[Solved] Amazon AU Order Cancelled Due to "Unusual Ordering Activity" – Need Advice!

StraightGuy on 14/05/2025 - 13:45
Last edited 15/05/2025 - 13:07 by 1 other user

Update: I sent an email to amazon to give a legitimate reason with explanation for blocking my account, "unusual ordering activity" means nothing. They have unblocked the account now.

Hi all,

Looking for some help or advice from anyone who’s dealt with something similar.

I recently placed an order on Amazon Australia but it was unexpectedly cancelled. I received the following message from Amazon:

"We have detected unusual ordering activity on your account and have therefore canceled your order as a precautionary measure to protect the Amazon store and our customers."

They mentioned I could appeal the decision by uploading a valid government-issued ID via their portal, which I'm hesitant to do.

The cancellation came out of the blue – I’ve been using Amazon for years and haven’t done anything out of the ordinary. I’m now unsure about submitting my ID and dealing with this whole process. I’m also concerned about my account being flagged permanently or facing more restrictions in the future.

Has anyone else had this happen before and how did you handle it?

Also, Is it safe to submit ID to their system?

Would really appreciate any advice, insights, or experiences you can share.

Thanks in advance!

General Discussion

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Comments

  • jv on 14/05/2025 - 13:53
    +4

    Due to "Unusual Ordering Activity"

    Were you running a VPN at the time of the order?

      • Tech5 on 14/05/2025 - 20:26

        I don't think Amazon cares if a customer uses VPN's? How would they even know?
        What they do know is that some dude named Charlie from Venezuela has sent 200 coffee pods to Melbourne. Sounds suss and possibly issues with fraudulent activity.

    • StraightGuy on 14/05/2025 - 13:58
      +2

      No VPN

  • ihbh on 14/05/2025 - 13:55
    +1

    What did you buy, and how much? What's your order history like?

    • StraightGuy on 14/05/2025 - 14:01

      Hand wash, body wash, tissue boxes and toilet papers. I usually order this every month and ranges somewhere between $100 to $120. This order was $110

      • 87percent on 14/05/2025 - 14:02
        +22

        lol.. maybe because it sounds like you having a freak off

        • StraightGuy on 14/05/2025 - 14:06
          +1

          hahaha, I just buy in bulk to save hassle of buying every week.

          • snapper17 on 14/05/2025 - 14:11

            @StraightGuy: You might be able to subscribe and get 10% discount. You can set the frequency on redeliveries. Seems like you forgot moisturiser. I suggest you try baby wipes over tissues.

        • holdenmg on 14/05/2025 - 15:55
          -1

          what tha…

          (goes away to look up term)

          uh huh…

          You people are sick! lol

        • ozbjunkie on 16/05/2025 - 13:22

          4 day orgies "always paired with drugs such as ecstasy, MDMA, marijuana, ketamine and alcohol"

          I hate to break it to people but none of these drugs support a 4 day binge

          I'm thinking coke, meth, crack

      • ihbh on 14/05/2025 - 15:44
        +1

        How can you use that much in a month? Do you own a boarding house?

        • jv on 14/05/2025 - 15:50

          Their username will give you a hint…

        • StraightGuy on 14/05/2025 - 15:55

          For office and home.

      • BobsYourAunty on 14/05/2025 - 16:03
        +3

        The case of the diddies

    • AustriaBargain on 14/05/2025 - 21:04

      10,000 units of Americium-241 powered smoke alarms.

  • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 14/05/2025 - 13:57

    It means you’ve tripped their fraud & security system. Most commonly, this will occur if Amazon believes you’re using a fraudulent payment method (like a stolen credit card or stolen gift cards, etc.)

    • StraightGuy on 14/05/2025 - 14:07

      It's a same card I have using for ages now. The account is since 2021 and I updated this card 3 months ago. I have placed several orders with new card as well and nothing happened before.

      • mr2600 on 15/05/2025 - 12:40

        Mate I’ve just experienced the same exact thing.

