Unsolicited Seed Packets from China

[Bopper]

I received this notification from someone a the LSU Ag Center today. Very weird.

Baton Rouge, La. (July 24, 2020) – Today, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) was notified that a resident in St. Rose, La. received an unsolicited package of seeds originating from China.

At this time, recent reports indicate that unsolicited packages of seeds have been received by people in Utah, Virginia, Washington and the United Kingdom.

“Right now, we are uncertain what types of seeds are in the package. Out of caution, we are urging anyone who receives a package that was not ordered by the recipient, to please call the LDAF immediately,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, D.V.M. “We need to identify the seeds to ensure they do not pose a risk to Louisiana’s agricultural industry or the environment.”

The number to call is 225-925-4733. LDAF inspectors will collect the seeds and test them for positive identification.

[Bluey]

@Bopper

I received this notification from someone a the LSU Ag Center today. Very weird.

Baton Rouge, La. (July 24, 2020) – Today, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) was notified that a resident in St. Rose, La. received an unsolicited package of seeds originating from China.

At this time, recent reports indicate that unsolicited packages of seeds have been received by people in Utah, Virginia, Washington and the United Kingdom.

“Right now, we are uncertain what types of seeds are in the package. Out of caution, we are urging anyone who receives a package that was not ordered by the recipient, to please call the LDAF immediately,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, D.V.M. “We need to identify the seeds to ensure they do not pose a risk to Louisiana’s agricultural industry or the environment.”

The number to call is 225-925-4733. LDAF inspectors will collect the seeds and test them for positive identification.

Thanks for the warning.

Many don’t realize that you don’t want to plant any you don’t know what it is.
Here any such strange packages, from here or foreign, are given to the post office.
They have protocols to handle those.

[PeteyPie]

@Bopper

I received this notification from someone a the LSU Ag Center today. Very weird.

Baton Rouge, La. (July 24, 2020) – Today, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) was notified that a resident in St. Rose, La. received an unsolicited package of seeds originating from China.

At this time, recent reports indicate that unsolicited packages of seeds have been received by people in Utah, Virginia, Washington and the United Kingdom.

“Right now, we are uncertain what types of seeds are in the package. Out of caution, we are urging anyone who receives a package that was not ordered by the recipient, to please call the LDAF immediately,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, D.V.M. “We need to identify the seeds to ensure they do not pose a risk to Louisiana’s agricultural industry or the environment.”

The number to call is 225-925-4733. LDAF inspectors will collect the seeds and test them for positive identification.

How weird. It may be part of a “brushing scam” as discussed in these Forbes articles linked below. The scam involves stealing a name and address from EBay or some other online location, creating an account in that name, and sending an empty box or very lightweight, cheap item. When the package is delivered, there is a delivery confirmation and the scammer uses the account to give the seller (himself) a five-star rating. This is done several times to create a respectable-looking and highly-rated seller’s profile which can then be used to cheat other people.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/wadeshepard/2019/10/25/americans-are-still-receiving-unordered-packages-from-asian-e-criminals/#613b80fa69f3
https://www.forbes.com/sites/wadeshepard/2017/11/27/americans-are-receiving-unordered-parcels-from-chinese-e-criminals-and-cant-do-anything-about-it/#3fa5188273da

[Bopper]

More information - Today we received reports of people receiving seeds in the mail from China that they did not order. The seeds are sent in packages usually stating that the contents are jewelry. Unsolicited seeds could be invasive, introduce diseases to local plants, or be harmful to livestock.

Here’s what to do if you receive unsolicited seeds from another country:

1. DO NOT plant them and if they are in sealed packaging (as in the photo below) don’t open the sealed package.

2. This is known as agricultural smuggling. Report it to USDA and maintain the seeds and packaging until USDA instructs you what to do with the packages and seeds. They may be needed as evidence. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/…/impor…/sa_sitc/ct_antismuggling

[Where_sMyWhite]

I am a Master Gardener and have been notified and been seeing emails about unsolicited seeds popping up all over the place in the last few days.

Absolutely what Bopper posted… don’t plant, don’t open, report to USDA.

What I thought ironic is the same day the emails about unsolicited seeds started showing up, I got notification that seeds that I had ordered had been shipped from China :rolleyes: At least I ordered the seeds and I know what the seeds should look like.

[2DogsFarm]

I have seen the info in my news feed & thought “too little, too late”

A friend - NOT a Master Gardener - routinely orders from the app site Wish & orders have included seeds supposedly for flowers pictured on the site.
She has planted what she ordered, all before the pandemic & accompanying China-phobia.
I am pretty sure she is not alone in doing so.

If you have looked at Wish, it is obviously not a site based in the US.
Or, at least, items ordered are not made in or delivered from US.
So has it been flying under State Dept/USDA radar?