A Bloomberg report has detailed a "shadow market" where Amazon sellers can allegedly purchase illicit services from company employees through middlemen on encrypted messaging apps like WeChat. These services, which can cost from hundreds to thousands of dollars, reportedly include reinstating suspended accounts, removing negative product reviews, and providing access to confidential internal data to gain a competitive advantage.
This issue is not entirely new, with prior investigations and federal indictments dating back to at least 2018 concerning similar bribery schemes. In a 2020 case, the Department of Justice charged six individuals who allegedly paid over $100,000 in bribes to at least 10 Amazon employees, reaping more than $100 million in benefits for the sellers they consulted. Amazon has consistently stated it has zero tolerance for such abuse, investigates claims, and cooperates with law enforcement.