Million Dollar Scam: How Cybercriminals Stole From Amazon Using Fake Returns

According to a lawsuit filed by the company, Amazon has lost millions of dollars after a group of scammers exploited a vulnerability in its return and refund system. The scammers, who remain unidentified, could obtain refunds for items they never purchased by creating fake return labels and shipping empty boxes to Amazon. The scheme allowed them to steal high-priced items like MacBooks, iPhones, and game consoles.

The lawsuit, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, alleges that the scammers used various methods to exploit Amazon’s system. In one instance, they created fake return labels using stolen account information. In another example, they used software to generate fake return labels.

Once the fake return labels were created, the scammers shipped empty boxes to Amazon. When Amazon received the empty boxes, it processed the returns and refunded the scammers’ accounts.
The exact amount of money the scammers stole is unknown, but it is believed to be in the millions of dollars. Amazon is seeking to recover the stolen money, as well as damages.

“We are committed to protecting our customers from fraud,” Amazon said. “We are investigating this matter and will take appropriate action against the individuals responsible.”

The lawsuit against the scammers is the latest example of the growing problem of return fraud in the online retail industry. According to a report by the National Retail Federation, return fraud cost U.S. retailers $10.3 billion in 2018.

The report found that return fraud is most common in the apparel, electronics, and home goods categories. It is also more common among customers with a history of returning items.

Retailers are taking several steps to combat return fraud, including using software to identify suspicious return patterns, requiring customers to provide proof of purchase with their returns, and limiting the number of returns a customer can make.

Amazon is also taking steps to address return fraud. The company has implemented several security measures to prevent scammers from exploiting its system. It has also made it more difficult for customers to return items by requiring them to provide a reason for the return and to print a return label.