Sellers expose “return scam” using stolen listings and fake items

Wait... did Amazon just refund your 2018 order? 😳

If you noticed a random Amazon refund drop into your account lately—you're not the only one. Customers are reporting surprise reimbursements for purchases made months, even years, ago.

So, what’s going on? It all ties back to an internal audit, a $1B correction, and a quiet move by Amazon to make things right.

• Return scam uses stolen listings 🎭
• Sell on Walmart for back-to-school wins 🎒
• Fake IP claims shut down Amazon sellers 🚫
• How top DTC brands drive repeat buys 🛍️

TRENDING TOPIC

Scams on Amazon are getting bolder—and more absurd. 

In a post that’s quickly gaining traction in the Seller Central, a seller detailed how a fraud ring has been targeting their listings with a ruthless, repeatable tactic.

📌 Here’s the return fraud playbook:

• Scammers copy their Amazon listings (title, images, and all) and repost them on third-party sites like Walmart, Kmart, and UBuy—at a higher price.
• They buy the item from Amazon, wait for it to arrive, and then initiate a return using a new buyer account.
• Instead of returning the product, they send back a cheap notepad or a deflated balloon—yes, really. 🎈
• Amazon processes a full refund anyway.

The result: The scammer profits the markup, the seller loses the product, and Amazon’s system rubber-stamps it all.

🚨 The abuse hasn’t stopped

Turns out, they’re not alone. 

• Other sellers have come forward, reporting identical scams with the same Pokémon notepads returned in place of real products. 🗒️
• Most of these fake returns? Shipped back from Canada, even though the original orders were delivered to U.S. addresses.

An Amazon representative in the thread has asked affected sellers to document everything—including return photos and tracking info—so the issue can be properly escalated.

If you've fallen victim to this new refund scam, contact Amazon immediately. 📞

TOGETHER WITH WALMART MARKETPLACE

Start selling on Walmart.com by July to capture peak back-to-school sales

Back-to-school seasonal demand is second only to the holiday season with highly promoted sales that can drive traffic, boost your brand and fuel sales. Launch your store now to ensure you're selling in time to capitalize on the back-to-school traffic surge.

Right now, Walmart’s New-Seller Savings event is offering new sellers up to $75K in incentives, which includes up to 75% off base referral fees and generous credits toward advertising and fulfillment.*  

Walmart is one of the world's most recognizable brands with over 255 million customers and members shopping at Walmart online and in-store around the world each week. New-Seller Savings runs from sign up to January 31, 2026, so don’t wait—the faster you start, the more opportunities you’ll have to save. 

To take advantage of this unprecedented offer and the endless opportunities on Walmart.com. 

*Conditions apply. 

Join Walmart Marketplace Today.

BITES OF THE WEEK

• Brand PR Solution: Onvendo, a digital solutions company, officially launches a new PR Service for Amazon Sellers.
• Supplier Finder: You can find verified U.S. suppliers faster with Seller Assistant's new Sourcing AI tool.
• Prioritize Customized: Data shows that 39% of consumers expect brands to personalize their online shopping experience.
• From Browsing to Believing: 3D ecommerce technology allows products to be virtually present in users’  spaces—redefining furniture shopping.

BLACK MARKET

Fake IP complaints are shutting down Amazon sellers

Just one intellectual property (IP) complaint can deactivate listings—or worse, suspend your entire account.

According to Lawdit Solicitors, not every claim is legitimate. Bad actors are gaming the system by filing design registrations on generic products, then using them to block honest sellers.

🤖 Amazon’s automation flaw

Most IP claims are handled by bots. The result? Listings disappear first, and the investigation (if any) comes later. That delay makes it easy for abusive claims to slip through. 

Here’s how to spot a suspicious IP claim:

• Design filed within the last 12 months 🚩
• No selling history from the complainant 🚩
• Covers a generic or common product 🚩
• No warning—just a sudden takedown 🚩

🥊 Never admit liability

Instead, respond with a well-structured appeal, and then take legal action. Here’s the process:

• Legal letter to Amazon: Demand reinstatement with evidence (product history, prior art, etc.)
• Design invalidation: File to overturn the design with UKIPO/USPTO
• Registrant warning: Send legal notice demanding claim withdrawal and reimbursement
• Sue if needed: For malicious falsehood and unjustified threats

Fake IP claims are on the rise, but they’re beatable. With the right legal help and a solid game plan, you can defend your listings, protect your brand, and stay in the fight.

ACTIONABLE ADVICE

How top DTC brands keep shoppers buying more

Cross-selling isn’t new, but top direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands are still cashing in—with surprisingly simple tactics. Practical Ecommerce reviewed 40 leading DTC sites and outlined how to borrow (and improve on) their best moves.

• Bundles are the OG power move. They boost average order value and give shoppers more for less. 🛍️
  • How big brands do it: Renaming bundles to suit their purpose.
    • Maude (apparel) goes with “matching sets.”
• Put recommendations everywhere. Make it easy for shoppers to say yes. Some brands surface related products where clicks are most likely. 👉
  • Where to cross-sell:
    • On product pages
    • In the shopping cart
    • During checkout (yes, even after payment details)
• Incentives that motivate. Threshold-based offers are a classic for a reason. They encourage larger orders without feeling pushy. 🏆
  • What brands offer:
    • Free shipping
    • Free items or access (like Lovevery’s app)
    • Tiered rewards: Three Ships offers free shipping at $49.99, samples at $65, and a travel pouch at $85—all stackable

🚀 Right in your platform

Here’s the kicker: none of this requires a custom tech stack. Most ecommerce platforms already offer the tools. The trick? Actually using them—and thinking creatively. 

Almost every tactic in this roundup was built with native features or basic plug-ins.