“Up to 30,000 euros in winnings”: what is the refund scam that attracts some young people ?

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« My friends, they resell shoes and make profits of up to 1,000 euros per week ». This statement by a young Internet user to BFM Tech perfectly illustrates the craze surrounding refunds, this illegal practice that has reportedly earned some fraudsters up to 30,000 euros in six months. What exactly is it and what are the risks involved ? Let's take stock.

Behind the term refund lies a scam that is actually not new. In concrete terms, a person will buy an item on an e-commerce site. Once their package is received, they declare that they did not receive it, get a refund and then resell the goods.

Quoted by our colleagues, Antoine Chéron, a lawyer specializing in intellectual and digital property, has an even more precise definition:

The “refund&#8221 or fraudulent refund is a practice of getting a refund for products purchased on online sales platforms without returning the items, or by returning fake or damaged products.

A scam popularized on social networks

This practice has been reinforced in recent years among some young people who hear about it on networks such as TikTok or Telegram, according to the French media. Professional networks have even ended up being created. Some providers take care of the refund process to simplify the illegal process even more.

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♬ Business bye Winimi – winimi_

As one can imagine, the major platforms are mobilizing against this worrying trend. Thus, Amazon is trying to detect these techniques using its algorithms. The authorities are also vigilant in order to dismantle the networks.

Lately, some refunders have been caught by the patrol and hefty fines are raining down. Fraudsters can be prosecuted for fraud and face 5 years in prison and a fine of 375,000 euros. As for videographers who promote refunds, they risk being prosecuted for complicity in fraud.

That said, these risks do not really scare the young people interviewed by BFM Tech. One of them explains in particular: “Orders are made using false identities via well-known sites where problems with orders are less than 1%. So if a ‘loyal’ account has a problem, it is not in their interest not to refund “. While another does not fear prosecution in France, where he says he does not reside.

What to remember:

• The refund scam is exploding in France
• Social networks are helping to popularize this technique
• The scammers face 5 years in prison and a fine of 375,000 euros

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