U.S. Department of Agriculture identifies mystery seeds from China

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has identified seeds reportedly from China that started showing up in mailboxes in Kentucky and across the country.

According to multiple media reports, the USDA identified 14 different variety of seeds in the mail shipments.

The report says the seeds were made up of fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers and other common plants.

When the shipments first started showing up in mailboxes, there was concern the seeds could have been part of a bioterrorism plot, but the USDA says it appears the mailings are part of a ‘brushing scam.’  The scheme is where people receive an unsolicited shipment from a seller who then posts fake customer reviews to boost sales.

The USDA says the FBI and Homeland Security are still investigating the shipments.

The USDA continues to ask people who receive the seeds in the mail to not plant them and to contact authorities.