Brookfield Officials Respond To Multiple Suspicious Packages

BROOKFIELD, CT — Emergency crews in Brookfield responded to multiple locations Friday and Saturday following reports of suspicious packages that were ultimately found to contain unsolicited seeds, town officials said.

The Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company said it was dispatched Friday to two separate locations along with the Danbury Fire Department and hazardous materials teams from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. One of the Friday incidents involved a person exhibiting symptoms after receiving an unsolicited package. A detailed investigation determined that the contents posed no threat to the public.

A similar response occurred Saturday, when the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company and Brookfield Police Department were dispatched to another location for two more suspicious packages. Those packages also contained unsolicited seeds, authorities said.

Related: UPDATE: Suspicious Package Deemed Non-Hazardous By Brookfield Police

Investigators believe the incidents are connected to a broader brushing scam, in which individuals receive unsolicited items through the mail, often as part of an effort to generate fake online reviews. Officials also warned that some seed packaging may contain QR codes that could lead to malware or harmful websites.

Authorities urged residents not to open, handle or improperly dispose of any unsolicited seed packages. Instead, individuals should leave items in their packaging and report them to local law enforcement.

Guidance on how to safely dispose of such materials has been provided by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture and the Federal Trade Commission:

• Connecticut Department of Agriculture Disposal Guidance
• FTC Advice on Unordered Seeds
• U.S. Postal Inspection Service on Brushing Scams

Officials emphasized that any suspicious package, device or unknown substance should be reported to local police and not touched or transported.