Reno County man receives seeds in mail, likely a scam
Kansas Residents Warned of Seed Scam Targeting Gardeners
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Agricultural extension officials are warning Kansas residents about unsolicited seed packages that arrive in the mail as part of an online fraud scheme designed to boost fake product reviews.
James Chambers of Reno County discovered the scam firsthand when he received a package he never ordered containing what appeared to be weed seeds. The package showed signs of multiple uses and included a QR code that led to suspicious websites.
"Everything looks pretty weird, and if you look at the package further, it looks like the package has been used a minimum of three times," Chambers said Tuesday. "Everything to me says scam."
Matt McKernan of the Sedgwick County Extension Office confirmed the packages are part of what experts call "brushing schemes," where fraudulent online retailers send unwanted products to create fake customer accounts and reviews.
"The scam involves fraudulent online retailers who create fake accounts and send products to real people's addresses," McKernan said. "This allows the scammers to create fake reviews praising their products and falsely inflate the amount of sales their business does."
The schemes pose environmental risks when the seeds contain invasive plant species or harbor diseases and pests not native to Kansas.
Extension officials advise recipients never to plant unsolicited seeds and to dispose of them by wrapping packets in duct tape and placing them in sealed plastic bags before throwing them away.
The Federal Trade Commission has previously issued warnings about similar schemes involving various products shipped from overseas, particularly during peak gardening seasons.
Kansas residents who receive suspicious packages should report them to local extension offices or the state Department of Agriculture's Plant Protection and Weed Control division.
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