Credit: Delaware Department of Agriculture
If you received an unsolicited package labeled as jewelry with a seed pack inside, don’t plant them, according to Pennsylvania officials.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture warned residents this week that unordered and mislabeled seeds shipped from overseas have been arriving in mailboxes.
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“Consumers nationwide have received seeds in packages labeled as jewelry. These seeds may contain plant diseases, weeds or invasive plants that could harm Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry and ecosystem,” the department said in a press release.
“Seeds sold in Pennsylvania are rigorously tested to ensure that they are genetically pure and regulated to ensure that what’s on the label is what’s in the package,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “Planting seeds without knowing what they are can wreak havoc with our environment, destroy agricultural crops and incur costly control efforts for years to come.”
The seeds arriving in mailboxes are most likely part of a scam called “brushing.” The scheme works to boost online retailers’ sales by purchasing their goods through fake accounts. The items are then mailed to a real address, but only the resident did not order the product. The fake buyer then writes a positive review of the item to boost its profile.
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Brushing isn’t new, but the seed packages seem to be more widespread than in the past incidents. Previous brushing incidents have included empty packages arriving at homes.
There is concern that the seed packs could include invasive plants or other dangerous items.
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“Consumers who receive unsolicited seeds are asked to retain the seeds and packaging. If opened, double bag and seal the seeds. Do not plant them or discard loose seeds,” according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
In addition to Pennsylvania, 27 other states, including nearby Delaware and New Jersey, have issued warnings about the seed packages, according to the New York Times.
Residents who receive the packages have been asked to contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) confidential Antismuggling Hotline at 1-800-877-3835 or email SITC.Mail@aphis.usda.gov. Authorities will then provide further instructions.
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The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s seed program licenses seed distributors, and analyzes and certifies seeds to help ensure that seeds are free of pathogens, invasive plants and noxious weeds.
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