Online sellers warn AI-generated refund claims are costing them money

While the photos appeared to show visible defects, sellers pointed to inconsistencies that suggested the images were edited.

For instance, one seller shared an image showing glass-like cracks on a menthol inhaler—even though the container was made of plastic.

Another seller was accused of sending broken perfume bottles, but noted the labels in the submitted photos were warped and unreadable.

The sellers feared that buyers were faking refund proof images to get their items for free.

“This is the danger of AI. Pati scammers get to be creative to make up new ways to scam people,” one user commented.

Because most shopping platforms handle refund requests, sellers have little control over the process unless they file disputes—often to no avail.

“Mabilis kasi marefund ‘yong mga cheap items. Nag-file na kami ng dispute pero I don’t expect may magandang results,” one seller told radar.

Another Reddit user said they experienced the same case: “[W]ala na ‘ko magawa. Nalulugi lang mga seller.”

Similar stories were also reported during China’s Double 11 Shopping Festival 2025, where some merchants complained about suffering losses from refund complaints that allegedly used AI-generated images as “proof.”

Some users warned that such practices could eventually affect buyers—including those with genuine complaints—as sellers may become more wary of refund requests overall.

Others believe that merchants may raise prices to offset losses. “In effect, honest buyers [may] end up subsidizing fraudulent ones,” a Reddit user said.

As generative AI tools become more accessible, some sellers are calling on e-commerce platforms to improve their verification and dispute systems to better protect both merchants and buyers.

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