A man in Edinburgh has received several strange packages this month, including 300g of polystyrene balls.
He believes he has been subject to "brushing", an Amazon scam used by sellers to allow them to create fake reviews of their products.
Scammers set up fake accounts in a strangers name, and post out random items to allow them to create favourable "verified purchase" reviews, according to consumer website Which?.
Fergus Boden, from Edinburgh, first received an odd package of 300g of polystyrene balls in August, and in recent days he received a second unwanted package of coloured straws.
Fergus said when he contacted Amazon, they asked him if a relative could have ordered the products without his knowledge: "They didn't", he said.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live ,he said: "The first time it happened was really exciting as I couldn't remember ordering anything, so I thought it was a gift. When I opened it and realised it was a bag of polystyrene balls it got a bit worrying, because I wasn't sure what else was in there, but it turned out it was just the balls.
"It also turns out they're a nightmare to clean up when they spill everywhere. The plastic straws were annoying as I don't use plastic straws, but equally don't want them going to waste, so now they're just sitting in my kitchen.
"If people are sending me stuff to boost their Amazon rating, I at least want them to send me stuff I can use."
Fergus said he had previously read an article about "brushing" online, so was aware of the practice.
He added: "It'd be helpful if Amazon provided some guidance for people for when this happens. I've changed my Amazon password, but since the orders aren't coming from my account I don't think that'll do anything.
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"You'd hope Amazon would do more because I can imagine for some people who didn't know about the brushing scam this would be a quite worrying and confusing thing to happen."
Fergus said he hasn't cancelled his credit card, and doesn't think they have cloned his details, but will keeping a close eye on his account.
Have you received any strange parcels? Get in touch on news@edinburghlive.co.uk
