Amazon Suspends 3,900 Accounts for Increasing the Prices of Goods During the Coronavirus Outbreak

Amazon has already suspended more than 3,900 seller accounts for increasing the prices of goods during the coronavirus outbreak. The company said the banned accounts were all active on its U.S. marketplace and were suspended for “violating our fair pricing policies.”

Fox Business reported that more than 500,000 product listings have been removed over price-related violations related to the outbreak.

“We are constantly monitoring our stores for unfair prices and listings that make false claims in regards to COVID-19,” Amazon said. “We have dynamic, automated systems in place that locate and remove unfairly priced items.”

Those who were found to have violated Amazon’s policies are referred to law enforcement agencies for potential action. Amazon is also “actively sharing information with federal and state officials to crack down on price-gouging and misleading product listings,” said Fox Business.

Fox Business reported that the update came as Americans around the country stock up on critical supplies to contend with the outbreak. “Online and traditional retailers have experienced shortages of many key items, including hand sanitizer, face masks and toilet paper,” the report said.

Amazon’s announcement about these suspensions came on the same day President Trump issued an executive order aimed at restricting the practice. The executive order was aimed to “protect key medical supplies from price-gouging or hoarding that would limit their accessibility to those in need,” reported Fox Business.