Have you received a poor-quality scarf with the word "Suzhichou" written on it? Did you receive this item without even ordering it, or have you ordered something else but got this scarf instead? Whatever the case, your identity has likely been misused, or you've been duped.

How does this scam work? If you receive such a package, what should you do? Can this scam be detrimental in any way?

How Does the Suzhichou Scarf Scam Operate?

The Suzhichou scarf scam is usually perpetrated in two variations. The first variation involves a brushing technique, in which victims receive this scarf without ordering it. The second approach involves scammers sending the scarf rather than the ordered item. Let's briefly examine both variations of this scam:

1. Receiving the Suzhichou Scarf Without Ordering It

Brushing is a dubious technique used by scammers (and sometimes legitimate businesses) to boost the rating of their product listings and achieve organic growth on an e-commerce platform. This technique involves scammers placing fake orders on their own listings and sending items to random people, usually for free.

Before placing these orders, scammers use random yet accurate data, often scraped from the internet or bought from other scammers, to create fake accounts on the same online marketplace where they sell their products. Then, they place fake orders using forged accounts and increase the number of orders on their listings.

Once the item has been dispatched and the customer (who hasn't even ordered it) receives it, fraudsters post a positive review using fake accounts, posing as genuine buyers. This way, regardless of how bad their product is, they get a five-star rating, which ultimately helps their listing rank higher.

If you have received the Suzhichou scarf despite not ordering it, you have likely fallen victim to a brushing scam.

2. Receiving the Suzhichou Scarf Despite Ordering Something Else

The second variation of the Suzhichou scarf scam involves people ordering something else but receiving a Suzhichou scarf instead.

In most cases, the tracking number on the scarf package matches the tracking number generated by the store when the buyer orders a different item. Technically, the buyer receives the purchased item, meaning the order appears successful, but the seller sends an entirely different product.

In the Suzhichou scarf scam, numerous users have commented under a YouTube video that they ordered a treadmill but received a scarf instead. If you have also recently ordered a treadmill or something similar but received this scarf, you might also be a victim of this scam.

Received a Suzhichou Scarf? Here's What You Should Do Next

How you should proceed after receiving the Suzhichou scarf depends entirely on which variant of this scam you've been targeted with. Let's discuss how you should respond in both cases:

What Should You Do if You Did Not Order the Package?

If you have received the scarf without ordering it, you have been a victim of a brushing scam. Generally, brushing scams are run by the company itself, which bears the item's cost and shipping charges. Fraudsters only care about earning five-star ratings. Therefore, your credit card probably would not have been charged for these items.

However, if your credit card is already linked to the store from which you received the scarf, and you frequently shop there, ensure your main account hasn't been hacked and isn't being used to propagate the brushing scam.

Sign into your account, check the order history, and if you see a suspicious order recently placed from your account, contact your credit card company right away for a refund. Also, change the account password immediately and log out of all devices, so scammers cannot access your account again.

Even if the scammers have used their funds to cover the item's cost and shipping fee, your personal details have probably been used by scammers to complete the sale. Most likely, a review with your name (or address) would also be listed on the same online store from where you have received the package.

So, explore the listing on that store, and if you find it, you should report it to that retailer's customer service department. If you fail to locate that listing, forward the tracking number on the package to customer support so that they can investigate the matter for you.

This way, the e-commerce store will not only remove the review placed using your personal information but also block the seller's listing, helping to keep the broader community safe from this scam. To avoid a similar occurrence in the future, take every possible step to secure your online identity.

Here are a few more things you should do to deal with the brushing scam effectively:

• If the package you receive is a cash-on-delivery purchase, meaning you are asked to pay the shipping fee and item cost when you receive it, do not accept it.
• If you receive a package for free with no delivery charges, you can keep or discard it as you wish. Either way, don't forget to report this brushing scam to the retailer.
• Monitor your online store account, credit cards, and bank account for a few days and report any suspicious activity you notice.

How Should You Proceed if You Receive a Different Item Than What You Ordered?

If you have received the Suzhichou scarf instead of the item you recently ordered from the same store, check the tracking number on your package and compare it to the one generated when you placed your order. If both tracking numbers match, you have been scammed.

If you bought this item from a legitimate e-commerce platform (such as Amazon or BestBuy), contact their customer support and share all the details. Most likely, they will help you get your refund. In addition, the retailer will take action against the scammers and remove their listings for the safety of other buyers.

If you've purchased the item from an unreliable store that doesn't even offer customer service, you are out of luck. Leave a review about that store on a popular review website like Trustpilot to prevent others from falling victim to the same scam. Also, avoid purchasing anything from such stores in the future.

Always shop at trusted retailers, as many online stores sell electronics and other products at incredibly low rates.

Don’t Be Fooled by the Suzhichou Scarf Scam

Unless the Suzhichou scarf is a replacement for something else you paid a lot of money for, you don't have to worry much about it. Whether you decide to keep the item or throw it in the trash, report the seller to the retailer so that they can take action against fraudsters who use this mischievous tactic to boost the organic rankings of their listings.