Online scams on Amazon and other marketplaces have become dramatically more sophisticated in 2026. AI-generated fake reviews, deepfake seller videos, and phishing emails that look identical to official Amazon communications are catching out experienced shoppers.
This guide covers the most common Amazon and online marketplace scams active right now — how to spot them, how to avoid them, and what to do if you’ve been caught out.
⚠️ 2026 SCAM ALERT: Scammers are now using AI to generate thousands of fake 5-star reviews that are almost indistinguishable from genuine ones. Never rely on star ratings alone.
The 10 Most Common Amazon & Marketplace Scams in 2026
| # | Scam Type | How It Works | Risk Level |
| 1 | AI-Generated Fake Reviews | Thousands of fake 5-star reviews inflating products | 🔴 Very High |
| 2 | Counterfeit Products | Branded items replaced with fakes in genuine listings | 🔴 Very High |
| 3 | Brushing Scams | Fake deliveries to your address; your data was sold | 🟠 High |
| 4 | Phishing Emails / Texts | Fake ‘Your order’ emails with malicious links | 🔴 Very High |
| 5 | Third-Party Seller Fraud | New seller lists popular item, takes payment, disappears | 🔴 Very High |
| 6 | Gift Card Scams | Support ‘agent’ demands payment via Amazon gift cards | 🔴 Very High |
| 7 | Refund Scams | Caller claims to owe you a refund; accesses bank account | 🟠 High |
| 8 | Fake Listing Hijacking | Scammer changes product details on an existing listing | 🟠 High |
| 9 | Subscription Traps | Free trial requires card; charges start immediately | 🟡 Medium |
| 10 | QR Code Scams on Packages | Fake QR codes on packaging redirect to phishing sites | 🟠 High |
AI-Generated Fake Reviews — The Biggest Threat in 2026
This is the most widespread and hardest-to-detect scam on Amazon right now. Scammers use AI tools to generate hundreds or thousands of unique, convincing 5-star reviews for low-quality or counterfeit products. These reviews pass Amazon’s automated detection because they appear genuine.
How to spot them:
- Look at the review dates — a sudden flood of reviews within a short window is suspicious.
- Check the reviewers’ profiles — one-review accounts or accounts reviewing wildly unrelated products.
- Use the Fakespot browser extension — it analyses review patterns and gives a letter grade (A–F) for authenticity.
- Read the 1 and 2-star reviews — these are much harder to fake and often reveal the truth about a product.
🤖 2026 update: AI review farms can now mimic verified purchase patterns. Don’t assume ‘Verified Purchase’ means the review is genuine.
Counterfeit Products — Looks Real, Isn’t
Amazon’s ‘commingled inventory’ system mixes products from different sellers in the same warehouse bin. This means a genuine product listing can contain counterfeit items supplied by fraudulent third-party sellers.
Most counterfeited categories:
- Electronics (cables, chargers, earphones, batteries)
- Health and beauty products (supplements, skincare)
- Children’s toys and clothing
- Branded clothing and footwear
How to protect yourself:
- Buy directly from the brand: On the listing, look for ‘Ships from and Sold by [Brand Name]’ — not a third-party seller.
- Check the brand’s official website: Many brands list authorised Amazon sellers on their own site.
- Report suspected counterfeits to Amazon via the ‘Report’ button on the listing.
Brushing Scams — Packages You Never Ordered
If you receive a package from Amazon containing a random item you never ordered, you may have been a victim of a brushing scam. Here’s how it works: a scammer creates a fake buyer account using your name and address, ‘purchases’ their own products, and leaves 5-star reviews as a ‘verified purchaser.’
What to do:
- You can keep the items — they’re legally yours.
- Change your Amazon password immediately and enable two-factor authentication.
- Check your Amazon account for any orders you didn’t place.
- Report the unsolicited package to Amazon support.
⚠️ Data breach indicator: If you receive brushing packages, your name and address have been leaked in a data breach. Check haveibeenpwned.com to see if your email appears in known breaches.
Phishing Emails and Text Messages
Fake Amazon emails are among the most convincing phishing attempts online. In 2026, scammers use AI to generate emails with perfect grammar, official Amazon logos, and links that look legitimate until you examine them closely.
