Greg's Corner

The truth about Amazon product testing opportunities

By Greg Collier

Social media platforms and even physical mailings are rife with advertisements promising the chance to become an Amazon product tester, but not all of these opportunities are what they seem.

Recently, a potential victim of this scam received a postcard inviting them to test a new remote-control car, purportedly from Amazon. At first glance, the invitation seemed exciting, but upon closer inspection, several red flags emerged. The email address provided had no affiliation with Amazon, and the domain name associated with the offer, raised suspicions as it was flagged as having a risk of being a scam site. Furthermore, the return address belonged to a shoe warehouse with no ties to Amazon whatsoever.

It’s crucial to understand that while Amazon does indeed have a legitimate product testing program known as Amazon Vine, it operates by invitation only. Participants are selected based on their history of writing insightful reviews, typically those who have contributed a significant number of reviews. Unlike the enticing promises of monetary compensation and freebies from dubious sources, Amazon Vine members are not paid for their participation and are solely provided with the opportunity to order items for free in exchange for their reviews.

Moreover, it’s essential to exercise caution when encountering non-official product testing sites. These platforms are not affiliated with Amazon and often make grandiose claims of guaranteed income for testing products. However, such promises should be met with skepticism, as they are frequently veils for scams designed to exploit individuals seeking to earn extra income or receive free goods.

In scams of this nature, perpetrators generally have two primary objectives: acquiring personal information and obtaining payment details. When individuals attempt to claim offers on fraudulent websites, they are often prompted to input their mailing information to receive the promised product. However, the catch is that the applicant must cover shipping costs. This seemingly innocuous step is where scammers seize the opportunity to extract payment information, alongside the individual’s name and address, and potentially even their Social Security number.

Just like with any online job opportunity, it’s crucial to conduct thorough research before applying. Whether you come across a listing on social media or receive an enticing offer through the mail, if it seems too good to be true, take the time to visit the official company’s website to verify the legitimacy of the job being advertised.