Shopping on Amazon is generally a great experience—until you get a package that isn’t what you expected. Over the years, Amazon.com has seen its share of buyers frustrated by products that are damaged, expired, or just plain different from what they ordered.
Even with all of Amazon’s protections, the massive number of third-party sellers means there will always be a few that slip through the regulations to scam shoppers. But how do you avoid them? Here’s a practical guide on practices you can do to stay clear of scam sellers and shop with confidence.
Do not forget the details
Before making a purchase, take a minute to check the seller’s details. Look at the “sold by” section on the product page. You’re in safer territory if you see the brand or manufacturer listed. However, sometimes you’ll see a third-party seller you don’t know about.
This isn’t enough reason to reject the purchase and look for something better, mainly if the product works for you. But you’ll want to check a few things before continuing:
Low prices
It’s only logical that, as a buyer, you would look for the best deals available. But it wouldn’t be wise not to double-check who you’ll buy that product from, as a very low price is usually a big reason to be skeptical.
If it seems too good to be true, then maybe it isn’t. However, on Amazon.com there are very good deals published, and if it’s a certified seller (meaning it has an Amazon’s Choice Badge or is signed to the FBA program), you’re good to go.
If not, pay attention to the seller. If it’s a third party that’s selling the product at half the usual price or lower, then check for other clues just to be sure.
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Seller name
This is a quick, easy step. Check if the seller name matches the brand name. If it doesn’t, look for other details. These may be:
- Grammatical errors
- A misspelled name
- Strange syntax and punctuation
Scammers include these typos in their seller names to go under the radar of Amazon’s algorithm. These slight differences with real brands are much easier to notice if you pay attention to them, so keep an eye out if the name is off.
Seller Feedback
The next logical step is to look at the product reviews. They are a great tool, potential scam or not, and you should read them as often as possible. The problem is that scammers usually take positive reviews into account when creating their fake listings. It is now easier than ever to flood their products with AI-generated reviews that increase ratings and prevent potential buyers from suspecting the scam.
By the time Amazon bans these products, usually a selected number of buyers have already fallen into the trap. How do you check if a seller is authentic, then? The answer to that question is seller feedback.
You go to this page by clicking on the seller’s name in the lower right-hand side of the screen, just below the “Buy Bow” button. Take a look at it:
In this section, you can see the seller’s overall performance rating, which was determined by previous buyers. It includes a percentage score that reflects the positive feedback they’ve received, often broken down into recent periods like the last 3, 6, or 12 months.
Scammers can still fake all of these reviews. So keep an eye on this crucial detail: Look for large groups of 5-star reviews left during the same period.
“Just launched”
A “just launched” badge or a very recent create date on a seller’s profile or item listings can be suspicious for several reasons. First, usually create new accounts with no history on the platform to evade Amazon’s detection. They may quickly flood the platform with listings to exploit shoppers before their account gets banned.
When a seller is new to Amazon and has little to no established feedback, it’s harder to trust them when compared to more experienced sellers. Additionally, scam sellers often cycle through multiple accounts quickly to avoid being noticed for their activity.
So, be cautious if you encounter a seller with this badge, combined with other red flags (like low pricing or suspicious seller names).
Conclusion
As you can see, avoiding scammers on Amazon.com is all about having a mix of common sense and paying extra attention. Amazon is still a reliable platform, but it’s unrealistic to think a system can be perfect when its algorithm has thousands of independent sellers to deal with. As a buyer, if a deal seems too good to be true or if something about the seller’s profile doesn’t add up, it’s time to verify before making the purchase.
Want to Win on Amazon—Without Falling for the Scams?
Shopping on Amazon should be easy—but when you’re a brand trying to sell, the risks go both ways. Just like shoppers need to watch out for shady sellers, legit brands like yours need protection from counterfeiters, unauthorized resellers, and account suspensions.
At BellaVix, we help you navigate the chaos. Whether you’re getting hit by hijackers, review manipulation, or losing control of your listings—we’ve seen it all, and we know how to fight back.
If you’re serious about protecting your brand and growing your visibility the right way, we’d love to hear more about what you’re working on.
By filling out the form below, you’ll get connected with one of our eCommerce strategists. No pressure. Just real insights on how to strengthen your Amazon presence, keep scammers off your listings, and boost conversions with confidence.
Fill out the form below and let’s take back control of your Amazon business—starting today.