Gloucester County Officials Warn About Facemask Delivery Scam

GLOUCESTER COUNTY, NJ — While a recent trend in which residents are receiving facemasks they didn’t order in the mail is part of a scam, it is not a direct threat to one’s security, officials said Tuesday morning.

The Better Business Bureau has received reports of people receiving box loads of merchandise on their doorsteps that are labeled as being from Amazon and other retailers, Gloucester County officials said Tuesday morning.

The scheme, known as “brushing,” involves companies, typically third-party over-sea sellers, who send items to addresses found online in hopes of boosting reviews on retail sites like Amazon, officials said.

An array of different items have been included in the scam, according to officials. Once the items are delivered, these sellers post fake reviews to increase their sales numbers.

“There is no need to panic if you receive a mask you did not order in the mail,” Gloucester County Commissioner Director Robert M. Damminger said. “The Federal Trade Commission has advised that residents can keep any items that are sent to your address if they contain your name and address. We would recommend disposing of the items as you don’t know where it’s been or came from.”

“While this scam isn’t a direct threat to your security, we always recommend to update passwords and usernames often to avoid any security breaches,” Gloucester County Commissioner Lyman Barnes said.

Officials offered these tips for families to keep themselves safe from scams including:
1. Check your social media privacy settings
2. Be wary of unsolicited messages
3. Choose strong and different passwords
4. Update your device’s software
5. Be careful when using public Wi-Fi- never use it for shopping or banking

Anyone who has a concern or questions concerning a suspicious email, phone call or package, can call the New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-242-5846 or visit http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/.