Linking accounts by partial IP address match?

[chaichaoyi]

After several unexpected suspensions right upon registration, I have boiled down all possible explanation to just one: Amazon is blacklisting large chunks of IP range (range, not a point) associated with previously suspended accounts.

For instance, if my old account running on 78.110.111.222 has been blacklisted, then all IP addresses in the format of 78.110.111.abc will raise red flags on Amazon's backend.

I would truly appreciate it if any one can confirm or disprove my speculation.

Thanks guys!

[phaz0rz]

I highly doubt it's such a simple process. ISP's are assigned IP segments which they then assign to thousands of users. In an e-commerce heavy city AZ could potentially kick off hundreds of sellers by blocking the entire 4th octet of an IP pool.

[rsot]

phaz is right - just because .222 is blacklisted does not mean other .XXX will be - would take a MASSIVE amount of frauding and blacklisting to get an entire IP set blocked completely

[Gamefreak]

could be what are you selling may seem risky to amazon. also keep in mind this is when amazon usually starts weed out bad/low performing sellers to prepare for the holiday season.

[chaichaoyi]

Originally Posted by Gamefreak

could be what are you selling may seem risky to amazon. also keep in mind this is when amazon usually starts weed out bad/low performing sellers to prepare for the holiday season.

It was suspension right after registration (i.e. after phone verification is passed). I did not even had a chance making the first listing.

I use VPS servers to run each seller account. The chances of the VPS being previously used and suspended are minimal (the VPS company is small and little known, recently started by a buddy of mine).

Could it be using VOIP numbers for phone verification? But quite many people use VOIP as legitimate personal contact numbers, I don't see why Amazon bans VOIP altogether.

[Kelly441]

I can only speak for up to about 2 years ago running 6 accounts with same IP situation that it doesnt get you suspended. Things may have changed though

Assuming that Amazon will be static is asinine

[mrking401]

This is absolutely true,Something I confirmed through extensive research this year.Its something new amazon got strict about.They are auto suspending and blacklisting ip's by the block if they see they are over used.Most vps and VPN companys are starting to have issues with similar ip's being blacklisted.So if people been getting auto suspensions right from creation while using a vps or VPN then it is likely the ip that you was issued.And if people keep overabusing certain blocks of ip's to make amazon accounts amazon will block all of them at once.

[chaichaoyi]

Apparently switching a VPS service provider has solved the issue. So this confirmed the auto-suspending upon account creation has something to do with the network environment (IP or installed browser).

[elmo]

Amazon has blacklisted many IP ranges. eBay has done something similar in the past

[MLADen]

Originally Posted by phaz0rz

I highly doubt it's such a simple process. ISP's are assigned IP segments which they then assign to thousands of users. In an e-commerce heavy city AZ could potentially kick off hundreds of sellers by blocking the entire 4th octet of an IP pool.

It's unreasonable to block 255 Residential IP addresses at once. At the same time, it is EXTREMELY reasonable to block the whole D-subnetwork (it is 255 IP addresses we are talking about) belonging to a datacenter. I will be publishing an article shedding some light on this topic on Monday. Will add a link or may be TL;DR version here.

[chaichaoyi]

Originally Posted by MLADen

It's unreasonable to block 255 Residential IP addresses at once. At the same time, it is EXTREMELY reasonable to block the whole D-subnetwork (it is 255 IP addresses we are talking about) belonging to a datacenter. I will be publishing an article shedding some light on this topic on Monday. Will add a link or may be TL;DR version here.

Article please?

[MLADen]

Originally Posted by chaichaoyi

Article please?

Datacenter vs. Residential IP Proxies: Your Complete Guide

my pleasure

[chaichaoyi]

Originally Posted by MLADen

Datacenter vs. Residential IP Proxies: Your Complete Guide

my pleasure

Very informative! Thank you for sharing!

Do you think Amazon is collecting browser fingerprint in addition to IP? Will fingerprint spoofing reduce the chance of suspension-right-after-registration ?

[MLADen]

Originally Posted by chaichaoyi

Do you think Amazon is collecting browser fingerprint in addition to IP?

Of course it does. Nowadays every major web platform does.

Originally Posted by chaichaoyi

Will fingerprint spoofing reduce the chance of suspension-right-after-registration ?

I could only speculate on this topic but of course browser fingerprint is one of the possible reasons for immediate account suspension. Other possible reasons are
1. IP or IP subnet block
2. catch words, e.g. John Smith used as a name
3. suspicious action patterns (usually happen when you automate things)