[News Terms] 'Gukje Upyeonmul' Commotion... Possibility of 'Brushing Scam'

Unknown Packages Randomly Delivered Nationwide
Possibility of Shopping Mall Targeting 'Online Performance'

Reports of unidentified packages sent from Taiwan and other locations have been continuously received nationwide, with some suggesting the possibility of a 'brushing scam.'

According to fire authorities on the 24th, as of 5 a.m. on the previous day (23rd), there have been a total of 1,904 emergency calls reporting suspicious packages delivered from places including Taiwan. By region, there were 604 cases in Gyeonggi, 472 in Seoul, 89 in Gyeongbuk, 85 in Incheon, 80 in Jeonbuk, 66 each in Chungbuk, Daejeon, and Daegu, 64 in Busan, 54 in Jeonnam, 49 in Gwangju, 48 in Ulsan, 33 in Gyeongnam, and 9 in Jeju.

On the 20th, a package suspected to contain poison was found at a welfare facility for the disabled in Dong-gu, Ulsan, and firefighters who responded are inspecting the mail. [Provided by Ulsan Fire Department Headquarters]

The incident began on the 20th when three staff members at a welfare facility for the disabled in Ulsan opened a package contained in a yellow plastic bag and subsequently experienced dizziness and difficulty breathing. A detailed examination by the Defense Science Research Institute detected no harmful substances.

In this context, the possibility of a brushing scam has been raised. A brushing scam is a fraudulent practice used by sellers registered on online shopping platforms to increase their reviews and boost online recognition. To post sales records and reviews, a tracking number is required, and brushing scams are committed to obtain these tracking numbers.

Previously, in July 2020, unidentified packages sent from Suzhou, China, caused confusion in the United States and Canada. At that time, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that at least nine U.S. states received packages labeled as jewelry or toys from China, but the contents were unverified seeds. U.S. authorities concluded it was a brushing scam, stating, "No harmful substances were found."

In February, Australia also experienced a commotion when fake Cartier rings and fake Burberry scarves were delivered without any orders. One woman revealed the Cartier package she received on her TikTok account, lamenting that "it was packaged like a real Cartier." The outlet 'abc7chicago' reported, "No one will send you genuine (Cartier) designer products for free," adding, "This is part of a brushing scam."

Cybersecurity expert Simon Smith appeared on Australian ABC broadcasting and said, "Even if you receive a brushing scam package, there is no need to panic (as it is not poison or terrorism)," but added, "However, it means they know your name and address, so it should be regarded as a warning sign that your personal information has been leaked."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.