What is the problem?
The mechanism is brutally simple: the customer buys an item (usually on a large marketplace, such as Allegro), and then reports that it is damaged. To make their story credible, they send photos showing the defects. The problem is that... the goods are actually in perfect condition, and the photos were edited by AI in just 2 minutes.
Free and publicly available tools such as Gemini are used for this purpose. All you need to do is upload a photo of the product and describe the damage that should appear on it. The effect is often so realistic that many sellers, unaware of this technology, give back the money without a fight, fearing for their account statistics.
The trap of "pro-consumerism"
The current policy of sales platforms strongly favors buyers. The scenario is usually the same:
- The buyer reports a problem.
- The seller asks you to return the goods for verification.
- The pressure begins: threats of negative comments or intervention by the platform.
- Fearing a drop in ratings, the seller returns the money before even seeing the goods.
It is a system that unfortunately promotes pathological behavior and teaches dishonest customers that such actions pay off.
How to effectively protect your business?
Although the situation seems difficult, there are effective methods of prevention and defense:
- Packaging documentation: Invest in monitoring the packaging station. A camera costing around PLN 200 can save you thousands of zlotys in losses.
- System integration: Tools such as BaseLinker and SellAsist allow you to automatically take photos or record videos during the shipping process.
- Video verification: If a customer claims that the goods are damaged, ask for a short video showing the defect. It is currently much more difficult to fake a video with AI than to edit a single photo.
- Be firm: Remember that you have the right to inspect the goods. In extreme cases, do not hesitate to report the matter to the police—attempted fraud is a crime.
Awareness is your first line of defense. Not every product can be checked before shipping, but having solid evidence in the form of photos taken at the time of packaging drastically changes the balance of power in a conversation with a "difficult" customer.