        Ordered a Samsung USB C flash drive yesterday that I needed today for work. Cancelled - same exact email.

        I contacted supported and escalated and then went to order something else that’s different - cancelled immediately.

        Been a prime member since it became available and I’ve had the same card for maybe a decade +. Order almost every day.

        • StraightGuy on 15/05/2025 - 13:05
          +1

          I sent them an email to unblock the account or explain a legitimate reason for blocking, "unusual ordering activity" explains nothing. They have unblocked it now.

    • Ryxxi on 19/05/2025 - 18:52

      Like you know the inside working of amazon lol, stop making up stufff..

  • boomramada on 14/05/2025 - 13:59
    +1

    Also, Is it safe to submit ID to their system?

    What are your choices?

    • StraightGuy on 14/05/2025 - 14:01

      They haven't given any other option. Just to appeal by giving ID. I'm not confident to provide it.

      • tenpercent on 14/05/2025 - 14:11
        +6

        Do you trust the random third world customer service reps who will handle your ID to do so securely and not on-sell a photo of it to dark web merchants?

        • StraightGuy on 14/05/2025 - 15:03
          +1

          I don’t trust them at all.

        • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 14/05/2025 - 23:26

          How is it any different to Telstra, their offshore centres can access ID numbers as well anyway.

      • Protractor on 14/05/2025 - 14:15
        -2

        Run. $110 aint worth giving the behind the scenes scum access to more of your ID .The govt needs to demand an end to offshore support, especially after the tariff blackmail the orange toddler has foist on the world.If we pay with money sourced here, they can source their business here (all of it). Besides Bezos is one of the gutless obsequious sychophant tech billionaires who sold his credibility and integrity out to a convicted felon.What a guy.

        • StraightGuy on 14/05/2025 - 15:05

          That would be great if we can get onshore support.

      • boomramada on 14/05/2025 - 14:18

        Well, this is what their website says https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/help/customer/display.html?node…

        • jv on 14/05/2025 - 15:53
          -1

          please fax all documentation

          What is 'fax' ???

  • plmko on 14/05/2025 - 14:00
    +3

    Why would you submit ID to Amazon.

    Create a dupe account and move on.

    • StraightGuy on 14/05/2025 - 14:09

      The only issue is if they go crazy about the address or name. I can change the name though.

      • plmko on 14/05/2025 - 14:21
        -2

        Lay low and use pick up points. Use a VPN and also use disposable cards like Revolut or Zip.

        Zero need to abide by some corporation.

        If they don't want your money then shop elsewhere. This is how everyone should treat these guys.

        • StraightGuy on 14/05/2025 - 14:56

          I also asked over the call that what about my membership which I have paid for. They said that will not be refunded and since you have crossed 422 parcel orders, you have already used your membership.
          I asked them to provide terms and conditions for this threshold, which they did not provided at all.

          • 7ekn00 on 14/05/2025 - 16:31
            -5

            @StraightGuy:

            and since you have crossed 422 parcel orders,

            There is your hint ;) Account abuse, they don't care if you don't come back - you are costing them more than they are making from you!

            It's either that, or, you are a straight white male - a demographic woke companies and customer service officers would love to get rid of :P

            • StraightGuy on 14/05/2025 - 16:34

              @7ekn00: I still don't know where did they got this number from. My membership renews in August every year. From order history, in 2024 I have placed 207 orders and in 2025 till today I have placed 62 orders. Not sure where they got 422 number from.

            • Protractor on 14/05/2025 - 17:19
              -5

              @7ekn00: Tells us you're white,male and right wing without telling us.

              Protractor on 14/05/2025 - 17:19 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
              • 7ekn00 on 14/05/2025 - 19:21
                -1

                @Protractor: Shame, I am a real conundrum for typical lefty identity political crap ;)

                You tell me which bucket I am in lefty!

                I am 25% Māori, 25% Native American, 25% Yupik (Eskimo), 25% Irish! Grew up in Canada with French as my primary language, English as secondary! Oh, and because skin colour seems to be a big one for lefty buckets, I am more brown than white, but can get to being white in winter without sun!!

