Hilarious scam

[JohnC6]

I wouldn't normally post about a scam unless it was a clever one or, as in this case, a stupid one.

As I mentioned in a very recent post, when I want something from Amazon I ask my wife to order it because she has Prime. As I also mentioned a day or so ago, at the suggestion of Amazon Customer Care, my wife has now included me on her Prime at no extra cost but this order went through my wife's account.

So.. earlier on, my wife forwarded me an Email she had received from 'Amazon'. It relates to Pec Pads which I bought,through her Prime,hence why she got the Email not me, about three months ago. I needed to clean my camera sensor. Note the language used with reference to my safety..."out of an abundance of caution"..lol. Also, look at the ? after the size of the pads.... 4?x4?

Am I right in thinking that this is probably part one of the scam and another Email will arrive re the refund asking to conform bank details ? It's a strange one. By the way. Yes,there is an eclipse on March 29th best seen from eastern Canada. Here it will be a partial eclipse. They're on the ball these people..lol.

I don't think I'd see much of an eclipse looking through a Pec Pad, though, so, in that regard it would be perfectly safe..

I checked, and Amazon do want to be notified of any scams, so I've asked my wife to do that. We'll also send the next one to them. Would their tech people be able to identify where it came from ?

​

​ Hello, We have identified that the product below that you purchased from Amazon may not be safe for viewing a solar eclipse. If you still have this product, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend you not to use it to watch any solar eclipses, including the one happening on March 29. Please dispose of this product. Product: PEC-PAD Lint Free Wipes 4?x4? Non-Abrasive Ultra Soft Cloth for Cleaning Sensitive Surfaces like Camera Lens Filters Film Scanners Telescopes Microscopes Binoculars. (100 Sheets Per/Pkg) We’ve refunded the purchase price to the original payment method used to pay for this item. You’ll receive a confirmation email from us once the refund has been processed and you’ll be able to view completed refunds in Your Orders: Please allow your bank 5 to 7 business days to process the refund to your account. If you made this purchase for someone else, please notify the recipient immediately and provide them with this information. The safety and satisfaction of our customers is our highest priority. We regret any inconvenience this may cause you. Thanks for choosing Amazon. (This e-mail was sent from a notification-only address that cannot accept incoming e-mail. Please do not reply to this message.)

 

[Steep]

Weird I got exactly the same email, today twice! But actally referring and linking to the filters mentioned, I'd bought them to test on my smart scope. They were each followed up by a second email detailing the refund amount. We wait with baited breath..

/Edit just checked and the emails do come from Amazon, not some spoofed address.

 

[JohnC6]

Weird I got exactly the same email, today twice! But actally referring and linking to the filters mentioned, I'd bought them to test on my smart scope. They were each followed up by a second email detailing the refund amount. We wait with baited breath..

It looks like they've been sent out to anyone who bought anything associated with 'glass',then, even though, in my case, it was cleaning material. Yes, it will be interesting to see what the next Email requests. I think we know, don't we ?

 

[Steep]

Thinking in your case it might be the seller changing the product for sale on a previous listed item. They do that a lot to save on listing fees.

 

[JohnC6]

Thinking in your case it might be the seller changing the product for sale on a previous listed item. They do that a lot to save on listing fees.

Ok. I don't know about that but who is going to give a refund and at the same time tell the purchaser to discard the item and it was claimed to be from Amazon. I can't recall who the selller was..maybe Amazon.."sold and despatched by." I think I'll stick with it being a scam, especially as you've had an identical Email

 

[Steep]

Both orders show as being refunded in my Amazon account, both product pages are removed. No sign of any money Into my account yet but it looks more genuine.

 

[Nod]

The odd punctuation isn't necessarily a sign of anything. Different systems/OSs/etc. code things differently and can throw up oddness.

Odd language also isn't much of an indicator - translation software (and even human translators) don't always use the same phrases etc. that native speakers do.

As for discarding the product rather than returning it, that's pretty common too. Why send a couple of quid back to the seller at their expense when all they will do is bin it. I'd use the wipes on something like a phone screen or watch crystals. Or use them as intended rather than as eclipse viewers... I'm guessing that THESE are the pads (or similar) and the branding could possibly confuse some users.

 

[Garry Edwards]

And here's an alternative scenario . . .
The Amazon software has detected what it believes to be either a dodgy seller or a dodgy product, so they have removed either the seller or the product, or both, and automatically refunded everyone who has bought it.

That's what Amazon does, they protect their reputation as the safest place there is to buy goods, and it costs them nothing because they will deduct every penny of the cost from the payment due to the seller.

 

[Eucris]

It sounds like the email was created by AI, and it has picked up any listing that has the word “eclipse” in it.

