Pelham police warn of ‘brushing’ scam involving unsolicited packages, QR codes

PELHAM — Police are cautioning residents about a “brushing” scam proliferating across multiple states, involving unexpected deliveries of items such as jewelry and electronics, with a hidden catch that could compromise personal information.

The scam involves the arrival of unsolicited gifts from companies like Amazon, bearing the recipient’s address but lacking sender details or a known retailer’s name.

Items range from rings and bracelets to Bluetooth speakers.

Upon opening these mysterious packages, recipients find a QR code, purportedly to identify the sender.

However, scanning this QR code can be perilous, as it grants scammers complete access to the victim’s phone, including personal and financial data.

This can lead to drained bank accounts and significant privacy breaches.

Pelham Police Department advises individuals to keep or discard the gift but to avoid scanning the QR code under any circumstances.

QR code scams have become increasingly common and are not limited to mailed packages, appearing in locations as commonplace as parking meters.

Residents are urged to inform their family and friends about the scam and to remain vigilant against scanning any unknown QR codes.

As of now, no incidents have been reported to Pelham PD, but the department aims to proactively share this information to prevent potential fraud during the holiday season.