                Please please use your identity politics to identify me, I am so lost without a lefty putting me in a bucket!

                • Protractor on 14/05/2025 - 19:29
                  -4

                  @7ekn00: Sure,sure.
                  Try 100% made up dross.

                  • 7ekn00 on 14/05/2025 - 19:32
                    -1

                    @Protractor: Booo Hooo, the lefty bucket is broken :/

                    Easier to just accuse me of lying right? So typically racist !!

                    • Protractor on 14/05/2025 - 20:02
                      -5

                      @7ekn00: It isn't racist to call out BS

                      • 7ekn00 on 14/05/2025 - 20:04
                        -1

                        @Protractor: It's racist to call minorities liars and my fee fees are hurt, so you have offended me as a minority = racist :/

                        • Protractor on 14/05/2025 - 20:06
                          -5

                          @7ekn00: You're far from a minority.Your an artist. They grow on trees

                          • 7ekn00 on 14/05/2025 - 20:09
                            -1

                            @Protractor: oooohhh, another bucket!

                            ok racist, whatever your grand master supremacy says …

                            • Protractor on 14/05/2025 - 20:12
                              -4

                              @7ekn00: You need to cut back on the sugar, camera man

                              Thanks for the chess compliment,BTW

                              • 7ekn00 on 14/05/2025 - 20:22

                                @Protractor:

                                camera man

                                Ah, so minorities can't use camera's now …. so so so r r r r r r a c i s t ! We should just pick fruit and garden right?!?

  • tenpercent on 14/05/2025 - 14:01
    -4

    They mentioned I could appeal the decision by uploading a valid government-issued ID via their portal, which I'm hesitant to do.

    Refuse. Next they'll demand a selfie or iris scan for each and every transaction. And soon enough we'll be living in a Brave New World.

    I'm not religious but this comes to mind:

    And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

    • Protractor on 14/05/2025 - 14:02

      That's just a bikies tatt policy

    • StraightGuy on 14/05/2025 - 14:03

      Just out of curiosity, can you provide the reference? I would like to know more about it.

      • tenpercent on 14/05/2025 - 14:06
        +4

        Revelation 13:16–17

  • Porker on 14/05/2025 - 14:10
    +5

    Are you sure the email is legit? Scam emails are getting quite good these days.

    Does the product cancellation show in your Amazon transaction history?

    • StraightGuy on 14/05/2025 - 14:54

      Unfortunately the email is legit. I called Amazon straightaway and they confirmed the email is legit and you only have option to provide an email.

      My order was also under cancellation order section.

      I asked the reason over the call and they said we don’t have the reasoning and you have to send an email to ofm@amazon.com.au for further details.

  • ozbs25 on 14/05/2025 - 14:16
    +1

    Someone on Reddit got one of these warnings and they "ended up sending an ID with everything besides my name scribbled out and they reopened my account within the hour".

    Maybe try that?

    source

    • StraightGuy on 14/05/2025 - 14:51
      +1

      Thanks for sharing this. I can try this

  • dragonos81 on 14/05/2025 - 14:28
    +1

    Got the same email today after ordering some noodles … order got cancelled.
    5 min later I ordered the same noodles again without problems.

    • StraightGuy on 14/05/2025 - 14:50

      I tried and they didn’t let me. Not sure what’s going on

      • Yummy on 14/05/2025 - 15:19

        Wait till tomorrow or next few days to reorder. Also try order something else first.

  • screensaver on 14/05/2025 - 15:32

    could be bulk toilet paper flagging from covid days.

    • StraightGuy on 14/05/2025 - 15:56

      It's just 1 big pack with 32 toilet papers in it.

  • holdenmg on 14/05/2025 - 15:57

    I figure you could order some fuel oil or a durian next time and your order might be viewed differently.

  • cuy on 16/05/2025 - 22:06

    I encountered this today buying a pen. WTF.

