Houston County, Ala. (WDNews) — The Alabama Cooperative Extension System in Houston County is warning residents after reports of mystery seed packages appearing in local mailboxes. Officials say these unsolicited seeds, often labeled as coming from China, could pose a threat to the environment by introducing invasive species or plant diseases.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) previously investigated similar seed packages in 2020 and determined they were part of an internet “brushing” scam. In this type of fraud, online sellers send cheap, unordered items to random recipients to generate fake positive reviews for their products. While no intentional harm was found, experts strongly advise against planting the seeds due to potential ecological risks.
Houston County Extension officials urge anyone who receives an unexpected seed package to avoid opening it and report it to the USDA or local agricultural authorities. Proper disposal methods should be followed to prevent accidental contamination.
