Idea

newuser-7b5e342c-e8b4-45a9-a1ac-55ed22ee459a suggested Jan 4, '19

Maybe it's time to start verifying people's IDs prior to accepting them. Widespread abuse. Details inside.

People are openly selling merch accounts on ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/APPROVED-MERCH-BY-AMAZON-ACCOUNT-FOR-SALE/253954017992?hash=item3b20d6cac8:m:mtn0Bzb7AA587P7A6AtxIPw:rk:5:pf:0 you can get a fresh account on those private facebook groups for as low as $10. Upon purchasing an account people from unsupported countries use payoneer bank details so that they could be paid. They then go and upload trademarked and copyrighted design and avoid automatic detection by using dashes between their keywords https://www.amazon.com/north-face-hoodie/dp/B07MRKSLRZ/ref=sr_1_41?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1546639669&sr=1-41&nodeID=7147445011&psd=1

Maybe it's time to start verifying new registrations? Maybe make people submit copies of their ID or copies of their utility bills?

merch by amazon

10 |5000

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FocusedOnResults commented Jan 5, '19

Kudos to you for finding this info.

You may want to email Merch and also Amazon and report it. I would think they each have a Fraud division and would find this information quite useful.

North Face would also find the info useful as it is theft plain and simple which puts Merch on the hook as on their platform - so definitely something that I expect Merch to handle quickly as they don't want this mess on their hands due to an unscrupulous person.

For those selling on Amazon, you do need to submit a copy of your driver's license. I don't recall doing so for Merch. You brought up valid thoughts on a stronger verification process.

10 |5000

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newuser-7b5e342c-e8b4-45a9-a1ac-55ed22ee459a commented · Jan 05, 2019 at 12:45 AM

It's a common practice. Buy an account, play the system, buy another account if caught. Look at BSR on this one https://www.amazon.com/Givenchy-Paris-SHIRT/dp/B07MB3QSR6/ref=sr_1_9?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1546639669&sr=1-9&nodeID=7147445011&psd=1 I was not really sure who to email about this.

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FocusedOnResults commented Jan 5, '19

Hello - I would not be surprised if it is the same person with the Paris and North Face fakes. I'll see if I can info for you on reporting. If Elizabeth sees your post before I find any info, I know she will take immediate action.

10 |5000

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dmytro donets commented Jan 6, '19

I saw this week a few trademarked and copyrighted t-shirts with dashes between the keywords. One of them were Amazon Choice and had BSR lest then 5000. Unfortunately, I don't remember what it was, even niche.

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TEES commented Jan 6, '19

Believe me north face sees it all the time with china. one MBA account is nothing for them to worry about but I'm sure their legal would like to see it.

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Hanalei commented Jan 6, '19

Wow, that's a good find. If I am reading this right, how did you discover that the same people selling MBA accounts are also the ones listing these counterfeit products?

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Ricardo Almeida commented Jan 8, '19

OP posted 4 days ago and the North Face hoodie is still available.

Come on Amazon!

10 |5000

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regina stenger commented Jan 10, '19

Wow. Here's another, complete with many live designs already uploaded, Tier 500.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Merch-by-Amazon-Account-Tier-500-494-designs-live-50-uploads-day-AMS-Tax-0/254055174959?

10 |5000

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NNewUser-3ebac6c7-883f-4b5c-aaa5-a7810472af25 commented Jan 10, '19

Hmmm... if a Merch account with 500 Tier is worth a couple of grand, I'd be tempted to sell mine. It'd take me a few years to earn that much through sales.

10 |5000

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newuser-536725b0-dfc1-4ec3-8f13-0ca65a1cfdc0 commented Jan 10, '19

ugh. and yet many of us are scared we will lose our account for relatively innocent and/or accidental violations.

10 |5000

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Ricardo Almeida commented Jan 10, '19

Oh.. WOW! "3 available... 26 sold!"

Believe it: that seller sold 26 Merch accounts and he/she still has 3 left.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/APPROVED-MERCH-BY-AMAZON-ACCOUNT-FOR-SALE/253954017992?hash=item3b20d6cac8:m:mtn0Bzb7AA587P7A6AtxIPw:rk:5:pf:0

And the seller is based in Morocco.

10 |5000

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Idea

Maybe it's time to start verifying people's IDs prior to accepting them. Widespread abuse. Details inside.

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