You can purchase pretty much everything you can think of on there, from food to clothing to electronics, typically at affordable prices.
It’s great to get things for cheap, but free stuff is even better than cheap stuff. That’s why many people consider the Amazon refund trick.
Using this trick, people think they can get free stuff from Amazon. However, it’s illegal, and people have actually gone to jail for trying to scam Amazon. So, this isn’t one to try. Below, I’ll cover what the Amazon refund trick is and why you shouldn’t try it.
Table of Contents
What is Amazon’s Return Policy?
Amazon.com and most of the sellers on there offer returns for items within 30 days of receipt of shipment.
Of course, there are some items purchased on Amazon.com that you can’t return, such as downloadable software products and some health and personal care orders.
Most products on Amazon can, however, be returned within 30 days after delivery. In fact, non-returnable items that arrive damaged or defective are eligible for a refund or replacement.
You can check the return window for an item you’ve ordered by going to “Your Orders” and selecting “Return or Replace Items.”
You can learn more about Amazon’s return policy here.
Getting a Refund from Amazon
If you return an item, the refund amount and refund method may vary. Check the payment method refunded and the status of your refund in “Your Orders.”
When returning an item, you have the option to choose your preferred refund method in the Online Returns Center.
After the carrier has received your item, it can take up to two weeks for Amazon to receive and process your return. Certain items can take up to 30 days. Typically, though, Amazon processes returns within 3 to 5 business days after the carrier delivers the item to its Returns Center.
If you want to use your refund without waiting for Amazon to process your return, you can select the Instant Refund option, if it is available.
Instant Refunds are either refunded to your credit card or issued as an Amazon.com Gift Card balance. However, you still need to return your items within 30 days.
What is the Amazon Refund Trick?
The Amazon Refund Trick is a method that allows customers to get a refund on delivered items without returning them. In some cases, Amazon refunds without a return. After all, Amazon wants to keep its customers happy.
Amazon typically allows this type of refund on orders that contain the wrong item or items that arrive damaged. Sometimes, Amazon will offer a refund without return on inexpensive items. This is because if an item is cheap, it may cost Amazon more money to ship it back to the warehouse than it’s worth.
Some customers have chosen to take advantage of Amazon’s refund policy by claiming refunds and simply not returning the items they’ve been refunded for.
How Does the Amazon Refund Trick Work?
Some people have managed to scam Amazon out of thousands of dollars either by complaining about their delivery or the product itself.
Here’s how it works: You order an item on Amazon, and when it arrives, you falsely claim that the product is faulty or damaged, or that you received an empty box. Amazon then refunds the money you spent on the order.
Additionally, some people used to ask for a refund but then return an item of significantly lower value back to Amazon.
People set up fake accounts on Amazon and then close them once they receive their refund. The Amazon refund trick is illegal, and you should not try it.
How People Get a Refund from Amazon Without Returning the Item
How do people get a refund from Amazon without returning the item?
There are ways to do it. However, it’s illegal and can actually result in a prison sentence.
People who use this trick will use the following method or something similar:
Create an Amazon Account
In order to avoid drawing suspicion, many people using this trick will open a new account and then request the money back from a new profile instead. It’s relatively easy to make a new account.
The person using this refund trick will need to enter some details such as their name, email address, and password. They’ll also need to choose a payment method, such as a credit card, debit card, prepaid card, or Amazon gift card.
Every account created by anyone wanting to use the Amazon refund trick needs to contain accurate details for the trick to work. The site will only issue a refund if the purchase was made with valid information.
A lot of people will use a VPN to protect their identity. VPNs hide a person’s IP address.
Order Some Items Using the New Account
People who try the Amazon refund trick will need to have an account that looks reputable. They need Amazon to believe that they’re a reliable customer.
If they try to return the first item they’ve ordered on the account, Amazon may be less likely to issue a refund. Therefore, the person will need to make a few orders from Amazon. These can be inexpensive items.
Once they have ordered a few inexpensive items and it looks as though the account is reputable, the person carrying out the trick can then place an order for which they plan to get a refund. People tend to choose a pickup location that’s not too close to their actual address. Then, they go to pick up the order, acting as though they’re in a hurry in front of the courier, and they don’t unpack the order until they’re back home.
Request a Refund Once the Order is Received
After they receive the product, the person tricking Amazon then asks for a refund. They do this over the phone, by email, or by submitting a complaint through their Amazon account.
The person claims they either received an empty box or a damaged, faulty, fake, or incorrect item.
If successful in their trick, they receive a refund without returning the product. People don’t tend to use the Amazon refund trick more than once from the same account.
Why You Shouldn’t Try the Amazon Refund Trick
The Amazon refund trick is illegal. You might think, well, Amazon makes a lot of money, so there’s no harm in scamming them.
Yes, Amazon makes a lot of money. In fact, Amazon’s revenue in 2022 was $502.19 billion. However, scamming is always illegal, whether it’s a big company or not. So do not try this trick.
A dermatologist from Virginia, Farhaad Riyaz, ordered thousands of dollars of goods from Amazon and then returned cheaper items. His scheme netted him more than $300,000 worth of goods. Amazon learned of this, and he’s now facing up to 20 years in federal prison. So, do not try to scam Amazon!
Closing Thoughts
Although the Amazon refund trick is often mentioned online as a way to get refunds from Amazon without having to return anything, it is illegal.
Do not try this method. You could be charged with fraud. It’s not worth it!
We actually have a list of Amazon hacks that save you money, which are totally legit, so check that out instead.
