What Do Amazon Hijackers and Counterfeiters Do?
Hijackers and counterfeiters are sellers who:
- Illegally list under your branded ASINs with lookalike or inferior products
- Use stolen or fake trademarks to gain Brand Registry access and remove you
- Alter your listings using Vendor Central or flat files to sabotage your reputation
- Trigger fake safety complaints or counterfeit claims to suspend your account
- Flood your listings with fake reviews (positive or negative) to trigger enforcement
The result? You lose sales, reputation, and even your account, while the bad actors move on to their next target.
How Amazon Has Changed in 2025
In 2025, Amazon has improved some brand protection tools, such as:
- Brand Registry 2.0+ Updates
- Brands can now assign roles with layered permissions and use enhanced image recognition for logo and product monitoring.
- Project Zero Expansion
- Brands with high enforcement scores can now automatically remove infringing listings across more marketplaces. Over 35,000 brands are enrolled, and 99% of suspected infringing listings are blocked proactively.
- Transparency Program Growth
- With over 88,000 enrolled brands and more than 2.5 billion product units verified, Transparency has expanded participation to more brands, including mid-sized and newer sellers.
Despite these improvements, enforcement is still largely reactive, and abuse continues. Hijackers exploit gaps in Amazon’s automated systems, often using stealth accounts and offshore teams to avoid consequences.
How Are Sellers Still Vulnerable?
Even the most compliant brands are at risk if they haven’t built a defense strategy. Here are common blind spots we see:
1. No Brand Registry Setup or Gaps in Ownership
Sellers who delay or mismanage Brand Registry leave their listings exposed to takeovers. Worse, we’ve seen competitors register trademarks first in foreign jurisdictions just to seize control.
Pro tip: File for trademarks early—domestically and in key Amazon markets. Then register in Brand Registry and ensure you’re listed as the rights owner.
2. No Participation in Transparency
Some sellers still avoid Amazon’s Transparency program due to perceived costs. But those few cents per unit can protect you from major losses.
Pro tip: Enroll best-selling ASINs first. Prioritize high-margin or high-risk items.
3. Weak Listing Control
If your content is frequently changed or overridden, a vendor, distributor, or hijacker may have elevated control. Unauthorized contributions can lead to buyer confusion and negative reviews.
Pro tip: Use A+ Content and submit brand-controlled attributes through Brand Registry support. Monitor for unauthorized changes weekly.
4. Inadequate IP Enforcement
Some sellers don’t file IP complaints until it’s too late or file them incorrectly. Others assume Brand Registry handles this automatically. It doesn’t.
Pro tip: Learn to file properly or partner with experts like us. Keep documentation ready for every infringement.
The Role of Stealth and Black Hat Tactics
The rise of black hat tactics continues in 2025. We’ve seen stealth accounts used to:
- Upload inappropriate images to competitor listings
- File fraudulent infringement claims
- Cancel Brand Registry changes before they take effect
- Alter item dimensions or weights to hurt margins
Some sellers also report seeing signs of insider interference or unauthorized data sharing, though this has not been confirmed by Amazon. These operators are often well organized and difficult to trace.
How to Protect Your Amazon Brand Now
Here’s your 2025 Brand Protection Checklist:
✅ Trademark registration in key markets
✅ Enroll in Brand Registry
✅ Use Transparency serialization for high-risk ASINs
✅ Create and control your listings with A+ Content
✅ File test buys and complaints swiftly and correctly
✅ Use alerts to detect unauthorized sellers or listing changes
✅ Keep supplier and invoice records audit ready
✅ Conduct quarterly catalog audits
✅ Have an escalation partner (like eGrowth) ready
How eGrowth Partners Can Help
At eGrowth Partners, our services are focused on protecting Amazon sellers from malicious attacks and ensuring they stay live and profitable—even under pressure. Whether you’re dealing with hijacking, counterfeiters, account lockouts, or want to proactively defend your brand, we are here to deliver real results.
Don’t Wait Until You’re a Victim
Recovery is easier if you are prepared.
Let’s talk strategy, protection, and growth for your brand.
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