Man Faces 20 Years for Mail Fraud Scheme Targeting Amazon

A Manassas, Virginia, man pleaded guilty Monday to defrauding Amazon of more than $300,000 by running a mail fraud scheme to buy high-end products, claim a refund, then return a similar item of significantly lesser value, said DOJ. Farhaad Riyaz, 34, operated the scheme from his home through multiple Amazon accounts he opened between 2017 and 2020, it said. During the scheme, said DOJ, Riyaz fraudulently got a $37,000 home theater system by returning a $2,000 alternative for a full refund of the original purchase. He’s scheduled for sentencing on March 22 and faces a maximum 20-year prison term. Attempts to reach his lawyers for comment Tuesday were unsuccessful. Amazon didn't comment.