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Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Receive a random package you didn't order? You may be a victim of a ‘brushing' scheme — here's how it works
Ray Simmons was baffled when an Amazon package containing beet chews landed on his doorstep. 'I did think that maybe someone in my family was playing a joke on me, that they were telling me that I needed to eat healthier,' Simmons shared with WSB-TV Atlanta. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) But the package wasn't a joke. Simmons, as he would come to learn, had unwillingly become the target of a scam known as 'brushing.' The scheme is reportedly designed to exploit consumer data and manipulate online product reviews, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) reports. And while that may seem fairly harmless, USPIS has issued a warning to Americans across the country: if you receive a package that you didn't order, do not scan any QR codes that come with it. The brushing scam involves third-party sellers on e-commerce platforms that send unsolicited, low-value items to random people whose names and addresses were found online. Once the item is shipped, the scammers leave fake five-star reviews online using the recipient's name, or a fake profile made to resemble the recipient. The goal is to make the seller's products appear popular and highly rated in order to gain more visibility and sales. 'They didn't order anything, they received it, and it's generally a household item, a low-value item,' said U.S. Postal Inspector David Gealey. 'They have your personal information, which is easy to get because they can just Google a name and address. It's out there on the web, right?' Although the brushing scam might not directly lead to a financial loss, it signals that your personal information — such as your name and address — is being used without your knowledge. And that personal information could be circulating on unsecured databases or among bad actors online. All of this would be cause for concern, but the dangers of this scam can become a lot more severe if the target does not exercise caution. Read more: You're probably already overpaying for this 1 'must-have' expense — and thanks to Trump's tariffs, your monthly bill could soar even higher. Here's how 2 minutes can protect your wallet right now Postal inspectors say the real danger comes when these packages include a QR code, which urges recipients to scan for more information or to confirm the delivery. These codes can lead to malicious websites that steal personal data, install malware or phish for sensitive information. 'We do caution customers: do not scan any QR code on the package because sometimes that QR code can lead to a malicious site,' Gealey warned. Fortunately, Simmons' package did not contain a QR code. However, he still took a few necessary steps to protect himself and ensure his Amazon and banking accounts hadn't been compromised. Receiving an unexpected package could indicate that your personal information is being misused. Here's what USPIS recommends. Do not scan QR codes: As we discussed above, scanning QR codes from unreliable sources can bring on a heap of trouble that could lead to stolen personal data or harmful malware installed on your device(s). Do not return the item: You are not legally obligated to return unsolicited items. Simply keeping or discarding the package is safe, but don't follow any instructions that came with it. Check your financial accounts: Review your online bank and credit card statements, as well as your online shopping profiles and Amazon account activity immediately to ensure that your accounts haven't been hacked. Report the package: Notify your local police department, USPIS and/or the Federal Trade Commission about the unsolicited package. Reporting the package can help authorities with their investigation and can potentially prevent others from becoming a victim. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Georgia Man Who Spent 6 Weeks in Jail on a Kidnapping Charge Says He Was Helping a Falling Child
After spending 45 days in a Cobb County, Georgia, jail on a charge of attempted kidnapping, Mahendra Patel was released on Tuesday on a $10,000 bond after a judge determined he was not a threat to the community. Patel, 57, was arrested on March 18 and initially denied bail after a mother accused him of trying to kidnap her 2-year-old son in an Atlanta-area Walmart. According to the police report, Patel approached 26-year-old Caroline Miller and her two young children in the Walmart to ask for help finding Tylenol. Miller was sitting on a motorized shopping cart provided for disabled customers (even though she is not disabled) and had her toddler son on her lap. Miller told WSB-TV Atlanta that Patel grabbed the toddler and started "tug of warring" with her before letting go. Miller later reported the incident to 911 operators. "I had to rip my baby out of some other man's hands because he was trying to snatch him," Miller told the operator. "It all happened so