ZEELAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – If you get a package in the mail unsolicited from China, a couple of federal agencies wants it.
Dozens of people in several states received what was marked as an item of jewelry, but it turned out to be just seeds. The Federal Trade Commission believes that this could be one of several online scams aimed at avoiding paying out a refund, while the US Department of Agriculture is wondering just exactly what those seeds really are.
Master Gardener Jan Meeuwsen of DeBruyn Seed in Zeeland was one of those who received such a package, and by the looks of the seeds, she thinks that it may be daisies or some other innocuous plant.
“I got the little package in the mail, and it said ‘stud earrings’ on it,” she said on “WHTC Talk of the Town” during her weekly appearance. “I thought, ‘What did I order? I don’t remember ordering anything,’ and yes, there were seeds inside. (The USDA) do desperately want to see what they are, if they got any bugs or if they got any diseases in them. Who knows what (these seeds) are doing here.”
More information on the scam aspect of this package is here; the USDA local contact is:
David Burt – Plant Health Safeguarding Specialist
11200 Metro Airport Center Dr. Suite 140
Romulus, MI 48174
(734) 942-9005 or 229-1627
