Mysterious Seeds from China Arriving in Various Mailboxes Nationwide
The Clemson University Department of Plant Industry (DPI) and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA) has recently been made aware that several South Carolina residents have received unsolicited packages containing seeds that appear to have originated from China, and the USDA has confirmed that the seeds have arrived in various mailboxes in all fifty states. The types of seeds in the packages are unknown at this time and may be invasive plant species or could harbor a plant disease. The packages were sent by mail and may have Chinese writing on them. Per USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), it appears that the shipment of seed packets is a “brushing scam” where sellers send unsolicited items to unsuspecting consumers and then post false reviews to boost sales. DPI urges South Carolina’s residents that have received unsolicited seeds in the mail appearing to be from China, to store the seeds safely inside a zip top bag and to not plant, throw away or handle the seeds. Visit Clemson.edu to submit all inquiries to the Department of Plant Industry’s Invasive Species office. Someone will respond to your inquiry within 24 hours with additional guidance on the collection and/or destruction program.