Overview

Amazon maintains strict policies against counterfeit and illegal goods sold through its fulfillment network, and sellers whose inventory raises red flags may face investigations, account deactivation, and inventory disposal. Understanding how these investigations work is essential for FBA sellers who want to protect their accounts and inventory from disruption.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Amazon can withhold your inventory at any time — If Amazon suspects your products may violate anti-counterfeit or restricted products policies, they can place a hold on some or all of your FBA inventory while they investigate.
• You will be notified by email — When an investigation is initiated, Amazon sends an email notification explaining the situation and outlining next steps.
• Documentation may be required — Sellers may need to provide identity verification, proof of product authenticity, and evidence of compliance with applicable laws.
• Strict deadlines apply — Amazon sets specific deadlines for responding with requested information, and failure to meet them can result in inventory disposal.
• Account deactivation is possible — In serious cases, Amazon may deactivate your seller account and remove your product offers entirely.

How the Investigation Process Works

When Amazon identifies inventory that may constitute unsuitable or prohibited goods under its FBA policies, the process begins with an email notification to the seller. Amazon's team reviews the flagged products and may request supporting documentation such as invoices from authorized distributors, certificates of authenticity, or other proof that the items are genuine and compliant with all relevant regulations. Amazon reserves the right to validate any information you submit by cross-referencing with third parties or government agencies, so providing accurate and verifiable documents is critical.

What Happens During and After an Investigation

While the investigation is ongoing, Amazon may hold some or all of your inventory in their fulfillment centers, meaning those units will not be available for sale or shipment. If the investigation concludes that your inventory does not violate any policies, Amazon may release the hold and restore your inventory to active status, or allow you to request that the items be returned to you. However, if Amazon determines that violations occurred — including counterfeit sales, illegal goods, policy violations, or submission of forged documents — they may dispose of the inventory immediately without returning it. In the most severe cases, this can be accompanied by permanent account deactivation.