In August, Amazon accounts were once again hit by a new wave of "Section 3" suspensions!

Many accounts received suspension notices without warning; both new stores registered just a week ago and long-established accounts were affected.

Store funds were fully frozen with no grace period; even multiple stores in the same park or at the same address were swept up in batches.

Source: seller report

Among them are many accounts that have been operating compliantly. Why did they also trigger Section 3?

In fact, the core logic of this review is completely different from before. It is no longer "investigate only when there are problems" but "only sellers who prove they are genuinely operating can survive."

It is reported that the key targets of this inspection include:

• New accounts operating for 3 to 6 months
  

• Mass-listing FBM self-fulfilled sellers
  

• Accounts with nominee legal representatives
  

• Accounts where registration and operating locations differ
  

• Accounts suspected of multi-account association
  

Previously, Section 3 mainly targeted stores with clear suspected violations, such as reported infringement, fake orders, and account association. There was no advance warning or correction period; accounts were directly suspended and all funds frozen.

But now AI reviews scan the entire platform indiscriminately. As long as the system judges that identity authenticity or the operational chain has suspicious points, it will suspend the account first and verify later, without needing solid violation evidence.

As one seller put it, "The key is not whether you have a problem, but whether the system thinks you look like you have a problem."

In addition, the review materials are different from before.

Previous reviews mainly required submitting basic materials such as business license, identity card, and bills. Reviewers checked whether the materials were complete and information was consistent.

Now, on top of that, a one-on-one virtual identity video interview is added. The legal representative must appear on camera throughout and answer detailed questions in real time about store operations, supply chain, and entity qualifications.

In principle, there is only one verification opportunity. Hesitation, contradictory information, or mismatched documents will most likely lead to failure.

If you have received a Section 3 review notice, don't panic. Remember three core keywords: authenticity, consistency, and explainability.

First, documents must be authentic:

Business license, legal representative identity, address proof, and bank statements are not just about completeness; they need to form a closed loop: who the legal representative is, where the business address is, what the main business is, and how funds flow. This whole set must be self-consistent. If you have supporting materials such as tax certificates, purchase contracts, and logistics documents, prepare them as much as possible.

During the video call, the legal representative must personally participate in video verification and must truly understand the business. Even if not professional, the logic must be coherent and details correct. You may not know specific operational procedures, but at least know what products the company sells, who the suppliers are, approximate profits, and who is using the receiving account.

But avoid two extremes: knowing nothing when asked, or speaking too smoothly like reciting a script.

It is undeniable that Amazon's compliance standards are tightening across the board, so preventive work must be done well:

• Ensure the entity is authentic and compliant: avoid using nominee legal representatives and virtual registered addresses; keep registration information consistent with actual operations.
  

• Stabilize the operating environment: use fixed login devices and networks, reduce frequent logins from different locations or devices, and avoid using public addresses.
  

• Keep full supply chain records: retain proper invoices and contracts for all purchases, ensuring entity, category, and amount are matchable and traceable.
  

• Strictly observe red lines: stay away from high-risk behaviors such as fake orders, review manipulation, infringement, and selling counterfeits; handle IP complaints promptly to avoid accumulating problems that trigger risk control.
  

For Amazon sellers, compliance is no longer an emergency measure to remedy problems after they occur, but a fundamental practice that must run through the entire process of account registration, daily operations, and after-sales service.

Source: Minge Cross-border Notes