Amazon has once again ramped up its enforcement actions against seller accounts, reinforcing what many in the industry already know: account suspensions are never random. The platform’s scrutiny of seller behavior has not only remained constant—it’s escalating.
Mass Suspensions Without Warning
In recent days, numerous Amazon sellers have reported a new wave of sudden account suspensions. This time, the crackdown came without any prior warning or opportunity to rectify issues. Accounts were deactivated instantly, and product listings were removed without explanation.
The scale of this enforcement is alarming. Between August 25 and August 31, nearly 2,800 seller accounts—almost all operated by Chinese merchants—were reportedly shut down. On average, that's over 400 Chinese seller accounts per day suspected of being suspended. Globally, the number of affected accounts during the same period exceeds 12,000, highlighting the unprecedented intensity of Amazon’s latest sweep.
The suspensions have affected sellers across major Amazon marketplaces, including North America, Europe, and Japan. However, Chinese sellers appear to be the most impacted, accounting for over 60% of the total closures. Product categories such as consumer electronics (3C), home goods, and apparel have been particularly targeted.
Even seasoned sellers generating over $1.3 million USD in monthly sales and boasting thousands of positive feedback ratings have found themselves abruptly cut off.
Key Violations Behind the Suspensions
According to an Amazon account manager consulted by industry insiders, the following four violations are at the core of the current enforcement wave:
1. Listing Manipulation via Refurbishment
Previously used by some sellers to erase negative reviews and gain “new product” ranking advantages, listing refurbishment is now deemed a serious violation. Amazon considers this deceptive practice as misrepresenting a product’s sales history and performance.
2. Abnormal Operational Metrics
A sudden surge in returns, sharp spikes in sales, an influx of negative reviews, or frequent infringement complaints can all trigger Amazon’s risk control systems.
3. Improper Variation Merging
Tactics such as bundling new products with older listings to hijack traffic or merging unrelated variants are now under strict scrutiny. Since early this year, Amazon has tightened its policy enforcement around listing variations.
4. Account Linking
While strong links—such as shared credit cards, bank accounts, or IP addresses—have always been red flags, Amazon is now also cracking down on weaker links, such as shared operational behavior or overlapping business information.
To make matters worse, sellers report that the appeals process has become significantly more difficult. Many appeals are rejected due to “insufficiently detailed remediation plans,” leaving sellers with little hope of account reinstatement. The likelihood of recovering a suspended account appears lower than ever.
KYC Verification Tightens in Canada
At the same time, Amazon’s Canada marketplace has rolled out a major update to its KYC (Know Your Customer) verification process. While KYC is not new, the latest changes introduce two significant shifts:
- Expanded Scope: KYC is no longer limited to new sellers. Long-established accounts are now receiving notifications to undergo re-verification.
- Stricter Requirements: Sellers must now complete real-time video identity verification and address confirmation via physical mail within 60 days. Failure to comply will result in account restrictions.
New 2025 KYC Requirements:
- Live Video Verification: Legal representatives must verify their identity through a live video session, present original documents, and answer questions from Amazon’s review team.
- Postcard Address Verification: Some sellers will be required to receive a physical postcard containing a verification code. Only three attempts are allowed.
10 Sep, 2025
