If you have received an unsolicited seed packet, the NBC10 Response Team would like to hear from you. Fill out the Consumer Complaint Form here or call NBC10 Responds at 215-201-5310.
What to know
- The Delaware Department of Agriculture said there are several reports from Delawareers receiving random shipments of seed packets along with jewelry and other inexpensive items. Many of the residents said it came in packages with Chinese writing on them.
- The researchers believe that the submissions are part of a planing scam in which the senders submit low-cost items at their own cost in order to get higher ranking on e-commerce sites and create a more legitimate appearance for their profiles.
- The DDA said the seeds have not been identified but that, according to the packages, there are several varieties of plants that are shipped illegally. Anyone who received seeds they never ordered should not plant them because they could be an invasive species, according to the DDA.
Packets of China filled with cheap seeds and cheap jewelry were sent to Delaware homes as part of a scam to boost online business, the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) said. Residents are cautioned not to plant the seeds for the gifted.
The DDA said there are several reports from Delaware users who received random shipments of seed packets along with jewelry and other inexpensive items. Many of the residents said it came in packages with Chinese writing on them.
The researchers believe that the submissions are part of a planing scam in which the senders submit low-cost items at their own cost in order to get higher ranking on e-commerce sites and create a more legitimate appearance for their profiles.
The DDA said the seeds have not been identified but that, according to the packages, there are several varieties of plants that are shipped illegally. Anyone who received seeds they never ordered should not plant them because they could be an invasive species, according to the DDA.
If you received a seed package you never ordered, report the shipment to the Trade Interception and Trade Compliance Program (SITC) by calling the contraband hotline at 1-800-877-3835.
People who received a package should leave everything inside to help investigators trace the origin. However, if you planted the seeds, the SITC will provide instructions on how the plants should be managed.
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