Police believe they may have solved the mystery of unsolicited seed packages being shipped to U.S. addresses from China, a bizarre phenomenon reported in at least 31 states.
The packages may be linked to a fake product review scam, known as ‘brushing,’ police said.
“We have done some research and it appears that these seeds are linked to an online scam called ‘brushing’,” said the Whitehouse Police Department in Ohio.
“A planing scam is a feat of a vendor that is used to bolster product ratings and increase online visibility by sending an inexpensive product to an unintended recipient and then sending positive reviews on behalf of the recipient under the guise of a verified owner. “
Residents in at least 31 US states have received unsolicited seed packages from China
Ohio police told their community they believe it is part of a ‘brushing’ scam for online reviews.
North Carolina experts agreed.
“According to the Better Business Bureau, third-party third-party sellers use their address and Amazon information to generate a false sale and positive review to increase their product ratings,” said Phil Wilson, director of the plant industry division for the North Carolina department. farming.
A sample of plant seeds shipped to Ohio
“Seeds are just one of the items used in this scam, however you may receive other low-cost items like rubber bands, plastic toys, or empty bags.”
Jane Rupp, president of the chapter of the Better Business Bureau in Utah, also speculated that the incidents could simply be ‘bordering on’.
‘That is quite random. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of seeds before, ” said Rupp.
‘The first thing to do is Google your address and see what’s out there. Many things will appear when you Google your address. Sometimes it is a little scary.
The confused residents were sent small packets of seeds by mail, with labels suggesting they were shipped from China.
In some cases, the packages had Chinese letters printed on the labels and are mislabeled as jewelry.
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry reported that some of the packages were labeled to say they contained headphones or toys.
It is unclear why the seed packets were shipped and why each individual who received a delivery was chosen.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumers shared a photo of some unsolicited seeds
In Washington, the state department of agriculture said it received reports on Friday about residents who received seeds by mail from China that they did not order.
‘The seeds are shipped in packages that generally indicate that the contents are jewelry. Unsolicited seeds could be invasive, introduce disease to local plants, or be harmful to livestock, “they wrote.
Photos shared on Facebook showed that a resident received two seed packets labeled ‘bracelet’ and ‘ring’.
The address showed that the packages were shipped from Suzhou City in East China’s Jiangsu Province.
Washington officials added that this law is known as agricultural contraband and that people must notify the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services issued a warning on unsolicited seeds on Friday after receiving similar reports.
“The types of seeds in the packages are unknown at this time and may be invasive plant species,” the department wrote.
“Invasive species wreak havoc on the environment, displace or destroy native plants and insects, and seriously damage crops.”
The photos shared by Virginia officials showed a small zippered bag with several brown seeds.
Lori Culley of Tooele, Utah, told Fox 13 that she received two small packages labeled as gold earrings on Tuesday.
“I opened them up and they were seeds,” Culley said. They are obviously not jewelry!
A staff member from the Utah Department of Agriculture collected the Culley seeds a few hours after leaning over the packages.
Lori Culley revealed that they sent her poorly labeled seed packets as gold earrings.
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is investigating the incident.
At least 40 people across Utah received a seed packet by mail from China without explanation
The Utah Department of Food and Agriculture will reportedly work with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents to investigate the packages.
In Utah, at least 40 residents have received similar packages mailed without explanation.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture and the Arizona Department of Agriculture also released statements about the seeds that were echoed by their peers.
“Packets of unsolicited seeds have been received by people in several other states in the United States in recent days,” Kansas officials wrote in a press release.
Agriculture officials have warned residents not to plant the seeds or open the packages.
Kansas officials released photos of seed packages shipped to their state
Louisiana was another state that had reports of mysterious seeds.
And the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry warned that they are not sure what kind of seeds are shipped and be careful.
‘At this time, we are not sure what types of seeds are in the package. As a precaution, we urge anyone who receives a package that has not been ordered by the recipient, to call the LDAF immediately, “said Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, Mike Strain.
“We need to identify the seeds to make sure they don’t pose a risk to Louisiana’s agricultural industry or the environment.”
They confirmed that, in addition to several U.S. states, mystery seeds were also shipped to the UK.
Hundreds of British gardeners reported receiving deliveries marked ‘pending’ from China and Malaysia.
In a statement to DailyMail.com, a USDA spokesperson said officials are aware of the packages and are working to prevent their entry into the United States.
“The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is aware that people across the country have received unsolicited packages of seeds from China in recent days,” they wrote.
APHIS is working closely with the Department of Customs and Border Protection and state agriculture departments to prevent illegal entry of prohibited seeds and protect US agriculture from invasive pests and harmful weeds.
‘Anyone who receives an unsolicited package of seeds from China should immediately contact their state plant regulatory official or APHIS state director of plant health.
‘Keep seeds and packaging, including shipping label, until someone from your state department of agriculture or APHIS contacts you for further instructions. Do not plant seeds of unknown origins.
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