Washington, Virginia, Texas, and Utah residents have reportedly received unsolicited packages of seeds of Chinese origin.
"We received reports of people receiving seeds in the mail from China that they did not order," the Washington State Department of Agriculture reported on July 24.
We have received reports of people receiving seeds from China that they did not order. If you receive them - don't plant them. Report to @USDA_APHIS at https://t.co/0U53rbAiHs pic.twitter.com/Y4yAKv5bk7
— WA St Dept of Agr (@WSDAgov) July 24, 2020
The sealed packages are sent by mail from Suzhou, China, just northwest of Shanghai, and appear to have Chinese writing on them. The contents are usually mislabeled as jewelry.
Virginia's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services released a public service announcement Friday urging recipients not to plant the seeds.
The types of seeds are unknown at this time and may be invasive plant species, state officials wrote.
Invasive species wreak havoc on the environment, displacing or destroying native plants and insects and severely damaging crops, the press release continued.
"Taking steps to prevent their introduction is the most effective method of reducing both the risk of invasive species infestations and the cost to control and mitigate those infestations," the Department stated.
Reports came of similar seeds being received in Utah. Over the past few weeks, approximately 40 Utah residents, mostly in Toole, have reported mysterious seed packages sent from China as well.
FOX 13 has confirmed the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food will likely team up with Customs and Border Protection to investigate.
Some Americans are asking if this is biological warfare.
Someone in #China is sending, unsolicited, seeds to Americans in three states. The seeds are usually mislabeled as jewelry. See: https://t.co/L1kKAApYJC. We have to ask: Is this biological warfare?
— Gordon G. Chang (@GordonGChang) July 25, 2020
Meanwhile, the Better Business Bureau believes that the seeds are a business scam, the root of the ploys. The Daily Mail notes that British residents have been receiving seed packages as well.
The president of BBB’s Utah chapter Jane Rupp told FOX 13 that the incidents could just be a scam known as "brushing," in which certain companies send products so they can post a fake review under the recipients' names.
Although, Rupp admitted that seeds are random and not an incident she's heard of before.
"The first thing to do is Google your address and see what’s out there," Rupp advised. "Numerous things will come up when you Google your address. It’s kind of scary sometimes.”
Recipients should report the packages for agricultural smuggling to the US Department of Agriculture by contacting the confidential hotline number at 800-877-3835 or by email at SITC.Mail@aphis.usda.gov.
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