Fraudulent Delivery following Amazon Marketplace Order

Kbillington

I’ve got a query relating to some fraudulent activity I experienced as the result of placing an Amazon order.  Hopefully someone can help.

I bought an item from Amazon, through a marketplace seller.  It was for a used “as new” item that had no box or remote control but was sold at a good price.  Initially I questioned the price, but it was used and didn’t have the remote so actually seemed about right.  Amazon cancelled the order before payment was taken and I thought that was the end of it.

A week later I received the item directly from the manufacturer as an RMA.  The seller had fraudulently used my details to obtain a replacement item from the manufacturer.  I had concerns that this could be an advance RMA and the manufacturer could ask for payment if I didn’t return a faulty product.  I wished I had returned to sender at this point, but I wanted to deal with Amazon as up until now they have provided good customer service.

I took this up with Amazon but struggled to get any sense out of them.  They claim they did not pass on my details to the seller if payment wasn’t taken and they even suggested I must have emailed the seller my details (why??).  As they claim my details had not been passed on, I felt this was also a breach of information privacy as clearly my details had been passed on, by they were adamant they weren’t.

I also tried to query with the manufacturer, but they were equally confused claiming I raised the RMA through another of “my” email addresses (the one the fraudster opened without my knowledge).  I don’t think they are expecting anything back, but who knows considering the customer services rep was so confused by the situation.

So, my question is, do I have any comeback with Amazon?  Am I protected from this sort of fraud in any way when buying through their marketplace?  Could this be seen as a breach of GDPR regulations if they claim they didn’t pass on my details when clearly someone within Amazon did?

Al_Ross

Sorry,but I am also confused by your whole post.

theonlywayisup

Al_Ross said:

Sorry,but I am also confused by your whole post.

Me too.  

OP, you struggled with Amazon, I suspect they struggled with your query. 

sheramber

A fraudster opened an email address on your Amazon account and got the item sent to you?

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Kbillington said:

I’ve got a query relating to some fraudulent activity I experienced as the result of placing an Amazon order.  Hopefully someone can help.

I bought an item from Amazon, through a marketplace seller.  It was for a used “as new” item that had no box or remote control but was sold at a good price.  Initially I questioned the price, but it was used and didn’t have the remote so actually seemed about right.  Amazon cancelled the order before payment was taken and I thought that was the end of it.

A week later I received the item directly from the manufacturer as an RMA.  The seller had fraudulently used my details to obtain a replacement item from the manufacturer.  I had concerns that this could be an advance RMA and the manufacturer could ask for payment if I didn’t return a faulty product.  I wished I had returned to sender at this point, but I wanted to deal with Amazon as up until now they have provided good customer service.

I took this up with Amazon but struggled to get any sense out of them.  They claim they did not pass on my details to the seller if payment wasn’t taken and they even suggested I must have emailed the seller my details (why??).  As they claim my details had not been passed on, I felt this was also a breach of information privacy as clearly my details had been passed on, by they were adamant they weren’t.

I also tried to query with the manufacturer, but they were equally confused claiming I raised the RMA through another of “my” email addresses (the one the fraudster opened without my knowledge).  I don’t think they are expecting anything back, but who knows considering the customer services rep was so confused by the situation.

So, my question is, do I have any comeback with Amazon?  Am I protected from this sort of fraud in any way when buying through their marketplace?  Could this be seen as a breach of GDPR regulations if they claim they didn’t pass on my details when clearly someone within Amazon did?

I don't understand what you are on about. Please tell us what trinket did you see at a bargain price on Amazon Market Place? Then others may be able to help you.

dj1471

I'm not sure why people aren't understanding the OP, perhaps I can interpret.

The OP purchased a supposedly second-hand item on Amazon Marketplace. The item didn't exist, instead the seller has requested some kind of warranty replacement from the item's manufacturer using the OP's details (name, address and a fabricated e-mail address). The manufacturer sent the item directly to the OP. In the meantime Amazon cancelled the sale and no payment was taken.

The OP is rightly concerned about the unauthorised use of their personal details by the marketplace seller and that the manufacturer could subsequently demand payment from them for the item they received - e.g. if the item was shipped on the understanding that a faulty item would be returned to them, or if they detect that the warranty request was fraudulent (e.g. the marketplace seller made-up a serial number, fabricated proof-of-purchase etc).

All I can suggest OP is that you hold onto the item and be prepared to return it to the manufacturer upon request; they have 6 years in which to pursue any claim against you. Amazon won't be able to help you here - the sale was cancelled, nothing should have been sent to you. Whatever you do, do not return the item to the marketplace seller since it likely doesn't belong to them.

Al_Ross

Has the fraudster used the op's card details to obtain this perhaps and what is the fraudster hoping to gain here?