fast, and he was out of the store, and while I was talking to the manager, he left." Patel was subsequently arrested and charged with assault, battery, and kidnapping, which was later amended to attempted kidnapping. However, security footage shown during Patel's latest bail hearing has been used to question the mother's claims. Patel's attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, claimed that Patel believed Miller was disabled due to the motorized cart and was merely trying to help stabilize the toddler as the mother began standing up from the cart. Merchant argued that Patel had no intention of taking the boy. Witnesses also failed to corroborate Miller's story and did not recall seeing any kind of attempted kidnapping. "The video couldn't be clearer: Mr. Patel did not try to kidnap this child," said Merchant. Prosecutor Jesse Evans, on the other hand, argued that the security footage does in fact back up the mother's story and shows Patel tugging on the 2-year-old boy's leg before returning her son to her lap. Evans also highlighted Patel's criminal history—a past low-level felony conviction and a pending DUI case—and evidence that Patel may have been intoxicated during the incident (a point refuted by the defense). Additionally, Evans argued that Patel's statements during an interview with police that he knew Miller thought he was taking her kid and wanted to apologize for what he had done were further proof that Patel is a danger to the community. After hearing both arguments, the judge presiding over the bail hearing determined that Patel was "entitled to a bond" and "doesn't have any type of conviction that bothers me in terms of any type of violent behavior." Patel was granted a bond and released later the same day after spending over six weeks in custody. He still faces charges, including attempted kidnapping. An individual is considered guilty in the state of Georgia of attempted kidnapping if found to have attempted to "abduct or steal away another person without lawful authority or warrant and holds such a person against his or her will," and includes even "slight movement" of another person. If convicted, Patel faces between one and 30 years in prison. The post Georgia Man Who Spent 6 Weeks in Jail on a Kidnapping Charge Says He Was Helping a Falling Child appeared first on
NBC News
06-05-2025
- NBC News
Man accused of kidnapping toddler at Georgia Walmart released on bond
MARIETTA, Ga. — Mahendra Patel, a 57-year-old Georgia man facing charges of attempted kidnapping at an Atlanta-area Walmart, has been released on bond after spending six weeks in jail. A superior court judge of the Cobb County Judicial Circuit set the bond at $10,000 Tuesday morning. Patel was accused in March of ripping a 2-year-old away from his mother, 26-year-old Caroline Miller. He was charged with criminal attempt to commit kidnapping, assault and battery, according to court documents. Miller told local television station WSB-TV Atlanta that she and Patel were 'tug of warring' with the child. However, surveillance footage released in April contradicts Miller's account, Patel's attorney Ashleigh Merchant said. Patel told reporters outside the detention center that he was elated to be out of law enforcement custody. 'I'm a positive guy, so you got to take it one day at a time. Lot of ups and downs,' Patel said. 'But I knew we had a team outside helping me. One day we'll see the light, and then we see today.' According to the arrest warrant, Miller's 2-year-old had been sitting in her lap while they were in a shopping cart for people with disabilities. Patel had allegedly grabbed and pulled the child away from Miller. Miller was able to regain control of her child by 'wrestling' him back from Patel, the warrant said. 'This act placed the mother in fear for her and her child's safety,' the warrant said. Surveillance footage of the interaction shows Patel speaking to Miller while she's in the scooter. Miller, who is not disabled, has said that her children enjoy riding in the scooter. At one point, the 2-year-old slips from Miller's lap. Patel told law enforcement that he had asked Miller where Tylenol could be found, and attempted to help stabilize the toddler. 'Mr. Patel offered to hold the baby while she got up to show him where the Tylenol was,' Merchant said during the hearing. 'He believes fully that she's handicapped and she's got two young children.' Patel appears to have a second interaction with Miller, during which he shows her the bottle of Tylenol that he had found. 'Mr. Patel went, got the Tylenol, and the video couldn't be clearer,' Merchant said during the hearing. 'Mr. Patel did not try to kidnap this child.' Since Patel's arrest, he's drawn support from across the internet. A petition for his release has gotten more than 47,200 signatures as of Tuesday. Patel is still fighting the case but, for now, he said he is excited to have a home cooked meal. A trial date has not yet been scheduled. 'I'm picky about food, but I told my daughter and wife, I said, 'I don't care. Better than what I got over there.''
