Best Buy / Geek Squad Brushing Parcel Scam
You receive an unexpected parcel with Best Buy packaging containing a small electronic item you never ordered — a sign a third-party marketplace seller is running a brushing scheme using your personal data.
Part of: Brushing: Unsolicited Parcel Scams
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
Best Buy's marketplace allows approved third-party sellers to list products on bestbuy.com. Dishonest sellers on this marketplace occasionally run brushing campaigns, shipping low-cost items to real consumer addresses to generate fraudulent verified-purchase reviews under accounts created in the recipient's name.
A Best Buy-branded parcel arriving unexpectedly carries more credibility than a generic package, because many consumers have ordered electronics from Best Buy and might briefly assume the item is a delayed shipment or a gift. This plausibility window is what brushing operations rely on — they need the recipient to accept the parcel without reporting it.
Beyond the nuisance of the parcel, the receipt of a brushing package confirms that someone has obtained your name and shipping address. This data has almost certainly come from a data breach or commercial data broker, and the same dataset may be in use for more serious identity fraud.
How this scam works on the Best Buy brand
The parcel arrives in Best Buy blue and yellow packaging or with a Best Buy return label. Inside is a USB hub, cable, webcam, or similar small electronic item that has no invoice and no personalised card. A QR code or URL may be printed on a slip inside, inviting you to 'rate your purchase' or 'register your device'.
Shortly after, a five-star review from an account using a variation of your name may appear under a third-party electronics seller on bestbuy.com. The review makes the seller appear more credible to other buyers and elevates their product in search rankings.
The QR code or printed URL in the parcel, if followed, may lead to a fake Best Buy feedback page or a data-collection form offering a gift card in exchange for completing a 'customer satisfaction survey' — a secondary phishing vector.
Common red flags
- An unexpected Best Buy or Geek Squad branded parcel arrives that you did not order
- No matching order appears in your Best Buy account under 'Order History'
- The item inside is a generic low-cost electronic accessory with no personalised invoice or gift note
- A QR code inside asks you to rate the product or claim a reward
- A review appears on bestbuy.com from an account name similar to yours for a product you never purchased
- The return label shows an overseas sender address
How to protect yourself
- Log in to bestbuy.com and confirm the package does not match any order in your purchase history
- Do not scan any QR codes inside the parcel or visit printed URLs
- Check HaveIBeenPwned.com to see if your email or personal data has appeared in a known data breach
- Monitor your credit report for any use of your name and address in fraudulent applications
- Report the parcel to Best Buy's customer service at 1-888-237-8289 so they can investigate the third-party seller
- You are not legally obligated to return or pay for unsolicited goods in most jurisdictions
How to report it
- Report the parcel and any fake Best Buy marketplace accounts to Best Buy Trust & Safety via 1-888-237-8289
- File a report with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- If a fraudulent account was created using your identity, report to identitytheft.gov
- Alert the postal service if unsolicited Best Buy parcels continue to arrive
Frequently asked questions
Does brushing mean my Best Buy account was hacked?
Not necessarily. The brusher only needs your name and address. Log in to your Best Buy account to check for any sign of unauthorised access, but the parcel alone does not confirm account compromise.
Why would a seller send me free electronics?
Brushing scam operators manufacture verified-purchase reviews to boost their marketplace ranking. The cost of the cheap item is outweighed by the commercial value of a verified five-star review.
What should I do with the item?
You can keep it, donate it, or discard it. You have no legal obligation to return it. Report the parcel to Best Buy so they can investigate and remove the dishonest seller.