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The difference is that people who have NOT ordered these seeds are receiving them. That raises all sorts of troubling questions as to the motive of the sender e

The difference is that people who have NOT ordered these seeds are receiving them. That raises all sorts of troubling questions as to the motive of the sender especially since it appears to be coming from China. 27 States had to issue advisories against planting these seeds. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/26/us/seeds-from-china-mail.html https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/26/us/seeds-from-china-mail....

JoeAltmaier 6y ago
Rose? Lavender? Clearly a communist plot.
- CrazyStat 6y ago
  It's clearly some kind of plot. Probably not communist though.
  - derefr 6y ago
    It’s a garden plot. :)
    - 082349872349872 6y ago
      One hopes not: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Garden_Plot https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Garden_Plot
- CamperBob2 6y ago
  Invasive plants are no joking matter in certain regions of the US (and elsewhere.)
  - 082349872349872 6y ago
    Animal rather than vegetable, but this invasive was a big deal here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_French_Wine_Blight https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_French_Wine_Blight
- 082349872349872 6y ago
  Roses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yEeT6Swh5s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yEeT6Swh5s Lavender: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKKE6L7c4FQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKKE6L7c4FQ Totally a communist plot! Good thing you all don't have a repressive right wing government, otherwise I'd suggest watching out if they ever start sending carnations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnation_Revolution https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnation_Revolution (Anyone know of a soviet song with mint? I don't...)
whoopdedo 6y ago
As I understand, these shipments are typically part of a review fraud system where an item is "bought" using a stolen account and a review left in its name. But in order to show up as a verified purchase Amazon requires tracking information. To make it appear that the item was actually mailed, a nominally priced item is sent, some cheap seeds in a small envelope. But Amazon doesn't know that, it sees a completed shipment and assumes it's for the item being reviewed, which is something other than seeds. In other words, banning sales completely misses the point and won't stop the flow of the mystery seeds. Assuming that's what's actually going on.
- myself248 6y ago
  I've received several products I didn't order, as part of this fraud. One is actually a forehead thermometer that's come in really handy lately, thanks scammers! ;) In order for the seeds to be part of this fraud, the listing also has to be changed, as I understand it. Initially the listing is for seeds, and the seeds have the right ASIN and the orders are fulfilled and all these newly-created fraudulent accounts are "verified purchasers". Then they edit the listing to be for batteries, for example. All these verified-purchaser accounts now come and leave battery reviews on the battery listing, propelling it to the top of the battery ranking. So another part of stopping this scam is making it harder for sellers to edit their listings to completely change the product being listed. Fixing typos and adding photos, sure, but larger changes should be reviewed somehow. Unless we all misunderstand what's going on, as you said.
  - pbhjpbhj 6y ago
    It would be super-easy for Amazon to not allow listings to change the product type. Your reasoning must be wrong, or Amazon is consciously complicit?? I assumed they needed a tracking code for a delivery in USA, that Amazon can verify a delivery was made using it, but can't verify the goods sent. If I'm right then having tracking data include the package weight would go some way towards stopping the fraud - at least for heavy products. I wonder if shipping companies ever offer a 'verified item' system - they could have the recipient open the pack, photograph the contents and include with delivery details. Or, maybe an xray outline of goods.

JoeAltmaier 6y ago

Rose? Lavender? Clearly a communist plot.

CrazyStat 6y ago
It's clearly some kind of plot. Probably not communist though.
- derefr 6y ago
  It’s a garden plot. :)
  - 082349872349872 6y ago
    One hopes not: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Garden_Plot https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Garden_Plot
CamperBob2 6y ago
Invasive plants are no joking matter in certain regions of the US (and elsewhere.)
- 082349872349872 6y ago
  Animal rather than vegetable, but this invasive was a big deal here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_French_Wine_Blight https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_French_Wine_Blight
082349872349872 6y ago
Roses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yEeT6Swh5s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yEeT6Swh5s Lavender: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKKE6L7c4FQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKKE6L7c4FQ Totally a communist plot! Good thing you all don't have a repressive right wing government, otherwise I'd suggest watching out if they ever start sending carnations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnation_Revolution https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnation_Revolution (Anyone know of a soviet song with mint? I don't...)

whoopdedo 6y ago

As I understand, these shipments are typically part of a review fraud system where an item is "bought" using a stolen account and a review left in its name. But in order to show up as a verified purchase Amazon requires tracking information. To make it appear that the item was actually mailed, a nominally priced item is sent, some cheap seeds in a small envelope. But Amazon doesn't know that, it sees a completed shipment and assumes it's for the item being reviewed, which is something other than seeds. In other words, banning sales completely misses the point and won't stop the flow of the mystery seeds. Assuming that's what's actually going on.

myself248 6y ago
I've received several products I didn't order, as part of this fraud. One is actually a forehead thermometer that's come in really handy lately, thanks scammers! ;) In order for the seeds to be part of this fraud, the listing also has to be changed, as I understand it. Initially the listing is for seeds, and the seeds have the right ASIN and the orders are fulfilled and all these newly-created fraudulent accounts are "verified purchasers". Then they edit the listing to be for batteries, for example. All these verified-purchaser accounts now come and leave battery reviews on the battery listing, propelling it to the top of the battery ranking. So another part of stopping this scam is making it harder for sellers to edit their listings to completely change the product being listed. Fixing typos and adding photos, sure, but larger changes should be reviewed somehow. Unless we all misunderstand what's going on, as you said.
- pbhjpbhj 6y ago
  It would be super-easy for Amazon to not allow listings to change the product type. Your reasoning must be wrong, or Amazon is consciously complicit?? I assumed they needed a tracking code for a delivery in USA, that Amazon can verify a delivery was made using it, but can't verify the goods sent. If I'm right then having tracking data include the package weight would go some way towards stopping the fraud - at least for heavy products. I wonder if shipping companies ever offer a 'verified item' system - they could have the recipient open the pack, photograph the contents and include with delivery details. Or, maybe an xray outline of goods.