what happened and what should you do

If I’ve learned anything as a tech journalist, it’s receiving and sending packages; whether it’s products I need to try, reviews of devices I’ve already reviewed, or letters congratulating me on the holidays coming up this month. And to that we must add the usual orders that I make on online stores like Amazon.

[Ventajas de Amazon Prime: guía definitiva y por qué merece la pena aunque suba de precio]

What happens when you receive an unsolicited package

Let’s say that the couriers assigned to my zone know me very well and know who I am; This has greatly accelerated the delivery and collection of packages. But this familiarity also has its drawbacks; the other day, for example, they gave me a package that was not mine.

It was no one’s fault; just the result of a process that may have been oversimplified, both for the pilots and for me. Thing is, by the time I realized I hadn’t ordered this package, it was already too late.

Of course, my first thought was that I got myself in trouble; Opening other people’s mail is no small crime. However, I quickly noticed strange details. For example, that the package it was addressed to my address, but not my name nor to anyone who lives with me. It was strange for me, more small details on how the address was written, different from what I usually use.

Therefore, the first thing I recommend if you receive a package that you did not order is to stay calm. It’s probably not your fault.. But then what happened?

There are two possibilities. The first is that it is a simple error. maybe someone was wrong when writing the address, and that the parcel is intended for one of your neighbours. Someone may have expired data and is trying to contact someone who used to live where you live.

Or it may be a scam attempt, but you are not the victim.

Brushing or how to scam Amazon

It turns out that this “MOO” is very similar to a relatively new technique used by scammers called “brushing”and it’s causing Amazon a lot of headaches.

Brushing was born as an attempt to manipulate product reviews on amazon, one of the most important aspects when selling on the platform. Amazon’s algorithms often prioritize products that receive the highest ratings and ratings, to avoid low-quality products or scams. For sellers, getting a good rating from their customers can lead to an exponential increase in sales because most people only choose from the top search results.

A classic method of manipulating an Amazon review is include a gift card in the package, in exchange for the publication of a positive opinion by the customer; However, this technique has been continued by Amazon with great success, even kicking out brands like Aukey who have been accused of this type of practice.

Blow-drying is a similar technique, but more efficient because it requires nothing from the user. Sellers first get our name and address through other methods, such as leaking data from hacked pages, and create an Amazon account with that data. They then place an order which they pay themselves but they send to our address; As long as it’s a real address and there’s someone to pick up the package, it’s enough that the delivery is valid and Amazon considers it a sold product. Then they can post a positive review that is perfectly real in the eyes of Amazon.

Blow-drying differs from other techniques in that the user does not really do anything and does not suffer the consequences, beyond receiving an unwanted package of a product that probably does not interest him. Many people will even see it as a good thing, as a gift.

However, if they participate in the brushing, be aware that it is possible that your data is being shared illegally one way or another, either on the “Dark Web” or through companies that sell them.

What to do if we received a package that we did not order

It’s such a big deal for Amazon that the company has enabled a special page where we can notify that we’ve received a package that we didn’t order; Of course, this page is also useful if the package was simply sent to our address by mistake.

• Page for reporting packages received on Amazon

The process is very simple: just enter the package tracking number, which appears on the Amazon label on the package. It is a string of various letters and numbers that appear next to a QR code and under our direction.

Once we enter the code, we have nothing else to do. Amazon will investigate the purchase and shipment and take appropriate action; if it is an error, he will contact the buyer, but if it is an attempt to “brush”, he can kick the seller from his platform.

An important detail is that no need to return the package; you can keep it without problems, so you should not be afraid of the possible consequences. You also don’t have to pay anything for the product you received.

As a reminder, Amazon will never send you packages unless you have ordered and paid for them rather, so you’ll never trust cash-back packages that claim to be from Amazon.

Finally, you may be wondering what was in the package I received without asking.

I have not got the faintest idea.

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