Amazon Scam in Pakistan and USA | Hidden Cost No One Tell

NOTE : ( I share a personal experience of falling for an Amazon-related scam disguised as a success seminar, losing $10,000. Later, while selling on Amazon, initial excitement turned into frustration due to hidden fees, hijackers, poor seller support, and misleading advertising tactics. The platform’s “honeymoon period” hooks new sellers before overwhelming them with costs and pressure. This article aims to warn aspiring sellers about the harsh realities of doing business on Amazon and the risks behind “get-rich-quick” promises. )

 

When I first moved to the USA, I had this belief, just like many others, that scams only happen in poor countries. You know, places like Pakistan or India. But I was wrong. Very wrong.

Here in America, I lost more money in one scam than I ever did back home. Some people may not even call it a scam. But for me? It absolutely was.

When Amazon Came to Pakistan… or Did It?

Let’s rewind for a second. Back in 2019, Amazon hadn’t officially come to Pakistan. But the hype? Oh, it was real. People started acting like Amazon was a magical ATM that would shower money just for listing random stuff. Everyone thought, “Bas yaar, kuch bhi becho, aur paisay hi paisay milain gey.”

Since there were no official Amazon accounts allowed in Pakistan, some smart (or rather, shady) folks jumped in. They started offering “Amazon Account Services.” The deal? “Hum aapka account banatay hain, sirf 10 hazaar dollars dijiye. (only $10,000)” People who didn’t understand the system paid them without blinking. Amazon became a buzzword. Awareness was low, excitement was high, and scammers were cashing in.

I saw all that unfold while I was still in Pakistan. So when I moved to the U.S., I thought—“Now I can try this for real, the proper way.”

Little did I know, I was walking straight into my own Amazon trap.

A $1,000 Seminar That Led to a $10,000 Mistake

It started with a flashy online ad: “Amazon is looking for people to help distribute money using a special app. Join our 2-day seminar to learn more!”

It was held in a nice hotel. The fee? $1,000.

“Scams don’t happen in America,” I thought. “This must be legit.”

At the seminar, they explained a simple model: Buy cheap products from China, sell them on Amazon for 10x the price, and Amazon will handle everything—packing, shipping, and payments. It sounded easy and clean.

The next day, they brought in some “successful students” who claimed to have made millions. I was tired of my night shift tech job and wanted something better. So I jumped in—$10,000 for their complete package.

They promised to:

• Create my LLC

• Set up my Amazon account

• Handle product sourcing and shipping

• Store my inventory

Everything was being run from Nevada, while I was in Chicago. They gave me a contact number, and everything felt official.

At first, things looked okay. I got my LLC certificate within a week. My Amazon seller account was created. But once they got all my details… silence. A month passed. Then two. No responses.

And then, I saw it in the news—FBI raid.
The company I had trusted was part of a massive scam. The lady leading the seminar? Arrested.

That was it. $10,000 gone.

I Still Tried Amazon—On My Own This Time

After all that, I was still curious. So I thought, “Let me try this Amazon thing myself.”

I watched some YouTube tutorials, found a simple product on Alibaba, and shipped it to Amazon’s warehouse. Surprisingly, it sold quickly. I only spent $10 on ads, and all 200 units were gone within a month. My bank account showed deposits, and I got excited. I thought I had figured it out.

So I went bigger.

I ordered 1,000 units this time. But this time, the supplier raised the prices. Shipping got more expensive too. Still, I thought: “No problem. I’ll make it back.”

But when the products reached Amazon, everything changed.

Enter the Hijackers

Suddenly, my sales stopped. And I got emails from Amazon saying I was getting bad reviews.

How? No one had even bought anything yet.

Turns out, product hijackers had jumped onto my listing. They were selling fake versions of my product under my name. When I contacted Amazon, their response?

“This is a generic product. Anyone can sell it.”

I was shocked. I told them, “Then why can’t they make their own listing?” But it didn’t matter. Amazon didn’t care.

Their seller support was awful. They kept blaming me. Emails went back and forth. No help. Just frustration.

The Never-Ending Fees

Let’s talk about money.

Amazon charges:

• $40/month just to have a seller account

• Referral fees

• Fulfillment fees

• Storage fees

• Return handling fees

• Advertising fees

And they hold a chunk of your money for weeks, just in case someone returns something. After all the deductions, the profits? Hardly anything left.

And if you don’t run ads? Your product disappears from search results.

This is how it works:

• Amazon gives new sellers a “honeymoon period” where your product sells well, even without ads.

• You get excited. Place a bigger order.

• Now Amazon tells you, “Run ads if you want sales.”

• So you start spending.

• But even after spending $100 on ads, sometimes you barely make $50.

And Then Come the Big Sale Days…

Events like Black Friday or Prime Day are supposed to help sellers. Right?

Wrong.

Amazon pushes you to give 70–80% discounts. They also want you to increase your ad budget.

But they don’t reduce their own fees.

So you:

• Sell at a loss

• Pay high ad costs

• Still give Amazon its full cut

And what do you get? A bunch of headaches.

What I Learned (So You Don’t Have To)

After all this, here’s what I believe:
Amazon is not an easy money machine.
It’s a complicated, risky business.

Everyone talks about:

• Big profits

• Passive income

• Freedom

But no one tells you about:

• Hijackers

• Poor seller support

• Hidden fees

• Constant ad pressure

If you’re thinking about starting Amazon FBA, go in with open eyes.

Yes, it can work. But it’s not a shortcut to riches. You need:

• Patience

• Research

• Backup funds

• A thick skin

Final Words

I’m sharing my real journey—not to scare you, but to prepare you.

If you’re in Pakistan and someone says “Amazon main paisay he paisay hain,” take a deep breath and do your homework.

And if you’re in America or any other country, just know that scams exist everywhere. They just wear fancier clothes here.

Be smart. Ask questions. And don’t fall for the hype.