How Did Amazon Detect Me?

supdawg1985 · #1 03-16-2014

Bought the Amazon Guide and read it thoroughly and followed each step. Here is what was done :

1. LLC was formed in California
2. EIN was obtained
3. Got a new address at the post office (opened with real name)
4. Bought a brand new computer
5. Changed IP address
6. Opened a business account at Chase (using real name)
7. Got a new phone number through Google Voice
8. Amazon account was opened using EIN and a slight alteration of my real name
9. Items were gradually added (books and movies)
10. After two weeks, around $800 worth of stuff sold
11. Funds were disbursed to our account
12. Next day Amazon shut us down

I cannot think of what I did wrong, as I figured all tracks were covered. Even to be safe, I used a new password and new email service (gmail).

I MAY have accidentally opened an email pertaining to my old suspended account using my new computer. Maybe this has something to do with it, although it seems far-fetched.

Other areas of concern : does Amazon have the right to obtain information of the owner of either the LLC, a bank account, or PO box?

I am really perplexed as to how the link was made. I am now considering acquiring a DBA for the business and starting over with that as a basis. Any insight into the situation would be appreciated as we are dependent on using Amazon.

Thanks,

jai · #2 03-16-2014

how did you change ip address ? did you monitor ip addresses you used ?

also was address given at post office like a po box number or a place you collect mail

Kelly441 · #3 03-17-2014

Why did they suspend your account?

Are you the registered agent on the LLC?

This is public information.

kockedoff · #4 03-17-2014

What email did you get from amazon... Suspended or deleted ?

Artann · #5 03-17-2014

It's either your IP if the computer was connected through a router, like a wireless router, or the stuff you were selling. Listing exactly the same inventory as previously banned account will get you canned as well.

Kelly441 · #6 03-17-2014

I have not had any problem selling same items as long as the city is different. I sell same items over multiple accounts to get more of the share of the buy box and I also have had no problem selling same item on a new account as soon as the old account get suspended. Just my luck, others luck may vary.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artann

It's either your IP if the computer was connected through a router, like a wireless router, or the stuff you were selling. Listing exactly the same inventory as previously banned account will get you canned as well.

Gamefreak · #7 03-17-2014

you did all that yet you cheap out on google voice. Invest the money in a real call forwarding company thats not as big as google. Google have been recycling numbers over and over and over. Pay the $10 a month or whatever it cost to pay a proper phone number.

PS i usually don't add EIN until after a few successful deposits.

Artann · #8 03-17-2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gamefreak

you did all that yet you cheap out on google voice. Invest the money in a real call forwarding company thats not as big as google. Google have been recycling numbers over and over and over. Pay the $10 a month or whatever it cost to pay a proper phone number.

PS i usually don't add EIN until after a few successful deposits.

I had to create a buz acct a few days ago and AZ asked for the EIN right away.

supdawg1985 · #9 03-17-2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly441

Why did they suspend your account?

Are you the registered agent on the LLC?

This is public information.

Apparently the account was linked to an old suspended account and is now dead in the water. Took them about two weeks to make the connection some how. It happened right after a deposit was made, which was then pulled back the next day right after suspension.

My partner and I have formed a legally registered LLC. It was done by LegalZoom so they were the "registered agent" on the public database site. Maybe LegalZoom ratted out our personal identity if Amazon called them?

What I was considering now is filing for a DBA for the same LLC. I would have a new EIN, a new bank account, a new phone number, and would use a library computer to avoid any IP issues. Also, I am going to get a PO Box from the city next to me this time.

supdawg1985 · #10 03-17-2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by kockedoff

What email did you get from amazon... Suspended or deleted ?

Suspended...right after the first payment was disbursed.

supdawg1985 · #11 03-17-2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artann

It's either your IP if the computer was connected through a router, like a wireless router, or the stuff you were selling. Listing exactly the same inventory as previously banned account will get you canned as well.

