Why do Amazon sponsor links to fraudulent websites?

Question

I foolishly followed a sponsored link from the Amazon website to buy some sunglasses. I then had a call from my bank telling me that a company called "Dud-ec" in China had processed a charge and that it appeared to be a fraudulent transaction. Checking on the internet they seem to be correct. I informed Amazon who took the line that although they take a fee from the sponsored links they make no checks on who they sponsor. If enough people complain they remove offending links. I notice that within a couple of days the same advert appeared back on Amazon, with a different weblink. Buyer beware - it seems there is a limit to the trust you can put in the Amazon website.

Steve B · Accepted Answer

"they take a fee from the sponsored links they make no checks" ...

This is quite normal. Before the Internet, many frauds involved paid for Advertisements placed in Newspapers (and, indeed some still do) = even the UK Government has been 'caught out' by con-merchants (see, for example, the scandal over the fraudulent Training providers to the unemployed ..)

Government services have been involved in many frauds .. one of the most well known ones would be the Land Registry, who not only handed over details of house owners but also allowed criminals to 'steal' houses by accepting their 'change of ownership' instructions .. and (of course) the DVLA who sell details of car ownership to the 'illegal parking' scammers ...

You and I might think that we would have some legal claim against those who take money with their eyes closed and thus help criminals and fraudsters, however that's just not the case, unless you can PROVE that they knew about the fraud and did nothing ..

Why do Amazon sponsor links to fraudulent websites?

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