eBay Brushing Scam — Unexpected Packages and Seller Fake Reviews
Third-party eBay sellers create ghost purchases using real addresses to generate fake verified-purchase reviews, and victims receive unsolicited items with no return address.
Part of: Brushing: Unsolicited Parcel Scams
Last reviewed: 7 June 2026
eBay's marketplace, like other major platforms, can be exploited by brushing schemes in which dishonest sellers use real names and addresses to create fake orders and generate verified-purchase reviews. Unlike Amazon's brushing patterns, eBay's model means brushing is more often linked to specific seller accounts attempting to inflate their feedback score.
Victims receive unexpected packages — lightweight, inexpensive items — with a shipping label addressed to them but no verifiable return address. The arrival of the parcel means the seller has access to the recipient's name and address, which may have come from a data breach, a data broker, or a prior eBay transaction.
eBay's feedback system relies on verified transaction reviews, and a brushing seller aims to accumulate positive feedback quickly to appear more trustworthy to real buyers.
How this scam works on the eBay brand
The brushing seller creates an eBay account (or uses a hijacked one), generates a fictitious transaction using the victim's address, ships a cheap item, and then posts a positive feedback review. Because eBay's feedback system lists the buyer's username, the fake review may be posted under a fictitious account rather than the actual victim's eBay account.
In some cases, the brusher has obtained a real eBay buyer's username and associates the fake transaction with it. The victim may then find unexpected feedback in their eBay history — a review they did not write for a transaction they do not recognise.
As with Amazon brushing, a QR code inside the parcel directing the recipient to scan it for a 'warranty' or 'product registration' can be a secondary phishing lure.
Common red flags
- A parcel arrives with your name and address but no corresponding eBay order in your account
- An eBay feedback entry appears for a transaction you do not recognise
- The package contains a QR code asking you to scan it
- The sender address is a generic forwarding address or a Chinese fulfilment company you have never heard of
- Your eBay account shows a transaction or feedback that you cannot account for
How to protect yourself
- Log in to your eBay account and check Purchase History — if no transaction matches the parcel, your payment was not charged for this shipment
- Change your eBay password and enable two-factor authentication as a precaution
- Do not scan any QR codes found inside unexpected packages
- Check your eBay Feedback Profile for any reviews you did not write and report them to eBay
How to report it
- Report the brushing to eBay Customer Service at ebay.com/help
- Report fraudulent feedback entries to eBay using the feedback revision process
- Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- If your account was charged for a transaction you did not make, contact eBay and your payment provider immediately
Frequently asked questions
If a fake review appeared under a made-up account rather than my real eBay username, does that still affect me?
If the fake account isn't linked to your real eBay identity, your own account and reputation are likely unaffected. The main concern remains that your name and address were exposed somewhere, which is worth addressing with a password change as a precaution.
How is eBay brushing different from Amazon brushing in terms of who benefits?
The mechanics are similar, but on eBay, brushing is typically tied to a specific seller trying to inflate their own feedback score for a listing they control, since eBay's feedback system is central to a seller's visible reputation.
Should I change my eBay password even if I can't find any unfamiliar transaction in my account?
It's a reasonable precaution given that your personal data has clearly been exposed somewhere, even if your eBay account itself doesn't show signs of compromise. Enabling two-factor authentication at the same time adds extra protection going forward.
An eBay review appeared on my account for a purchase I did not make. What does this mean?
This can indicate that a brushing seller associated your eBay username with a fake transaction. Report the feedback entry to eBay for removal and change your password. eBay investigates brushing reports and takes action against seller accounts involved.
Does receiving a brushing parcel mean my eBay account was compromised?
Not necessarily. Your address may have been obtained from an external source without your eBay account being accessed. Check your account for any unfamiliar transactions or changes, and update your password as a precaution.