Fake Stores and Seller Scams on Amazon
How fraudulent sellers abuse Amazon's marketplace model to collect payment for goods they never deliver or to sell counterfeit products.
Part of: Phishing
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Amazon's third-party marketplace allows independent sellers to list products alongside Amazon's own inventory, creating opportunities for fraudulent sellers to exploit buyer trust in the Amazon brand. Scammers create seller accounts, accumulate fake positive reviews, and accept orders for products that will never be shipped — or will arrive as cheap counterfeits.
Amazon's A-to-Z Guarantee provides some buyer protection, but claiming it requires following specific steps, and some fraud methods are designed to circumvent it.
How this scam works on Amazon
A common pattern is the 'drop shipper to nowhere' scam: a seller listing a high-demand product at a competitive price accepts orders, generates tracking numbers using another carrier's label (showing 'shipped'), but the shipment either never arrives or contains an unrelated cheap item. The tracking appears to show delivery, which complicates an A-to-Z Guarantee claim.
Another variant is the review-manipulated counterfeit seller. A new seller acquires a legitimate listing with real reviews (through account acquisition or hijacking) and substitutes a counterfeit product. Buyers purchase what they believe is a verified-reviewed product and receive a fake. Some scammers also contact buyers outside Amazon — via forged 'Amazon' emails — to collect payment directly and bypass the platform's payment processing entirely.
Common red flags
- Price significantly below market value for a brand-name product
- Seller with only recent reviews or reviews that seem generic and unrelated to the specific product
- Tracking number that shows delivered but package not received
- Email from a seller asking you to pay outside Amazon for a discount
- Product listing that switches stock photos after purchase
How to protect yourself
- Buy from 'Sold and Fulfilled by Amazon' listings when possible for higher-value items
- Check a seller's feedback in detail — look for specific product mentions and negative feedback patterns
- Never pay outside Amazon for items found on the Amazon platform
- File an A-to-Z Guarantee claim promptly if an item is not delivered or not as described
- Report fake sellers to Amazon using the 'Report a violation' option on the listing
How to report it
- Open an A-to-Z Guarantee claim through 'Returns & Orders' if the item did not arrive or was not as described
- Report the seller to Amazon using the 'Report abuse' link on the seller's storefront
- Report counterfeit products to the brand holder directly — most major brands have dedicated counterfeit reporting portals
Frequently asked questions
Does buying through Amazon automatically protect me from a fraudulent third-party seller?
Amazon has an A-to-Z Guarantee that may cover orders from third-party sellers that never arrive or are significantly not as described, but coverage can depend on the specifics of your order and timing — file a claim through Amazon directly if your item doesn't arrive or is fake, rather than assuming automatic protection. Always check the claim window and requirements in your order details.
How do I spot a fraudulent third-party seller on Amazon before I buy?
Check the seller's rating, review count, and how long they've been active — a seller with very few reviews, recently created, selling suspiciously discounted popular items, is higher risk. Read recent reviews specifically (not just the star average) for mentions of counterfeit items, non-delivery, or listing switches, since these seller accounts are sometimes recycled or hijacked.
I received a counterfeit product instead of the genuine item I ordered on Amazon — what should I do?
Report the item as "not as described" or counterfeit through Amazon's return and claims process, and include photos comparing it to the genuine product if possible. If Amazon's process doesn't resolve it, you can also report the listing to Amazon's counterfeit reporting channel, which is separate from the standard return process.
Does Amazon's A-to-Z Guarantee cover all third-party purchases?
The A-to-Z Guarantee covers most items purchased on Amazon from third-party sellers, but it requires you to first contact the seller and allow them time to respond. If the seller does not resolve the issue, you can escalate to a claim. Items paid for outside Amazon's system are not covered.