- This topic has 6 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 11 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
-
Brought it up on a previous post and started looking around for more information. Apparently, these scams are widespread and have leaked into every product category. If you look at almost any popular item on amazon from books to widescreen TV’s you will see postings by “just launched sellers” with prices way below the average price.
Once you buy the item they upload fake shipping numbers from China or Korea, after 14 days they get paid and close down their accounts. Becuase the shipping shows it will take 14+ days most customers do not immediately report the item not arriving. Amazon is backing everything up with A-Z claim but this has to be hurting their numbers and trustability factor.
One seller I was tracking had 450 negative feedback after he shut down. He was only open for two days before he shut down sales and waited the other 12 days to get paid. Considering people who didnt leave feedback I would say he made close to 800 at $12 a piece.
Here are a few articles. A lot more information is on the AZ seller forums. Private label sellers are getting hit the hardest.
https://www.inc.com/sonya-mann/amazon-fraud-scam-sellers.html
-
-
I ordered a couple of new books that I think were probably some of these scammer accounts. They had some feedback, not a whole bunch, and the books were quite a bit cheaper than Amazon. Books never arrived, seller wouldn’t respond and I had to file an A to Z to get a refund. Maybe this explains the big seller fee increase this year at Amazon?
-
-
The scammers that would scrap 1000’s of listings and sell for pennies on the dollars have been very active for over a year, they just didn’t get any press until this month. The secondary scam that is occurring where they are hacking actual accounts that are dormant and then scrapping all of the listings is new. It may or may not be tied to the recently departed smaller sellers.
This secondary one is a bigger problem. The hijacked account has valid feedback and therefore appears to be legitimate to the buyer. Then, when all of the returns and A to Z claims occur Amazon is trying to charge the prior legitimate seller who didn’t know their account was reactivated. Everyone who has a previous seller account is encouraged to go in and check their user permissions and set up the two part verification for using or changing anything on the account. This should protect it in the future.
-
I saw a few instances last year but I guess it blew up around Christmas time. More concerning are a few forum posts that say the scammers are sending emails with the fake tracking number link that leads to malware, not exactly sure how since it goes through the amazon message system. So they already have your name, address and phone number plus whatever information they collect from the link..times thousands of unsuspecting customers each day.
Amazon prime items are safe. Just do not buy anything from just launched or low feedback sellers who have prices too good to be true.
-
I wouldn’t buy anything from a just launched seller. That’s like buying something from someone on ebay with 0 feedback. I realize this is unfair, I was once a just launched seller too (and Amazon feedback is hard to get) but it seems prudent.
I was watching a youtube video recently that said 60% of Amazon customers browse with the prime filter on. I am guilty of that as well. That means you never see products that are sold merchant fulfilled.
Also hello Jay and Ryanne. I am months behind on the podcast but am listening again and reading old posts.
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.