Common phishing triggers:
- ‘Your Amazon account has been suspended — verify now’
- ‘Your order #xxx-xxxxxxx has been dispatched’ (for an order you didn’t place)
- ‘Unusual activity detected — click here to secure your account’
- ‘You’re eligible for a $75 Amazon voucher — claim now’
How to verify:
- Check the sender’s email address: Legitimate Amazon emails come from @amazon.com.au or @amazon.com only.
- Never click links in emails — go to amazon.com.au directly in your browser.
- Check ‘Messages from Amazon’ in Your Account to verify any official communication.
- Amazon will never ask for your password, credit card details, or gift card codes via email.
Third-Party Seller Fraud — Too Good to Be True
A fraudulent seller creates a new account, lists a high-demand product (gaming console, iPhone, laptop) at a steep discount, collects payments, then disappears — often before Amazon can act.
Red flags:
- Seller account is very new (less than 6 months old) with few reviews
- Price is significantly below every other listing (more than 20–30% off)
- Seller asks you to contact them off-platform or pay via bank transfer
- No clear returns or refund policy listed
✅ Protection: Always pay with a credit card on Amazon. Credit cards offer strong chargeback protection if a seller doesn’t deliver. Avoid paying via bank transfer to any seller.
Gift Card Scams — Amazon Will Never Ask for This
A scammer posing as Amazon customer support, the ATO, a government agency, or even a family member in trouble tells you to purchase Amazon Gift Cards and read out the codes over the phone as payment.
🚨 ABSOLUTE RULE: No legitimate business, government agency, court, or utility company will ever accept Amazon Gift Cards as payment. Ever. This is always a scam, 100% of the time.
Refund Scams — Remote Access Danger
The caller claims Amazon (or another retailer) accidentally overcharged you and needs to process a refund. They ask you to install remote access software (TeamViewer, AnyDesk) to ‘process the refund.’ Once connected, they transfer money from your bank account or install malware.
⚠️ WARNING: Never grant remote access to your computer to someone who called you. Computer Cures can remove remote access tools and malware if you believe your computer has been compromised.
Safe Online Shopping Checklist for 2026
Use this checklist before making any purchase from an unfamiliar seller:
| ✓ | Safety Check |
| □ | Seller has been on Amazon for more than 6 months with 100+ ratings |
| □ | Seller rating is above 95% positive |
| □ | Price is realistic — not 30%+ below competitors |
| □ | Product is ‘Sold by’ the brand or a well-known retailer, not an anonymous third party |
| □ | Reviews have varied dates, reviewer profiles, and lengths (not suspiciously uniform) |
| □ | Fakespot extension gives review grade B or above |
| □ | You’re paying with a credit card (not gift cards, bank transfer, or crypto) |
| □ | The Amazon URL shows amazon.com.au — no misspellings or extra subdomains |
| □ | You’ve checked the brand’s official website confirms the product exists |
| □ | You’ve searched ‘[product name] + scam’ or ‘[seller name] + review’ before buying |
What To Do If You’ve Been Scammed on Amazon
Act quickly — the faster you respond, the better your chances of recovery.
- Report to Amazon: Go to Orders > Find order > Problem with order > Report. Amazon’s A-to-Z Guarantee covers most third-party purchases.
- Contact your bank or credit card provider: Request a chargeback if money was taken. Do this as soon as possible.
- Change your Amazon password and enable 2FA: If your account was accessed, do this immediately.
- Report to Scamwatch (Australia): scamwatch.gov.au — helps authorities track and shut down scam operations.
- If your computer was accessed: Contact Computer Cures immediately for a malware scan and security audit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if an Amazon seller is legitimate?
Check the seller’s age (look for years on platform), feedback percentage (aim for 95%+), total number of reviews, and whether they’re selling via FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon). New sellers with high-value items at deep discounts are the biggest risk.
Can Amazon scam you?
Amazon itself is not a scam, but its marketplace allows third-party sellers who sometimes are. Amazon’s A-to-Z Guarantee offers protection for most purchases, but scammers exploit the system before Amazon can remove them. Stay vigilant and always pay by credit card.
What is a brushing scam on Amazon?
A brushing scam involves fraudulent sellers using your address to place fake orders and post fake reviews. You receive items you never ordered. It indicates your personal data has been sold or leaked. Change your password and enable 2FA immediately.
How can I check if Amazon reviews are fake?
Use the free Fakespot browser extension (fakespot.com), check for clusters of reviews posted within short time windows, read 1-star and 2-star reviews, and look at reviewer profiles for accounts that only review products from one seller.
