Mystery seeds from China are landing in Americans' mailboxes

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/china-seeds-americans-mail-unsolicited/?fbclid=IwAR3q39UTCwjwgiuq4C20JPt1AhLiFZRAg_u-GkZy6WmI_O9AzzjTlmTa-4c#app

Updated on: July 29, 2020 / 7:45 PM / CBS/AP

The USDA and agriculture officials across the U.S. have issued warnings about unsolicited shipments of foreign seeds and advised people not to plant them. Officials are concerned the mystery seeds, which appear to have originated in China, could be invasive plant species.

CBS News has confirmed that residents in all 50 states have now reported receiving suspicious packages of seeds.

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Anyone in Kentucky receiving packages of foreign or unfamiliar seeds should contact the state agriculture department immediately, Quarles said.

"At this point in time, we don't have enough information to know if this is a hoax, a prank, an internet scam or an act of agricultural bio-terrorism," he said. "Unsolicited seeds could be invasive and introduce unknown diseases to local plants, harm livestock or threaten our environment."

APHIS said the USDA is collecting seed packets from people who received them and will test the contents to see if they contain anything that "could be of concern to U.S. agriculture or the environment."

But it also said that as of Tuesday, it didn't have "any evidence indicating this is something other than a 'brushing scam' where people receive unsolicited items from a seller who then posts false customer reviews to boost sales."

In North Carolina, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said it was contacted by numerous people who received seed shipments they did not order. The agency said the shipments were likely the product of the international internet scam known as "brushing."

"According to the Better Business Bureau, foreign, third-party sellers use your address and Amazon information to generate a fake sale and positive review to boost their product ratings," said Phil Wilson, director of the state's Plant Industry Division.

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The USDA later urged anyone who receives an unsolicited seed package to contact their state plant regulatory official or APHIS State plant health director immediately. "Please hold onto the seeds and packaging, including the mailing label, until someone from your State department of agriculture or APHIS contacts you with further instructions. Do not plant seeds from unknown origins," it said Tuesday.

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