  • Ryxxi on 19/05/2025 - 17:05

    encountered this after ordering a samsung phone case worth $28..

  • Chuppa on 19/05/2025 - 17:54

    I’ve been hit with Amazon’s request for photo ID and I refuse to upload my driver’s licence to their massive data collection system. Right now, I’m going back and forth with Executive Customer Relations about it. My Prime membership is paid through to the end of the year and I’ve got $270 in gift card balance sitting in my account. If Amazon can’t provide a valid justification for demanding photo ID - something Coles and other online retailers don’t require - I’m prepared to escalate and lodge a case with NCAT. They need to explain why they think they can ask for this level of personal information.

    • Protractor on 19/05/2025 - 17:57

      Iinet did it and got away with it.(for email accts) Then they closed them down & sold out, so all that data gets another life with other unknown offshore support) Feral.
      Good luck
      The data vampires are relentless.

    • Ryxxi on 19/05/2025 - 18:05

      damm lol

    • Ryxxi on 19/05/2025 - 19:01

      How did you endup getting in contact with executive customer relations team ?

      • Chuppa on 19/05/2025 - 19:04

        They haven’t provided any any explanation for why they require a government-issued photo ID. It feels like they’re saying, “Hand it over or lose your ability to place orders.”
        I’m currently lodging a case with NCAT, since NSW Fair Trading tends to take too long - though I do have an active case with them as well.

        • Ryxxi on 19/05/2025 - 20:43

          Not just that You technically loose support for all your previous orders as well because amazon is basically saying that they dont wana do business with.

        • Ryxxi on 21/05/2025 - 15:39

          hey do you have the email address for amazon executive service ? I keep emailing ofm but i am only getting the same automated bot responces.

  • Ryxxi on 20/05/2025 - 09:42

    I got a reply. It seems they dont wana deliver to my address and want me to use a different one.. I have been making multiple complaints about deliveries since mid 2024. Thus is when i started to notice that their delivery service is no longer the same. Deliveries kept getting delayed, never on time etc. I was meant to get a delivery yesterday before the order cancellation started and the guy did not deliver it as usual.. Took it back to the depo instead of putting it in my mail box. Then got an email from delivery team.

  • zealotman on 22/05/2025 - 01:00

    Got the same email. Sent emails to ofm@amazon.com.au asking for more details, but kept getting the same email.

    • StraightGuy on 22/05/2025 - 11:05

      When did you sent an email? It took me almost 16 hours to hear back from them that my account has been unblocked. In meantime they kept sending same email again and again.

      • zealotman on 22/05/2025 - 23:43

        when my order was cancelled, I sent email immediately. Then I got the same email within 24 hours, exactly the same content…

      • Ryxxi on 23/05/2025 - 00:49

        i have been sending them emails since monday…they just bot reply gibberish or something that makes bo sense.

    • Ryxxi on 23/05/2025 - 00:47

      same…

    • StraightGuy on 23/05/2025 - 10:23

      call their customer support and ask them to send an email. Ask them to raise the case with the team.
      The customer support won't be able to forward your call but they can send an email for you internally.

      • Ryxxi on 23/05/2025 - 12:04

        yeah done that too, its already been 2 days and I havent heard back from amazon.

    • zealotman on 26/05/2025 - 05:36

      Guys, I am able to order now. Still have no idea about what happened!

      • Ryxxi on 27/05/2025 - 00:33

        did they email back ? I dont have one yet..

        • zealotman on 27/05/2025 - 04:52

          I placed a few orders in the last few days and they were immediately cancelled. I just forwarded two or three asking for the reason. I just got the same email back. Then I gave up. I just tried my luck and placed a new order and it worked. I placed a few afterwards, now it seems to be working.

          • Ryxxi on 27/05/2025 - 11:44

            @zealotman: okay same, orders no longer being cancelled. But i never got a replay ffor why…

  • IdBuyThat4aDollar on 23/05/2025 - 11:38

    Started getting the same email for the most random items. Like items that aren't even that expensive

    Like just now for this https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/906750

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