Both Amazon and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have launched investigations to try to find out why college student unions across the country have received packages from anonymous senators that include sex toys, cameras, record players, dog toys and red
Unrequested shipments arrive at Amazon packaging with no accompanying explanation, which makes some students worry that something evil is happening.
Amazon has proved worried, too.
On the company's website, the Amazon website notifies the seller when the customer places an order.
But the online retailer said the sellers behind the spam did not get the student union name and delivery address from Amazon.
"This is a violation of our policy.
Amazon said in a statement: "We removed the seller in violation of our policy . . . . . . And take appropriate action in cooperation with law enforcement . ".
"Consumer trust is one of our top priorities.
More than ten university students
Including darhousie in Halifax, Ryerson in Toronto, University of Manitoba in winnipegan and Royal Road in Victoria --
Each Amazon has received up to 35 unsolicited packages since the fall.
Lakehead University Student Union in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Up to now, 16 packages including dildos, vibrators, wireless headsets and record players have been received.
After not getting an answer from Amazon, deputy chairman of the Union, Farhan Yousaf
The president of operations and finance contacted the local RCMP on November.
"We are a little worried," he said . "
Concerns range from the possibility of someone's credit card being hacked into buying items, to a package with dangerous items.
"It could be harmful," he said . "RCMP Const.
The situation of Darryl Waruktook.
According to his findings, the goods come from dealers in China who sell goods on Amazon.
He said Amazon's law enforcement support told him that Chinese companies were sending goods to the Canadian College Student Union as a marketing strategy.
"This is just a way for companies to push products out and show demand for products," Waruksaid said . ".
Amazon wants to leave the package at your home and Walmart will put the groceries in your fridge. He said Amazon told him it was "a normal trade act," and that the police ended his investigation after being assured that there was no crime involved.
However, he thought it was strange.
"It doesn't sound right to me," he said, with no collateral information given that the items were shipped to the student union.
"At least put a letter there saying 'this is for you as a gift, '" Waruksaid said '. ".
"But there is no waybill, nothing.
"You just have to open the box and there's a camera inside.
I mean, there's sex toys, there's weird stuff.
"Start pump" China-based e-
The business giant Alibaba has recently encountered some problems with suppliers engaged in "brushing orders": to improve the status of products on Alibaba, manufacturing sales and corresponding positive customer reviews.
"This is all.
Simon Meredith said he is a marketing professor at Simon Fraser University in B. C.
"That person will definitely get your ass in court.
"CBC News asked if Amazon's anonymous package had a similar situation, but the company did not answer the question and did not answer any other questions about the RCMP investigation.
It does say its investigation continues.
Meredith believes that on Amazon, mysterious senders may target student union leaders in the hope that they can use their products and then influence other student purchases.
He said: "You want to take the product to their hands and others will say when they see it, 'yes, there must also be a product like this. '".
"The starting mode of the pump.
"If that's the motive, it's useless.
Some students will tell the CBC News that they have no plans to keep these products and will send them away.
Farhan's student union plans to auction it and donate the money to the student food bank at Lakehead University.
"If I take my camera and stuff home, it's not ethical, it's not right," he said . ".
"It's not something I spend money on.
"Unnecessary stress," yousufu believes that if Amazon knows more frankly about mysterious packages, most of the confusion caused by mysterious packages can be avoided.
"There is some communication with us," he said . "
"The bag that comes in randomly like this, it gets a bit worrying.
It will only cause unnecessary pressure.
"Sean Wiska, deputy.
The chairman of student affairs at Regina University Student Union agreed.
Since November, his team has received more than 15 anonymous Amazon packages filled with random items, including two record labels, a kitchen scale and a red cloak, he said.
He said that the student union contacted Amazon many times but did not get a specific answer.
"It's a little frustrating not to let anyone know the secret. "