I followed the Amazon stealth guide and made sure to change my IP address. I wrote down mine before and after changing to ensure it was indeed different. I actually had to get a stealth Ebay account going, which is still up and running today.

As for inventory...we had maybe 250 listings upon the original suspension back in November. When we were suspended again, we had maybe 40 listings or so...with quite a few different items that were not being sold on the old account.

We were thinking about creating a new account and letting it sit dormant for the first month, with the exception of maybe a few random things here and there.

supdawg1985 · #12 03-17-2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artann

I had to create a buz acct a few days ago and AZ asked for the EIN right away.

This is correct. Also worth noting : although the user may be opening a business account, a personal name is still required. I ended up using a variation of my real name.

Was there maybe a mismatch when comparing this phake name with the IRS' record of the LLC owner's name?

If so, then how in the world do you get around this?

GreenBean · #13 03-17-2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by supdawg1985

What I was considering now is filing for a DBA for the same LLC. I would have a new EIN, a new bank account, a new phone number, and would use a library computer to avoid any IP issues. Also, I am going to get a PO Box from the city next to me this time.

Avoid the library IP. That might be burned already by another stealther.

Sorry but you have not cloaked yourself well enough.

Same area as a suspended account can fail.

Keep in mind, amazon look for similarities.

rsot · #14 03-17-2014

1. Library computer is huge possibility.

2. Movies...were they DVDs? Popular items? Easily counterfeitable (possibly)? Even a suspicion by Amazon will cause your account to be axed.

3. How was your feedback?

supdawg1985 · #15 03-17-2014

Wouldn't Amazon have some sort of understanding when a public computer is used? For example:

If ONE person logged into their suspended account, wouldn't everyone else who logged into Amazon from then on (using the same IP) get linked and banned? Seems unreasonable for Amazon to be this sensitive when there are "hot spots" such as the library.

The account was suspended due to a link to an old account. Nothing about what we did prompted Amazon to suspend it apart from the old account.

We somehow got NO ratings in two weeks (and looking at it now, none came in since the suspension).

I just feel like they must have had some sort of definitive proof of identification or else they must suspend people a lot without warrant based on hunches.

rsot · #16 03-20-2014

No Amazon would have NO sort of understanding - the platform would see the following:

HEY! More than one person uses this machine...more than one account...looks risky...public IP with multiple users? Smells like fraud+cover-up of tracks...ban the account - all are related /done.

Get your own IP and follow Ghost methods

GreenBean · #17 03-20-2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by supdawg1985

I followed the Amazon stealth guide and made sure to change my IP address. I wrote down mine before and after changing to ensure it was indeed different. I actually had to get a stealth Ebay account going, which is still up and running today.

What else did you do apart from changing the IP address?

supdawg1985 · #18 03-21-2014

Well I spoke too soon about the Ebay account. It was suspended a couple days ago. So what exactly happened here?

Green Bean : As far as computer linking, there was nothing else that needed to be done from my understanding to avoid detection. I got a brand new computer so I was starting with a clean slate. I followed the Amazon Guide to a tee.

rsot : so you are saying that Amazon would suspend EVERYONE who logged into their Amazon accounts at the library from that point forward? Seems unrealistic.

supdawg1985 · #19 03-21-2014

I think I have found the culprit:

Just checked my business bank account online and the primary address for it is my personal (banned) address. Can't be a coincidence because both Amazon and Ebay suspended me around the time I was to get paid. They must have attempted a deposit and discovered this information in doing so.

Need to start all over with a DBA now.

joew8989 · #20 03-21-2014

hey don't have access to your bank records

joew8989 · #21 03-21-2014

they don't have access to your bank info, its the public IP you are using and a similar name. Yes they will suspend everyone who creates an account from the library IP.

supdawg1985 · #22 03-22-2014

I didn't use a public IP though when I created a new account. I ended up changing my personal IP and then bought a new laptop just to be safe. I know the IP was changed because I wrote it down and after changing it, the numbers were new (according to google : "what is my ip")