriously nice tools, with no invoice or any other indication of where it came from. I think this one was clearly a shipping mistake, as I had recently ordered a similar multimeter to one that was in the box. I tried to send it back to Amazon, but they said to keep, discard or donate it.

The 90T, 1/2" drive Gearwrench ratchet is awesome!

Woody (Forum Supportum) said:

In reply to GameboyRMH :

I've gotten two unsolicited packages from Amazon.

The first was some kind of worthless item (can't even remember what it was) that was clearly an example of Brushing.

The second time, it was a box filled with $400+ worth of seriously nice tools, with no invoice or any other indication of where it came from. I think this one was clearly a shipping mistake, as I had recently ordered a similar multimeter to one that was in the box. I tried to send it back to Amazon, but they said to keep, discard or donate it.

We ordered a nice new mattress from Amazon last year. A week past the original due date, we messaged them and we received one. Then about a week later the original showed up. They told us the same thing, "Keep it or donate it."

So one of our friends got a nice new king-sized mattress for free. 

I wish people would send me packages for free.

Although... we ordered a pretty decent trampoline as a Christmas present a few years ago. And when it didn't arrive by the guaranteed date we asked for and received a refund. It arrived a week later.

Dang! there was another one on the porch this afternoon. A $9 "tactical" water bottle holder.

At least I now know to just dispose of this trash

Thanks

Oh Em Gee.... this was happening to Hot for Teacher last month, except it was WalMart.  Packages were delivered to her house with cheap jewelry.  She notified WalMart and they said to keep it.  Probably costs more for them to ship it back than the $4 earrings are worth.

She got about 8 packages total.  Hey, free earrings.

Sign my ass up.  I'll take free E36 M3.

GameboyRMH said:

It's a scam but you're not the target:

https://clark.com/shopping-retail/amazon-scam-brushing-warning-deliveries-you-didnt-order/

That article seems kind of alarmist with "your account has been compromised since they know your name address etc"

OP said it was address but not his name. It's not like you can't just use a different name and use Google maps or Zillow, etc, to pick a random addres. 

I opened them all today to sort them into recyclables.  Half of the packages had "you have a gift" tags in them.

Fly swatters, gardening gloves, some more "tactical" molle straps, a incredibly cheap feeling nylon American flag and a covering for a small outdoor table. What the hell?

Tbh, I wouldn't be concerned.  Or even really call that a scam in the traditional sense.

z31maniac said:

GameboyRMH said:

It's a scam but you're not the target:

https://clark.com/shopping-retail/amazon-scam-brushing-warning-deliveries-you-didnt-order/

That article seems kind of alarmist with "your account has been compromised since they know your name address etc"

OP said it was address but not his name. It's not like you can't just use a different name and use Google maps or Zillow, etc, to pick a random addres. 

True, if they do have your name and email there would be cause for alarm, but a random name at your address is nothing to worry about from an account compromise standpoint.

Woody (Forum Supportum) said:

The second time, it was a box filled with $400+ worth of seriously nice tools, with no invoice or any other indication of where it came from. I think this one was clearly a shipping mistake, as I had recently ordered a similar multimeter to one that was in the box. I tried to send it back to Amazon, but they said to keep, discard or donate it.

Oh, I see you got my package, Woody. Just, uhhh... go ahead and send it my way. Yeah. 

That's a good mistake in your favor, though.

Yeah, it's not a big secret who lives at any address.  Any property search reveals the public information of who owns the property, and a google search shows possible household members, when they lived there, who lived there before.  It's super quick and easy to research, and the fact that they aren't doing that to find your actual name means that they're not interested in your information, they're just using you as a recipient.

I wouldn't stress.  Can you still log into your account?  Do the orders show up on your history?  Nope?  Then you're fine.

Items are coming to you for free, that you didn't order and have zero responsibility to return. I question how any of you can see a scam in this. 

lnlogauge said:

Items are coming to you for free, that you didn't order and have zero responsibility to return. I question how any of you can see a scam in this. 

You act like there is no societal cost to this.  Guess who picks up the tab for all retail theft?  Everyone does in increased prices and increased taxes.  But as long as long as you get free gimmes that's okay right?  It's a societal issue.  Cultural decay is real even if you choose to look the other way.

I just feel bad about the colossal waste that is manufacturing this landfill fodder, boating it across the planet, warehousing it and then shipping it to me just so I can throw it away and fulfill its destiny.

All that wasted fuel could be powering fun cars instead of moving garbage around the earth

AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) said:

lnlogauge said:

Items are coming to you for free, that you didn't order and have zero responsibility to return. I question how any of you can see a scam in this. 

You act like there is no societal cost to this.  Guess who picks up the tab for all retail theft?  Everyone does in increased prices and increased taxes.  But as long as long as you get free gimmes that's okay right?  It's a societal issue.  Cultural decay is real even if you choose to look the other way.

where is the retail theft in this scenario?  I didn't see anything about theft of goods as part of brushing; sounds to me like new retailers are basically sending stuff out so they have a tracking number to book against a sale for which they "receive" a positive review either for the product or for themself as a seller.

AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) said:

lnlogauge said:

Items are coming to you for free, that you didn't order and have zero responsibility to return. I question how any of you can see a scam in this. 

You act like there is no societal cost to this.  Guess who picks up the tab for all retail theft?  Everyone does in increased prices and increased taxes.  But as long as long as you get free gimmes that's okay right?  It's a societal issue.  Cultural decay is real even if you choose to look the other way.

You both really need to read the article Gameboy linked to:

https://clark.com/shopping-retail/amazon-scam-brushing-warning-deliveries-you-didnt-order/

These items ARE paid for (or at least willfully given), not stolen.  It's just a way to pump up reviews on Amazon.

Third-party online sellers engage in “brushing” scams in an attempt to raise product ratings on websites such as Amazon. The seller pays a third party to purchase their products through fake buyer accounts they’ve created. 

After the purchase, the item gets delivered to a real address. Then the seller can write a positive review of their own product from the fake Amazon buyer account.

13 years ago my dad received a $900 compound bow from a big box retailer.  He hadn't ordered it and when he called them their response was that he should just keep it.

A couple years ago my brother received two pairs of Yeezies (in his size).  Weirdly the Amazon boxes they came in didn't even have the correct length tracking number.

And don't feel bad about keeping mattresses, by law they can't be resold after delivery.  So any returned mattress simply goes into the landfill.

In reply to aircooled :

I read the article. There is no scam for the receiver of free useless goods. 

KyAllroad said:

And don't feel bad about keeping mattresses, by law they can't be resold after delivery.  So any returned mattress simply goes into the landfill.

Oh we didn't feel bad and our friends were happy to get a nice new mattress!