Subject: Feedback Extortion After A-to-Z Denial – Fraudulent Return with Staged Evidence
Hello all,
We’re dealing with what we believe is a clear case of feedback extortion. The customer returned a completely different item than the one we shipped — not just a serial number mismatch, but an entirely different model. They claimed to have taken a video of opening the package “within 5 minutes” of delivery, and submitted photo evidence to support their claim.
However, the photo metadata they themselves provided showed the photos were taken exactly 1 day and 5 minutes after delivery. This completely contradicts their timeline and strongly suggests the evidence was staged. Additionally, the photos they provided show different packaging material and a different item than the pictures taken at our shipping station.
The A-to-Z team denied the claim, siding with us based on our evidence. However, the customer is now refusing to remove their false 1-star feedback, claiming they’re still owed a refund. This is clearly a fraudulent return attempt, and the customer is now using negative feedback as leverage.
We opened a case and chatted with Seller Support, explaining that although this doesn’t fall under the standard removal guidelines, the customer is clearly violating Amazon’s policies, and the situation is far outside the scope of what the guidelines were meant to cover. We strongly believe the feedback should be removed.
Has anyone dealt with similar cases where policy violations justify removal outside the normal criteria? Would appreciate any insight or help escalating this.
Thanks,
Ryan.
Order 113-1935137-9819419
Case ID 17432518941
0 replies
Seller_T7bkq3pJHibSr
Hi Mods,
Following up on our previous request for assistance - the customer’s actions may constitute violations of both Amazon policy and U.S. federal/state law, including:
- Mail Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1341)
- Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343)
- Theft by Deception / Return Fraud (State-level)
- Civil Fraud and Defamation (Libel)
- Extortion / Coercion via feedback manipulation
This is not a normal feedback dispute — it is reputational damage tied directly to a fraudulent act, and we are pleading for your help in escalating this.
Thank you for your time and assistance.
Seller_zGoDlPZLneGhF
I'm really sorry you are dealing with this, we experienced the same scenario about 8 months ago.
A buyer swapped our brand new item out for their broken/used model then tried to reseal the factory cellophane around the product box, we caught it, noted the discrepancy, informed the "buyer", and charged them a 100% restocking fee.
Their chargebacks were denied (they attempted this twice), no A-Z was opened, they left horrible libel as seller feedback with false statements.
We pleaded with Amazon for 6 months here on the forums and provided all the evidence, finally it was removed after 8 months after we were told many times it would stand.
This is an unfortunate reality of the feedback system here on Amazon.
I hope a mod can help you soon, they do take a while to go down the list.
