October 4, 2024
    As an Amazon seller, scammers are lurking around every virtual corner. Read on to learn about common Amazon scams with advice on how to avoid them.

    A Seller’s Guide to Common Amazon Scams (and How to Avoid Them!)

    Did you know Amazon scammers stole 27 million dollars in one year? If you want to avoid Amazon scams, we can help.

    In this guide, we’ll go over different types of Amazon scams. Protect yourself and your business from scams.

    Want to learn more? Keep reading.

    What Are Some Ways You Can Protect Yourself From Fraud?

    Let’s learn about ways you can protect yourself from fraud. Amazon won’t ask you for login details through text messages or emails.

    If you think an email is fake, you should log into your account directly. Don’t click the link that’s in the email.

    Make sure you pay attention to grammar. If the language is full of errors, you likely have spam. If you enter your details in an area, you shouldn’t have, or you’re worried you became hacked, contact Amazon right away.

    Don’t send a product until you receive the payment in your account. Make sure you conduct communication within Amazon. Learn more about how to avoid ecommerce scammers.

    Do Scams Still Happen?

    Amazon is a massive retailer, and with it comes more scams. Tons of fraudulent sellers will put up fake listings.

    These sellers don’t even plan on shipping these items, but they get payments from customers.

    Scams can jeopardize your business. Amazon’s reactive to scams.

    You Should Be Aware of Phishing

    Internet scams called phishing are common scams. Phishing is when individuals pretend they are trustworthy individuals or organizations.

    They will try and get personal information from you so they can steal your identity or money.

    Phishing scams remain common. Identifying thefts are extensive and intricate. Phishing tends to occur through email. The hacker sends an email that contains the malicious link.

    If you click the link, you’ll get moved to a new space where it asks for private information.

    Failed Delivery Scam

    This is another common scam that can occur. Buyers will buy a product online and say that the item never arrived. Then, the buyer will ask for a refund or replacement even though they did receive the item.

    Protect yourself from getting scammed. You don’t want to end up negatively impacting your seller performance metrics.

    When you ship an expensive product to someone, make sure you send it through track-and-trace postage.

    This will protect you during disputes. You’ll have verification that the item got delivered.

    Replace and Refund Scam

    This scam occurs when a seller posts an item to the shopper. The shopper will exchange the item for an old or damaged piece and ask for a refund.

    This occurs more often in the gaming industry. If you sell video gaming consoles, look out for this scam.

    Scammers will order a game. Once it’s delivered, they will swap out their scratched or broken game with the new one and return the item. This is where it’s tricky because, as a seller, you can’t prove this.

    You can resolve this issue by performing frequent quality tests. Stick an excellent tamper-proof sticker on your item.

    The stickers should get designed exclusively. This way, you’ll know if someone tampered with the sticker.

    The stickers can get bought online. Make sure you do this to protect yourself from this kind of scam.

    What About FBA Return Fraud?

    Sometimes, an item will get returned to an FBA seller. The person who bought the item will get instructed to send the item back to an Amazon fulfillment center.

    An Amazon employee will check the product and decide to return it to the warehouse. At the warehouse, it will get resold or get deemed ‘unsellable.’ The seller will then remove or dispose of the order.

    Amazon workers have to move fast during this process. A lot of times, items will get misclassified.

    If you do come across a buyer who’s familiar with Amazon policies and reseals the box, you could end up with a used or damaged item.

    Make sure you track all your return requests so you can prevent FBA return fraud.

    What About Email Scams?

    A lot of scams will occur through your email. They will often get people’s personal information. Don’t send a product to a buyer unless it does show up in “Your Orders.”

    If the order doesn’t appear in your rankings, but you get an email, you’re dealing with a scam.

    Make sure you delete the email and don’t respond to the email. Scammers invent an order. They ask for secret information about the payment and shipping.

    If you receive emails with attachments, make sure you delete them right away. Don’t open any of the attachments. Amazon won’t ask for private information.

    Protect Your Business

    Protect your Amazon business by reporting fraudulent activity that looks like a scam. You should email Amazon as soon as you detect any fraudulent behavior.

    Make sure you explain that you suspect a fraudulent seller. Say that you want them to investigate the situation right away.

    You Can Avoid Amazon Scams

    We hope this guide on Amazon scams was helpful. Consider learning more about common scams to avoid.

    Make sure you don’t get into situations where buyers try to get a refund for items they receive. Make sure you track expensive items that you ship to people.

    Do you want to become better at business marketing? Are you in need of more business tips? Keep learning how to improve your business and make more sales today.

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