Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office is warning citizens to beware of a “Brushing” Scam that has been circulating in several communities around the country recently.

A "brushing" scam is when someone receives an unexpected gift or item not ordered in the mail. These packages, at times, have appeared to come from reputable companies. The gift will have the recipient’s address, but it will not include the sender's information or simply show as being from a known retailer. When the recipient opens the package, there is a QR code inside to scan in order to find out who supposedly sent the gift. Once the code is scanned, the victim is taken to a spoofed website that appears legitimate, and asked to enter account information or is told to click a link which installs malware. Both provide the scammer access to the device including personal and financial records stored on the device. If you receive a package similar to this, the gift can be kept or thrown away, but the QR code should not be scanned for any reason.

While QR codes are popular and useful for many reputable events and organizations, QR code scams are nothing new. We encourage you to inform family and friends about this scam in an effort to keep citizens safe.

Remember: If you are ever concerned about the legitimacy of a call or package you receive, you can always contact us at 501-450-4914 or our Non-Emergency Number 501-328-5906.

Stay safe, Faulkner County!

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