LANSING The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is once again receiving reports of consumers receiving unsolicited packages containing seeds from China in the mail. Similar cases were reported in 2020, leading the U.S. Department of Agriculture and MDARD to warn residents who receive these packages not to open or plant the seeds.
The seeds are sent in a diverse array of packaging, including letters to parcels in variety of colors. Most recipients say they did not order anything, and that the packaging was labeled as jewelry. Some recipients have reported ordering seeds on Amazon and receiving these seeds.
"If you receive unsolicited seeds from another country, do not open the packaging or plant the seeds," said Mike Philip, director of MDARD's Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division. "USDA testing of these packages has identified hundreds of varieties of seeds, ranging from noxious weeds, to cannabis, to a wide array of vegetable and flower seeds."
The packages may be a part of a "brushing" scam. A brushing scam is an exploit by a vendor used to bolster product ratings and increase visibility online by shipping an inexpensive product to an unwitting receiver and then submitting positive reviews on the receiver s behalf under the guise of a verified owner.