US man used fancy toilets and electric guitars to defraud Amazon out of US$300K

Amazon packages on a delivery cart in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, US. Riyaz is not the only Amazon user accused of using returns to defraud the online retailer. — Reuters

One man in Virginia is accused of defrauding Amazon out of more than US$300,000 (RM1.26mil) by purchasing expensive goods and asking for a refund only to return an alternative product worth a fraction of the price.

Farhaad Riyaz, 34, pleaded guilty to the scheme in the Eastern District of Virginia on Monday, Dec 13, the US Attorney’s Office said in a news release. Riyaz, who is from Manassas, Virginia, faces up to 20 years in prison when he’s sentenced on March 22.