Don’t Get Duped By Fake Amazon Unclaimed Packages Scams

As the largest online retailer renowned for carrying every imaginable product, Amazon’s immense inventory scale and shipping volume has made the brand a target for scammers claiming to sell pallets of Amazon customer return items and unclaimed packages at unbelievable discounts. This article breaks down exactly how this prevalent scam ensnares victims and tips to avoid exploitation.

Amazon Unclaimed Packages Scam

Overview of Fake Amazon Unclaimed Packages Scams Conning Shoppers

Websites like “vipmysterybox.shop” and others claim to give consumers access to buy discounted wholesale lots containing surprise unclaimed Amazon merchandise, customer returns and inventory overstock items. However, it’s an elaborate scam tactic being used to trick eager bargain hunters.

Highly-convincing fake Amazon liquidation websites engineered to closely mimic real Amazon’s down to matching logos and web design are being heavily marketed through social media ads. They promote unbelievable blowout markdowns on mystery boxes supposedly full of Amazon products up to 90% off to generate interest and website traffic.

Common Unclaimed Packages Scam Warning Signs:

  • Extreme 90%+ box discounts too good to be true
  • Suspicious URLs not affiliated with Amazon at all
  • Poor grammar, spelling errors and duplicate content
  • Dysfunctional customer service phone numbers and addresses

When lured onto these deceptive liquidation websites instead of legitimate Amazon sites themselves, victims who place orders overwhelmingly report profound disappointment through:

  • No boxes shipped after payments processed – Most likely outcome
  • Cheap inferior goods – Low-quality items sent instead
  • Used, expired or worthless junk – Showing clear flaws or flaws
  • Random household items – Products never even ordered!

And adding insult to injury, users’ personal and financial data also gets stolen during the fake checkout process enabling additional downstream identity theft by fraudsters.

By understanding the cunning techniques these fake Amazon unclaimed packages scams deploy online, shoppers can sidestep their tricks and securely shop real websites.

Anatomy of Fake Amazon Unclaimed Box Scams Victimizing Shoppers

Successfully scamming shoppers using counterfeit Amazon liquidation promotions takes coordinated planning and execution. Here is exactly how innocent victims get duped:

1. Scammers Architect Fake Amazon Inventory Websites

Sophisticated scam artists build fake Amazon inventory clearance websites made to closely imitate real Amazon liquidation programs.

While URL addresses appear legitimate, they actually utilize lookalike domains diverting away from real Amazon liquidators:

amzdamagerecovery.co
amazonreturnswholesale.shop  
amzcustomerreturns.store

The elaborate fake sites mimic Amazon branding and navigation – but differ slightly while still appearing legit.

2. Bogus Amazon Ads Promoted Via Social Platforms

Fraud ring operators then promote their sham domains using compelling social media ads highlighting unbelievable bulk discount rates to fool users. These primarily leverage Facebook, Instagram and TikTok due to their immense reach.

The ads display shocking headlines like “Get an iPhone in every box! Amazon pallets just $100 with undisclosed tech surprises!” alongside stolen customer images and fake reviews. Links then route through obscured URL shorteners hiding the fraudulent destinations away from Amazon.

When social media users click on these compelling advertisements, they get redirected to the sophisticated fake Amazon inventory clearance stores instead of legitimate liquidation marketplaces.

3. Shoppers See Outrageous Box Prices Discounted Over 90% Off

Upon landing on the convincing duplicate liquidation domains, visitors behold what appears as incredible bulk rate deals on mystery boxes supposedly packed with Amazon customer returns and excess products.

$1000+ worth of merchandise in each box is touted at insane rates like $100 each when buying multiple units. Such irrational pricing compared to normal Amazon rates which rarely discount is shown for supposed authenticity.

This further fools visitors into assuming the pallet deals are authorized clearance sales allowing Amazon to profit from liquidating overstock items in bulk.

4. Checkout Forms Steal Users’ Personal and Financial Data

As shoppers rush to lock wholesale bargain box grabs, mandatory order forms demand extensive sensitive customer data including:

  • Full legal names
  • Home addresses
  • Phone numbers
  • Credit card numbers
  • Security codes
  • Expiration dates

This mined contact/payment data then goes directly to sophisticated scammers rather than legitimately securing Amazon pallet purchases.

5. No Orders Fulfilled or Terrible Products Received Instead

Soon victims find they got scammed since pallets never arrive. Instead purchases either:

  • Vanish after payments with zero fulfillment
  • Cheap dollar store junk gets shipped instead
  • Used, expired, broken or worthless items arrive
  • Random household products show up unrelated to order specifics

Now victims lack real merchandise while fraudsters possess both stolen money and sensitive personal data enabling additional downstream financial identity theft ploys using that compromised information.

How to Spot Counterfeit Amazon Unclaimed Packages Websites

While scam sites promote unbelievable clearance box deals, their shifty designs reveal fraud once aware of their tactics.

Analyze Website URLs

Fake Amazon liquidation domains barely differ from the real site:

amazonreturnswholesale.online
amzdamagerecovery.shop
amzcustomeroversupply.store

Most are recently created in 2021/2022 based on domain checks.

Review Contact Information

No physical addresses or phone numbers provided by sites – only dubious email addresses:

support@amazonreturnswholesale.online 
service@amzcustomeroversupply.store

Non-transparency signals shady operations.

Assess Pricing Claims

Prices seem unbelievable compared to normal Amazon rates or legitimate wholesale return marketplaces. Top electronics touted in every $100 box exceeding $1000+ worth.