As you suggested he may try and get the op to send it on to him.

Ectophile

Al_Ross said:

Has the fraudster used the op's card details to obtain this perhaps and what is the fraudster hoping to gain here?

As you suggested he may try and get the op to send it on to him.

The fraudster was hoping to receive the payment through Amazon for a product they never had.  But Amazon blocked the payment before it went through.

Kbillington

dj1471 said:

I'm not sure why people aren't understanding the OP, perhaps I can interpret.

The OP purchased a supposedly second-hand item on Amazon Marketplace. The item didn't exist, instead the seller has requested some kind of warranty replacement from the item's manufacturer using the OP's details (name, address and a fabricated e-mail address). The manufacturer sent the item directly to the OP. In the meantime Amazon cancelled the sale and no payment was taken.

The OP is rightly concerned about the unauthorised use of their personal details by the marketplace seller and that the manufacturer could subsequently demand payment from them for the item they received - e.g. if the item was shipped on the understanding that a faulty item would be returned to them, or if they detect that the warranty request was fraudulent (e.g. the marketplace seller made-up a serial number, fabricated proof-of-purchase etc).

All I can suggest OP is that you hold onto the item and be prepared to return it to the manufacturer upon request; they have 6 years in which to pursue any claim against you. Amazon won't be able to help you here - the sale was cancelled, nothing should have been sent to you. Whatever you do, do not return the item to the marketplace seller since it likely doesn't belong to them.

Thanks, only just checked back on this, but yes, that is exactly what happened.  I've kept hold of the item and never intended to send to or communicate with the sellear as I know this does not belong to them.  In fact, I have no details for the seller as the order was cancelled.  I feel like this must be a common scam and Amazon should have some kind of protection in place.  The fact they say my details were not passed on when they clearly were suggests their processes are not robust or there has been some leaking of my data that may be against GDPR or other privacy regulations.

Carrot007

Kbillington said:

dj1471 said:

I'm not sure why people aren't understanding the OP, perhaps I can interpret.

The OP purchased a supposedly second-hand item on Amazon Marketplace. The item didn't exist, instead the seller has requested some kind of warranty replacement from the item's manufacturer using the OP's details (name, address and a fabricated e-mail address). The manufacturer sent the item directly to the OP. In the meantime Amazon cancelled the sale and no payment was taken.

The OP is rightly concerned about the unauthorised use of their personal details by the marketplace seller and that the manufacturer could subsequently demand payment from them for the item they received - e.g. if the item was shipped on the understanding that a faulty item would be returned to them, or if they detect that the warranty request was fraudulent (e.g. the marketplace seller made-up a serial number, fabricated proof-of-purchase etc).

All I can suggest OP is that you hold onto the item and be prepared to return it to the manufacturer upon request; they have 6 years in which to pursue any claim against you. Amazon won't be able to help you here - the sale was cancelled, nothing should have been sent to you. Whatever you do, do not return the item to the marketplace seller since it likely doesn't belong to them.

Thanks, only just checked back on this, but yes, that is exactly what happened.  I've kept hold of the item and never intended to send to or communicate with the sellear as I know this does not belong to them.  In fact, I have no details for the seller as the order was cancelled.  I feel like this must be a common scam and Amazon should have some kind of protection in place.  The fact they say my details were not passed on when they clearly were suggests their processes are not robust or there has been some leaking of my data that may be against GDPR or other privacy regulations.

I think you are over thinking this. It is more likely this is some desperate person who had a (possibly dogilly forced) replacement from a manufacturer and wanted money asap. There really is no other option that makes sense.

As such calling it a scam seems a little harsh. Stupid practice and disregarding my data maybe. But scam, I don't see it.

I once ordered something I could not find from ebay and the idiot bought it from amazon US and set up an account in my name. Again this was wrong but hardly a scam. Unprofessional yes, but then again I doubt that one or yours regarderd themselves as businesses. (I had checked amazon us for the item myself which makes this even worse that I did not find it, maybe had to be logged in).

Any redress you have is against the seller as amazon have rightly kicked them off for crappy practices. That is amazon's protection for you. Yes it does not help but that's the only way it will ever be if they accept third parttys sellers. All you can do is be wary of such sellers next time and come away with a bitter taste in your mouth. Since you do not have their details and amazon will not likely give you them unless you start a case there is not much to do.

I rarely use third parties on amazon unless they also have their own web site. Or at least checked them out as much as possible. I also will not buy amazon warehouse as many times it ends up being the wrong item sent back as someone scammed amazon, and the people do not check beyond, yes it looks like the thing rather than is it the right one. (but of course it all depends on exactly what you are buying as some areas are more prone to issues than others).

born_again

Sounds a lot like drop shipping. Which is just as common on Amazon Marketplace (new ebay) as it is on ebay.