Ohio police warn about unexpected gifts showing up at homes

AKRON, Ohio (WJW) – Who wouldn’t like a surprise gift delivered to their door? Well, one police department is warning residents if an unexpected present shows up on their doorstep it may be part of a scam.

According to a post on the Akron Police Department’s Facebook page, what’s known as a “brushing” scam has been showing up in many states. The post explains that the unexpected delivery will have a recipient’s address, but won’t include the sender’s information.

“When the recipient opens the package to see what it is and possibly who sent it, there is a QR code to scan to find out who sent the gift,” said the post. “Once the code is scanned, all the information from that phone will be sent to scammers.”

The Better Business Bureau has also issued a recent warning about the scam.

The BBB warns that items can be delivered by well-known companies, like Amazon, but come from third-party sellers, often foreign companies. Examples of gifts have included a humidifier, a hand warmer, a flashlight, a Bluetooth speaker, and a computer vacuum cleaner.

“Often, the items received are lightweight and inexpensive to ship, such as ping pong balls, face masks, or seeds from China.” reads the BBB warning.

The good news? Police say you can keep the present — or throw it away — just don’t scan the QR code.

According to Amazon’s website, they have partnered with the BBB to help consumers identify scams and learn about suspicious communications reported by others. CLICK HERE to learn more about common Amazon scam trends.

And, CLICK HERE to read more from the BBB regarding these unexpected “gifts.”

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