Online Shopping Tips: If you do online shopping, then know about the new brushing scam, otherwise you will regret it later..

We all love online shopping. It is easy and time-saving. Also, it often helps you get the best deals and discounts. However, as many people are busy shopping online, scammers also find ways to trick them for personal gain. Most of us rely on product reviews and ratings to decide whether to buy something from an e-commerce site or not. According to reports, scammers are now manipulating reviews and popularizing products in a fake way. So that fake sales can be generated. This new method of cheating is being called a 'brushing scam'.

This is how the game is played.

A brushing scam is a deceptive online practice in which scammers send fake products to people and then post reviews in their name online. The term 'brushing' originated from the Chinese e-commerce practice where sellers increase their product ratings by creating fake orders and reviews. In this scam, sellers send unsolicited packages to random users of e-commerce sites. These packages often contain cheap, low-quality items such as costume jewelry, small gadgets, or even seeds. Once the package is delivered, scammers write 5-star reviews using the receiver's name on the product page to increase the product's visibility and fake popularity on platforms like Amazon and AliExpress.

What does the report say?

According to the McAfee report, the purpose of this scam is to manipulate sales figures and create the illusion of quality and demand for products on e-commerce sites. For legitimate customers, this practice is deceptive, causing them to make purchases based on fake reviews rather than real customer feedback. But if users are getting free products, how harmful can it be? Actually, through this scam, scammers are taking advantage of your sensitive data and can also steal your money if you are not careful.

These are also the risks.

As we have understood, scammers are popularizing products by sending unsolicited parcels using the names and addresses of unsuspecting e-commerce users. They are also able to obtain this information through data breaches or illegal purchase of personal data. Receiving such a package may indicate that your personal information has been compromised, posing significant risks such as identity theft and other privacy violations.

In addition to identity theft and misleading reviews, a report by ABC Action News reveals that many unsolicited packages now include QR codes that urge the receiver to scan them. Scammers use attractive messages. Such as - 'Scan this QR code to write a review and win a $500 gift card.' Scanning these QR codes can lead to malicious websites designed to steal sensitive information or install malware on your device. The stolen personal data can then be used for financial fraud or phishing attacks.

Keep these things in mind.

Do not scan any random QR code.

Keep your e-commerce account safe with methods like two-factor authentication.

If you receive any such package, report it to the e-commerce platform.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Dainik Jagran. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.