 

[JohnC6]

And here's an alternative scenario . . .
The Amazon software has detected what it believes to be either a dodgy seller or a dodgy product, so they have removed either the seller or the product, or both, and automatically refunded everyone who has bought it.

That's what Amazon does, they protect their reputation as the safest place there is to buy goods, and it costs them nothing because they will deduct every penny of the cost from the payment due to the seller.

Interesting. I'll Email my wife and ask if she's had a refund.

 

[Geoffm]

I also received the same email, and today the refund appeared in my bank account!! No scam, but what on earth is going on at Amazon

 

[Steep]

I also received the same email, and today the refund appeared in my bank account!! No scam, but what on earth is going on at Amazon

Seller selling iffy goods, probably different items with the same ASIN. Amazon find out and fix it.
I think the main issue will have been the solar filter as that can have caused serious injury, if there were items listed with the same ASIN on the same page at different times Amazon may not have picked that up so the email went to everyone.

 

[JohnC6]

I also received the same email, and today the refund appeared in my bank account!! No scam, but what on earth is going on at Amazon

As I mentioned, my wife bought the Pec Pads for me through Amazon Prime. She's now told me that the £14.50 I paid has been refunded and is showing in her account.

As Eucris suggests, it's no doubt an error by AI... Long live AI.. Seriously, though..how much is this error costing them and will it be rectified ?

 

[JohnC6]

And here's an alternative scenario . . .
The Amazon software has detected what it believes to be either a dodgy seller or a dodgy product, so they have removed either the seller or the product, or both, and automatically refunded everyone who has bought it.

That's what Amazon does, they protect their reputation as the safest place there is to buy goods, and it costs them nothing because they will deduct every penny of the cost from the payment due to the seller.

I think you're right,Garry. Look what happened back in 2017.

Amazon Issues Refunds For Knockoff Solar Eclipse Glasses

Potentially substandard glasses have flooded the market ahead of the Aug. 21 event.

fortune.com

Amazon (AMZN) is contacting and refunding shoppers who bought potentially shoddy counterfeit solar eclipse glasses on the company’s website, Amazon said Sunday.

As well as offering refunds for glasses that “may not comply with industry standards,” the e-commerce giant is also taking down several unspecified listings of purported eclipse glasses “out of an abundance of caution,” CNN Money reports.

Look at the wording which,if you look back at my original post I mocked thinking it showed it was scam.

“out of an abundance of caution,”

 

[JohnC6]

The odd punctuation isn't necessarily a sign of anything. Different systems/OSs/etc. code things differently and can throw up oddness.

Odd language also isn't much of an indicator - translation software (and even human translators) don't always use the same phrases etc. that native speakers do.

As for discarding the product rather than returning it, that's pretty common too. Why send a couple of quid back to the seller at their expense when all they will do is bin it. I'd use the wipes on something like a phone screen or watch crystals. Or use them as intended rather than as eclipse viewers... I'm guessing that THESE are the pads (or similar) and the branding could possibly confuse some users.

Sorry..I overlooked that you'd asked if.... 'these' were the pads ? In blue.

Yes, they are but they've gone up £2 since I bought them. As you see I've (my wife has) been refunded £14.50.

 

[Garry Edwards]

@JohnC6 Could this be the closest we'll get to an admission that there is a remote possibility that you can sometimes be wrong?

 

[Nod]

Sorry..I overlooked that you'd asked if.... 'these' were the pads ? In blue.

Yes, they are but they've gone up £2 since I bought them. As you see I've (my wife has) been refunded £14.50.

Since it seems that it's probably the "Eclipse" name that's the problem rather than any product defect, I'd use them for what they were bought for - win/win!

 

[ecoleman]

Seriously, though..how much is this error costing them and will it be rectified ?

Annoyingly probably nothing. they will claw the money back from the sellers including the poor seller who sold you perfectly good pec pads that have nothing to do with viewing an eclipse.

 

[JohnC6]

Annoyingly probably nothing. they will claw the money back from the sellers including the poor seller who sold you perfectly good pec pads that have nothing to do with viewing an eclipse.

To be honest, I feel a bit guilty now, after what you said, although it's obviously, not my fault. That's not right that Amazon can claim re Pec Pads. Couldn't the seller appeal ?

 

[Steep]

To be honest, I feel a bit guilty now, after what you said, although it's obviously, not my fault. That's not right that Amazon can claim re Pec Pads. Couldn't the seller appeal ?

Console yourself with this thought, Jeff Bezos' life will not be affected in the least by your pec pad gains

 

[JohnC6]

Console yourself with this thought, Jeff Bezos' life will not be affected in the least by your pec pad gains

No, of course not. I was thinking of the loss for the seller.

 

[Steep]

Refund came through this evening. In my case the seller sold faulty goods and can take the loss if Amazon can track them down. It was one of those consonants only names from China and are probably long gone.