Scrutinize Branding and Slogans

Amazon logos, fonts, branding, and slogans used liberally:

  • “Going out business forever!”
  • “Limited-time free shipping”

But branding appears edited when inspected closely exposing fakery.

Staying observant for these fake signals makes avoiding clearance cons easier when bargain shopping online.

How to Catch Fake Amazon Unclaimed Packages Ads on Social Media

Fraudulent Amazon unclaimed packages ads on popular platforms frequently employ unbelievable “90% off” slogans and enticing phrases like “Flash sale!” to manipulate shoppers. But their repeatable patterns expose bogus natures.

Dubious Facebook Ad Discounts Are Manipulation Ploys

Watch for Facebook ads boasting:

  • “Blowout liquidation sale today only!”
  • “Hurry, we’re closing down forever – boxes 90% off!”

Other red flags include stolen branding elements, odd links, disabled comments and fake customer images. Cross-checking helps identify falsified Facebook ads.

Instagram Ad Messaging Preys On Bargain Shopper FOMO

Scam Instagram ads touting:

  • “Last chance clearance box grabs!”
  • “Final liquidation sale – Going out of business forever!”

Be skeptical of engagement inconsistencies, redirects elsewhere and urgency cues. Understanding these behaviors reveals Instagram fakes.

TikTok Video Tactics Pressure Immediate Action

Counterfeit video ads demonstrate these consistent red flags:

  • Fake AI-generated footage instead of showing real warehouses/pallets
  • Graphics listing suspicious external site URLs
  • Amazon logo brand impersonations
  • Comment disabling

Despite potential high visibility, typical scam ad characteristics make real vs fake discernment achievable on TikTok.

Scammers manipulate discounts and slogans frequently. But awareness of repeatable suspicious patterns empowers avoidance of liquidation cons.

What To Do If Scammed By a Fake Amazon Pallet Sale

If you unfortunately fell for deceitful fake Amazon unclaimed package promotions online, take these steps immediately:

Report Fraudulent Charges: Contact your credit card provider used on scam sites ASAP. Request they reverse any illegal purchases for undelivered goods. Provide details surrounding the sham websites and failed delivery.

Initiate Credit Reports Freeze: Freeze reports at Equifax, Experian and Transunion stopping criminals opening unauthorized new accounts with stolen information.

Monitor Financial Account Activity: Watch statements routinely for fraudulent charges indicating potential identity theft after being scammed. Notify institutions immediately regarding suspicious transactions.

Report Fake Websites: Submit details on scam websites encountered to the FBI’s IC3 Complaint Center and FTC’s reporting page to combat retail cons exploiting trusted brands.

Getting exploited by online shopping scams hurts. But responding swiftly helps restrict damages from additional trickery by freezing credit and reporting retail fraud.

Frequently Asked Questions About Counterfeit Amazon Unclaimed Packages Sites

Concerned about fraudulent Amazon unclaimed packages schemes duping shoppers online? This FAQ tackles the most common questions about identifying and avoiding this prevalent retail scam:

Are the Amazon pallet sales promoted on Facebook legitimate?

Unfortunately most are completely fake despite professional branding imitation. Scam ads route traffic to elaborate counterfeit websites stealing personal/financial data instead of enabling real wholesale sales. Always verify URLs match official Amazon sites before assuming clearance pallet offers are genuine.

What are signs of a fraudulent Amazon liquidation website?

Warning signs include non-Amazon URLs, recent domain creation, subtle branding issues in logos/fonts, unprofessional errors in site text, mismatching images, unbelievable pricing not aligned with legitimate wholesale return marketplaces, and no working customer service contacts.

What happens if you order pallets from a fake Amazon site?

In most cases, orders and payments completely disappear with nothing ever being shipped. In some rarer instances, victims received clearly inferior quality items, used/expired goods or random products totally unrelated to their original orders. Plus all submitted personal data gets stolen enabling future identity theft exploits.

Where should fake Amazon liquidation websites be reported?

Submit website details, screenshots and transaction records to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov), Amazon corporate, affected payment providers and credit bureaus to aid investigations and prevention efforts against brand impersonation scams deceiving shoppers. Reporting compromise data also protects against potential future identity theft.

Carefully scrutinize legitimacy across sites, sellers and deals—especially unbelievable clearance offers on pallets of Amazon merchandise. If something seems too good to be true, it likely is given normal retail operations. Verify carefully.

The Bottom Line – Verify Before Providing Data to Amazon Claims

As Amazon continues its dominance globally across e-commerce, its branding remains an alluring magnet for clearance sale scammers seeking to trick shoppers through fake promotions, unclaimed packages, and liquidation events. But proactively verifying legitimacy remains the best scam prevention.

Carefully check URLs that match official Amazon sites and validate sellers while watching for other common red flags covered here before assuming authenticity or providing data. And never submit personal/financial data without thoroughly vetting sites, even if branding initially looks affiliated.

Question improbable warehouse pricing on bulk mystery boxes too good to be true. Using reasonable skepticism makes avoiding prevalent retail cons easier. Think twice and thoroughly validate legitimacy across every website, seller, and deal.

How to Stay Safe Online

Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:

  1. Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.

    Shield Guide

    It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.

  2. Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.

    updates-guide

    Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.

  3. Be careful when installing programs and apps.

    install guide

    Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."

  4. Install an ad blocker.

    Ad Blocker

    Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.

  5. Be careful what you download.

    Trojan Horse

    A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.

  6. Be alert for people trying to trick you.

    warning sign

    Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.

  7. Back up your data.

    backup sign

    Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.

  8. Choose strong passwords.

    lock sign

    Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.

  9. Be careful where you click.

    cursor sign

    Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.

  10. Don't use pirated software.

    Shady Guide

    Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.

To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.