$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Amazon fake product review job scam
Scammers recruit people through social media or text messages for 'paid Amazon review' jobs, eventually requesting upfront payments for products to review or stealing personal information during the onboarding process.
“online shopping scam”
↑ 184%Key indicators
Usually targetsJob seekers
Often hitsPayroll, HR, and finance teams
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers advertise 'Amazon product reviewer' positions on social media, job boards, or through unsolicited texts, promising free products and payment per review.
2
After initial small legitimate-seeming payments to build trust, the scam escalates — victims are asked to front money for expensive products or pay platform fees.
3
The recruiter disappears with the victim's money, or uses collected personal information for identity theft.
What to do first
Legitimate companies do not recruit product reviewers through unsolicited texts or social media messages offering easy money.
Related terms
paid review scamAmazon reviewer job scamproduct tester job fraudFake review scamsAmazonSurgingJob seekersStudentsStay-at-home parentsPayroll, HR, and finance teamsRemote workers and job seekersEducators and studentsUnited StatesCanadaUnited Kingdompaid review scamAmazon reviewer job scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Thomas, 29, a job seekers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate fake review scams situation while using Amazon. Scammers advertise 'Amazon product reviewer' positions on social media, job boards, or through unsolicited texts, promising free products and payment per review.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: After initial small legitimate-seeming payments to build trust, the scam escalates — victims are asked to front money for expensive products or pay platform fees.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The recruiter disappears with the victim's money, or uses collected personal information for identity theft.
The outcome
Thomas realized something was wrong when a text or social media message offers easy money for writing amazon reviews. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Legitimate companies do not recruit product reviewers through unsolicited texts or social media messages offering easy money. Thomas's experience shows why a text or social media message offers easy money for writing amazon reviews and you are asked to pay upfront for products you will supposedly review and keep are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- A text or social media message offers easy money for writing Amazon reviews
- You are asked to pay upfront for products you will supposedly review and keep
- The job requires you to share your Amazon account login or personal banking details
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Legitimate companies do not recruit product reviewers through unsolicited texts or social media messages offering easy money.
- ✓Never pay upfront to receive products for review — this is the hallmark of the scam.
- ✓Report fake review job scams to the FTC and to the platform where you were recruited.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The FTC has taken enforcement actions against companies engaged in fake review trafficking, and Amazon filed lawsuits against over 10,000 fake review brokers between 2022 and 2024.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Legitimate companies do not recruit product reviewers through unsolicited texts or social media messages offering easy money.
- ✓Never pay upfront to receive products for review — this is the hallmark of the scam.
- ✓Report fake review job scams to the FTC and to the platform where you were recruited.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The FTC has taken enforcement actions against companies engaged in fake review trafficking, and Amazon filed lawsuits against over 10,000 fake review brokers between 2022 and 2024.
FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Job seekers, Students, Stay-at-home parents
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, United Kingdom
Primary channel
Amazon — Fake review scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Job seekers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The FTC has taken enforcement actions against companies engaged in fake review trafficking, and Amazon filed lawsuits against over 10,000 fake review brokers between 2022 and 2024.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about amazon fake product review job scam
How does the amazon fake product review job scam work?+
Scammers advertise 'Amazon product reviewer' positions on social media, job boards, or through unsolicited texts, promising free products and payment per review. After initial small legitimate-seeming payments to build trust, the scam escalates — victims are asked to front money for expensive products or pay platform fees. The recruiter disappears with the victim's money, or uses collected personal information for identity theft.
What are the warning signs of amazon fake product review job scam?+
A text or social media message offers easy money for writing Amazon reviews You are asked to pay upfront for products you will supposedly review and keep The job requires you to share your Amazon account login or personal banking details
What should I do if I encounter amazon fake product review job scam?+
Legitimate companies do not recruit product reviewers through unsolicited texts or social media messages offering easy money. Never pay upfront to receive products for review — this is the hallmark of the scam. Report fake review job scams to the FTC and to the platform where you were recruited.
Who is most at risk for amazon fake product review job scam?+
This scam primarily targets Job seekers, Students, Stay-at-home parents. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, United Kingdom and typically appears on Amazon.
Is amazon fake product review job scam getting worse?+
Amazon fake product review job scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, CA, UK. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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