Virginia residents have been advised not to plant unsolicited seeds they have received in the mail, as reported by the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VADACS).
Residents informed the VDACS that they received seed packets in the mail with a writing on the outside that appears to be Chinese. The seeds have yet to be identified, but officials speculate that the seeds may be from an invasive plant species and advise residents not to use them.
“Taking steps to prevent their introduction is the most effective method of reducing both the risk of invasive species infestations and the cost to control and mitigate those infestations,” VDACS officials said in a statement.
Virginia is not the only state receiving unsolicited seed packets, and FOX 13 Salt Lake City reports that residents across Utah have received similar deliveries.
In some cases, the packages were labeled as containing jewelry or other equally attractive content.
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“I opened them up and they were seeds,” said Lori Culley, a Tooele, Utah, resident. “Obviously they are not jewelry.”
FOX 13 confirmed that the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is likely to liaise with Customs and Border Protection to investigate.
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Jane Rupp, president of the Utah chapter of the Better Business Bureau (BBB), told FOX 13 that the incidents could be a scam known as “brushing” in which some companies will send you a product so they can post a bogus review to your name.
“That is quite random. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of seeds before, ”said Rupp. “The first thing you should do is Google your address and see what’s out there … A lot of things will show up when you Google your address.” Sometimes it is a little scary.
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Anyone who has received this type of package should contact the Plant Industry Services Office (OPIS) at 804-786-3515 or send an email to [email protected].
