$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Amazon fake seller marketplace scam
Fraudulent sellers create listings on Amazon with stolen product photos and impossibly low prices, collect payment, then never ship the item or send a counterfeit product.
“online shopping scam”
↑ 184%Key indicators
Usually targetsOnline shoppers
Often hitsSmall business owners
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$120
median reported loss
Typical range$24 – $1.2K
Recovery rate~40%
Annual reports370,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers create new seller accounts or hijack dormant ones, listing popular products at deep discounts to attract buyers.
2
After purchase, the scammer either never ships the item or sends a cheap counterfeit, then disappears before Amazon catches on.
3
Some fake sellers try to move communication off Amazon to avoid buyer protections, requesting direct bank transfers or gift card payments.
What to do first
Only buy from sellers with established history and verified reviews — check the seller profile before purchasing.
Related terms
Amazon fake store scamAmazon counterfeit sellerAmazon phantom sellerOnline shopping scamsAmazonSurgingOnline shoppersBargain huntersAdultsSmall business ownersCreators and online sellersOnline shoppersUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadaAmazon fake store scamAmazon counterfeit seller
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Brian, 34, a online shoppers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate online shopping scams situation while using Amazon. Scammers create new seller accounts or hijack dormant ones, listing popular products at deep discounts to attract buyers.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: After purchase, the scammer either never ships the item or sends a cheap counterfeit, then disappears before Amazon catches on.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Some fake sellers try to move communication off Amazon to avoid buyer protections, requesting direct bank transfers or gift card payments.
The outcome
Brian realized something was wrong when prices are significantly below market value for a brand-name product. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Only buy from sellers with established history and verified reviews — check the seller profile before purchasing. Brian's experience shows why prices are significantly below market value for a brand-name product and seller account was just created or has very few reviews are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Prices are significantly below market value for a brand-name product
- Seller account was just created or has very few reviews
- Product listing has broken English or copied descriptions from other listings
- 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
- ✓Only buy from sellers with established history and verified reviews — check the seller profile before purchasing.
- ✓Never pay outside of Amazon's checkout system or communicate off-platform at a seller's request.
- ✓File an A-to-Z Guarantee claim through Amazon if the item never arrives or is not as described.
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 received over 44,000 reports of online shopping fraud involving Amazon in 2023, with reported losses exceeding 392 million USD across all online shopping scams.
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.
- ✓Only buy from sellers with established history and verified reviews — check the seller profile before purchasing.
- ✓Never pay outside of Amazon's checkout system or communicate off-platform at a seller's request.
- ✓File an A-to-Z Guarantee claim through Amazon if the item never arrives or is not as described.
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 received over 44,000 reports of online shopping fraud involving Amazon in 2023, with reported losses exceeding 392 million USD across all online shopping scams.
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
Online shoppers, Bargain hunters, Adults
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada
Primary channel
Amazon — Online shopping scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Online shoppers 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 received over 44,000 reports of online shopping fraud involving Amazon in 2023, with reported losses exceeding 392 million USD across all online shopping scams.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about amazon fake seller marketplace scam
How does the amazon fake seller marketplace scam work?+
Scammers create new seller accounts or hijack dormant ones, listing popular products at deep discounts to attract buyers. After purchase, the scammer either never ships the item or sends a cheap counterfeit, then disappears before Amazon catches on. Some fake sellers try to move communication off Amazon to avoid buyer protections, requesting direct bank transfers or gift card payments.
What are the warning signs of amazon fake seller marketplace scam?+
Prices are significantly below market value for a brand-name product Seller account was just created or has very few reviews Product listing has broken English or copied descriptions from other listings
What should I do if I encounter amazon fake seller marketplace scam?+
Only buy from sellers with established history and verified reviews — check the seller profile before purchasing. Never pay outside of Amazon's checkout system or communicate off-platform at a seller's request. File an A-to-Z Guarantee claim through Amazon if the item never arrives or is not as described.
Who is most at risk for amazon fake seller marketplace scam?+
This scam primarily targets Online shoppers, Bargain hunters, Adults. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and typically appears on Amazon.
Is amazon fake seller marketplace scam getting worse?+
Amazon fake seller marketplace scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
Related scams
Similar scams to watch out for
Extension fraud
↑ 131%Malicious browser extension data harvest scam
A seemingly useful browser extension captures browsing activity, credentials, or payment behavior after a short period of benign use.
What to do first
Review permissions before installing.
Targets
Remote workers
Seen in
Global
Smishing
↑ 100%Package redelivery text scam
A delivery text says a parcel cannot be delivered until you confirm address details and pay a small redelivery fee.
What to do first
Open the courier site manually and check tracking there.
Targets
Online shoppers
Seen in
Global
Government impersonation
↑ 100%Customs seized package scam
A message claims a package was seized by customs and needs payment, identity verification, or legal response to avoid charges.
What to do first
Verify any customs issue through the courier or customs agency directly.
Targets
Online shoppers
Seen in
Global
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.