So glad that Jeff's assistant isn't even able to read an email. This sucks man. Appreciate you taking the time to document it and share it.
I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
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Re: I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
#22I don't get why he kept hammering on them for the fact that it was delivered to the wrong address. The bigger problem here, and a better basis for a refund, is the fact that they sent the wrong item. If they sent the wrong item to the correct address it should be eligible, right?
Re: I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
#23Maybe this sort of fraud becomes impossible if we had cryptographic ledger based delivery confirmation systems (keyed to sender, recipient, delivery address). Edit: Because apparently technological solutions aren't to be discussed if they involve recent, trendy tech?
Ah, yes, the blockchain, notoriously impervious to fraud.
Re: I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
#24Maybe this sort of fraud becomes impossible if we had cryptographic ledger based delivery confirmation systems (keyed to sender, recipient, delivery address). Edit: Because apparently technological solutions aren't to be discussed if they involve recent, trendy tech?
lol blockchain. It'd only work if they wrote the APIs in Rust and the management UI was isomorphic React.
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Re: I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
#25These amazon emails literally look like automatic mails with a small custom message on top. He stated multiple times that what they said was WRONG yet no one bothered to listen to that part. If I was the author or if this ever happens to me, I'll go directly to disputing the charge.
As the "owner" of thousands of dollars worth of Kindle books, I'm terrified of disputing an Amazon charge.
Re: I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
#26I'm wondering more and more why Amazon hosts third-party sellers at all.
They dilute the Amazon brand to a tremendous degree. It used to be that buying from Amazon meant a certain level of quality and service. Now there are really two Amazons: the old one, and a new one that's basically a shitty version of eBay.
I have to go out of my way to avoid these crappy third-party sellers when I'm searching for stuff on Amazon. It's not a nice experience to go searching for a product and have to step through a minefield of "cheap" items that take two months to arrive, or have outrageous shipping fees, or are outright scams.
It is really worth it for Amazon to have them? I struggle to see how.
Re: I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
#27I don't know if it is the same in the US, but in the UK you would basically tell the credit card company this is their problem.
Re: I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
#28It won't get your money back, but it is worthwhile to file a fraud complaint with the USPS as well. Mail fraud for $1500 is a big deal to sweep under the rug with a charge back.
I don't see why he wouldn't get a credit-card chargeback authorized - he has clear evidence of fraud on the party of the seller, and evidence of the middle-man's (Amazon's) unwillingness to investigate further. As Amazon is accepting the credit-card payment they will eat the chargeback - if they do ever dispute this then elevate it to a small-claims court case and the judge will easily side with the customer.
Re: I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
#29a similar scam has been going on for a while, with at least video games, board games, and bike gear, from what I've seen on Amazon Canada. Third party sellers with a "real" looking name will list an item at a ridiculous discount off retail. If you buy it, you get a Chinese international tracking number. This takes forever to "arrive" and it turns out Amazon only really cares that the tracking number shows to Canada.…
This happens with books too, though in these cases it can be more difficult to spot beforehand (e.g. 20-30% off a cover price isn't too unusual). However, if the seller has _every_ book listed for the same price, something is very obviously wrong.
From those I've seen, it looks as though old and/or inactive accounts have been compromised. These have a decent history, possibly even a positive feedback rating, but no activity in (e.g.) the past 12 months.
Re: I Fell Victim to a $1,500 Used Camera Lens Scam on Amazon
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
What did that process look like for you? Do you just call up your local non-emergency number and and tell them Amazon cheated you?
Not OP, but pretty much. Works much better if you can investigate and assemble most of the evidence yourself so all they have to do is make an arrest.
Does it bother them enough to get other police departments involved? I imagine no one they can arrest is within their jurisdiction...