Fraud and abuse, defined

AI agents shopping, returning and filing claims on behalf of people.

Returning the full-price item from a buy-one-get-one or buy-more-save-more deal and keeping the discounted one.

Ordering several sizes or colors of an item, planning to keep one and return the rest.

Stripping valuable parts from an electronic device and returning it as defective.

A payment reversed by the card issuer after the cardholder disputes a charge.

Keeping the genuine product and returning a convincing fake in its place.

Returning an empty box, or one filled with worthless material, and claiming the refund.

Adding items to reach a free shipping threshold, then returning them.

Disputing a legitimate purchase with the card issuer to get money back while keeping the goods.

Manipulating a shipping label so tracking shows a return was delivered, while the item never comes back.

Repeatedly using satisfaction or performance guarantees to cycle through products without paying for them.

Falsely claiming a delivered order never arrived, or that the purchase wasn't authorized.

Websites built to impersonate a brand, using a similar domain name and copied products.

Listings on third-party marketplaces that sell fakes or misuse a brand's name and images.

Claiming new-customer or one-time discounts again and again with fresh emails or accounts.

Buying limited or high-demand items to resell, and returning whatever doesn't sell.

Coordinated groups using many linked accounts to buy limited stock in bulk for resale.

Returning most of what you buy, over and over, often with vague complaints or policy loopholes.

Returning a cheaper or older version of a product in the original packaging.

Buying with a stolen card, then returning the goods for store credit or a gift card.

Buying an item, using it briefly, and returning it as unused for a full refund.

What the warehouse records about a returned item's condition and what happens to it next.