mystery seeds in the mail

has anyone gotten these mystery seeds that are on the news. they say the packages are from china and ag experts thought the country are pleading with people not to plant them, dispose of them or even open the packages

I have not received the seeds, but I am following the seed story with great interest.

Just heard about it but haven't seen the mystery seeds...

What I have heard in German gardening forums is that people who buy really cheap seeds on platforms like eB**, Am** etc. get seeds from China that don't resemble the ordered variety at all.
For example, what should have been luffa seeds look like grass seeds. That's what I have read often: grass seeds.

But that is only from the people who write in forums. There may be other people who order some cheap seeds and actually try to sow them.

Hi Anita,

From what I am hearing, this is a little different. People who have never ordered seeds are receiving unlabeled seeds from China.  Of course, the issue is not if one has ever ordered seeds .... it is if one has ordered these seeds.

John F Dean wrote:Hi Anita,

From what I am hearing, this is a little different. People who have never ordered seeds are receiving unlabeled seeds from China.  Of course, the issue is not if one has ever ordered seeds .... it is if one has ordered these seeds.

Ah, that sounds a bit creepy. Do you know the Bradbury story "Boys, grow giant mushrooms in your cellar!"? Some life form is trying to take over...

If it has been a while, maybe that's just seed sellers trying to forge store reviews, as they need authentic shipping records. If it is recent and large scale, then something is going on.

I initially planned  on tucking in some surprise seeds to the next responder after me in the "next poster gets the mail" thread. Maybe not a good idea I guess.

Hi May,

There are a number of problems with the current case that probably would not impact you.

The packages are coming from a foreign country,
The seeds are not labled.
The people receiving the seeds have never done business with the company.
In fact, it is not clear who is sending them.

I received some ages ago. Years. I was so confused as to why I had this package from China that I asked the security peeps at the Federal Building to put it through their screener. They did and it was just seeds. Now here is where I make ya'll cringe. Planted them. Nothing grows here, not even China seeds. lol

I saw this yesterday, then dear hubby asked me about it.

Saw this today:

The USDA urged anyone who received the seeds in the mail to contact state plant regulatory officials or Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service officials in their state.

Officials warned people not to plant the seeds.

"If you receive seeds from China, DO NOT PLANT THEM. And don’t throw them in the trash," Mississippi Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner Andy Gipson said in a statement on his Facebook page.

https://news.yahoo.com/people-getting-mystery-seed-packets-132443770.html

I agree with May that this seems like a brushing scheme, where people are sent unsolicited items so that bot accounts can submit verified purchaser reviews to Amazon to boost star rankings.  

In the early days you signed up to be a shopping consultant, you were sent free stuff, then encouraged to leave five star reviews.  If you did you got more stuff, and sometimes money.

Then they moved away from the bribery and just badgered people to leave five star reviews in exchange for the promise of stuff.  

Then they started sending stuff unsolicited to random addresses do these verified bot reviews.  

Now it seems they've figured out that they don't actually have to send the stuff listed on the bill of sale.  

I'm a little confused why its seeds? Maybe thats a byproduct of another venture and they need to get rid of them? Seems weak but i think we just haven't figured out the angle yet.