How My Amazon Virtual Assistant Scam Experience Started
In 2023, I began working on Amazon, offering my services as a Virtual Assistant (VA). At that time, I had several clients, and the scope for Amazon Wholesale was enormous — and it still is, mainly because the wholesale model is budget-friendly compared to other Amazon business models.
Since we were working with wholesale, we constantly needed new products. However, in the wholesale model, finding profitable products was, and still is, a highly challenging task. I personally struggled a lot with product hunting, trying to find items that were not only profitable but also met the client’s specific criteria.
Not only in Pakistan, but also in many other countries, there are countless Virtual Assistants offering Amazon services. Product hunting and sourcing are among the most in-demand services. In Pakistan, I also encountered many Virtual Assistants who were actively selling products to other VAs and Amazon sellers.
Since I needed products frequently, I decided to reach out to these VAs through different Facebook groups. I posted a detailed list of my product requirements, including essential factors like competition, ranking, Best Seller Rank (BSR), reviews, profit margins, fulfillment methods (FBA and FBM), and sourcing options.
The Amazon Virtual Assistant Scam Incident That Opened My Eyes
One day, a person responded to my post. He sent me screenshots containing product statistics — all the numbers looked great. When I asked about the pricing, we discussed and finalized it. He also assured me that the profit margins were excellent.
Then came the topic of payment. He asked me to send the payment first, promising that he would then send me the full product list. He seemed worried that I might copy his products without paying, so he sent me his bank account number. Trusting his profile, his chats, and believing he was a professional, I sent him the payment.
Although the payment amount wasn’t very large, for a beginner like me, it was still a significant sum. I was new in the Amazon VA field, and this was one of my early independent transactions.
After receiving the payment, the person sent me the product details. But to my surprise, he only shared product links — nothing about sourcing!
I immediately messaged him and said, “Brother, the products look fine, and you’ve shared the profit margins as well. But where is the sourcing information? How am I supposed to find inventory without knowing where to buy the products from?” I told him, “You have simply shared product links along with some basic stats — I could have easily gotten these from any other VA. What matters to me is actual profitability and sourcing.”
Realizations After Falling for an Amazon Virtual Assistant Scam
At this point, it became clear to me: this person was inexperienced and lacked basic professional understanding. He thought sending some product stats would be enough — but stats alone are meaningless without real, validated profit margins and a sourcing link.
Furthermore, I realized he had misled me by providing fake profit figures. When I asked for a refund, he flatly refused, claiming, “I have provided you with products, and that’s it.” After that, he stopped replying to my messages and ignored my calls.
This experience made me realize a harsh truth about this industry: many new Virtual Assistants, especially in Pakistan, show extreme immaturity and greed. They are so desperate to earn money quickly that they end up scamming others, knowingly or unknowingly.
I also shared another scam story recently, where I talked about my experience with an OTP scam. You can read it here.
In fact, Amazon-related scams are very common, and anyone working in this field must be cautious. For more insights, check out this detailed guide on the 10 Most Common Amazon Seller Scams.
The Bigger Picture Behind the Amazon Virtual Assistant Scam Culture
I want to point out another major issue. Many people who offer Amazon training courses brainwash their students. They tell them things like:
- “Just find products and sell the data.”
- “Product hunting is the golden ticket to earn hundreds of dollars quickly.”
- “Stats are enough to impress clients.”
In reality, no real Amazon seller will buy a product just by looking at some numbers. A serious seller needs complete information: verified sourcing links, correct profit margins, invoice availability, and compliance with Amazon policies.
When a new VA provides unrealistic product prices or unachievable profit margins, it destroys their credibility. Serious buyers will either laugh it off or never trust them again.
The Core of Any Amazon Business: Product Hunting
In any Amazon business model — whether Wholesale, Private Label, or Arbitrage — product hunting is the very first and most important step. That’s why new VAs are trained heavily on this skill. But unfortunately, many only focus on “how to make money fast” instead of “how to serve clients professionally.”
Moreover, course sellers often fail to teach important elements like:
- How to properly source products.
- How to get valid invoices.
- How to ensure Amazon will accept those invoices if needed during account verification.
- How to actually find products that can genuinely make profits — not just look good on paper.
Spiritual Reflections After Facing an Amazon Virtual Assistant Scam
Despite the financial loss and the frustration I felt, I firmly believe that every gain or loss happens by the will of Allah (SWT). Every event — good or bad — carries hidden wisdom and opportunities for personal growth.
I make dua (pray) to Allah to protect us all from financial losses, scams, and betrayal. May Allah guide us all to deal in honesty, fairness, and professionalism, and may He protect us from falling into greed and impatience.
Essential Advice for New Virtual Assistants to Avoid an Amazon Virtual Assistant Scam
Here’s my sincere advice to anyone entering the Amazon VA field:
- Never sell product stats without sourcing information.
- Always validate your profit margins.
- Learn how to properly source products and get compliant invoices.
- Be honest with your clients — even if it means making less money in the short term, it will build your reputation in the long run.
- Think long-term. You are building a career, not just doing a one-time hustle.
Must-Know Tips for Buyers to Prevent an Amazon Virtual Assistant Scam
If you’re someone looking to buy product information from a VA:
- Always confirm sourcing links before making any payment.
- Always ask whether the invoices will be acceptable to Amazon.
- Always validate the stats yourself — don’t trust screenshots blindly.
- Only pay once you have confirmed that the information is complete and genuine.
Final Words: Learning and Growing After an Amazon Virtual Assistant Scam
This story wasn’t just a bad experience; it was a powerful lesson. It taught me the importance of doing business with due diligence, patience, and professionalism.
In the end, every step in your journey — whether it’s smooth or rough — makes you wiser and stronger.
May Allah grant us all success in halal (lawful) earnings and protect us from every kind of fraud and loss. Ameen!
