Flipper Zero banned by Amazon for being a ‘card skimming gadget’

Amazon has banned the sale of the Flipper Zero transportable multi-tool for pen-testers because it now not permits its sale on the platform after tagging it as a card-skimming gadget.

The Flipper Zero is a compact, transportable, and programmable pen-testing instrument that may assist experiment with and debug numerous digital and {hardware} gadgets through numerous protocols, together with RFID, radio, NFC, infrared, Bluetooth, and others.

Since its launch, customers have showcased Flipper Zero’s capabilities demonstrating its capacity to activate doorbells, conduct replay assaults to unlock automobiles and open storage doorways, and clone a variety of digital keys.

In response to notices despatched to sellers on Thursday night, Amazon has now banned Flipper Zero on its platform, tagging it as a “restricted product.”

Card-skimming gadgets are listed on Amazon’s Vendor Central portal underneath the Lock Picking & Theft Devices restricted product class, subsequent to key duplicating gadgets and shoplifting gadgets, reminiscent of sensormatic detachers.

Presently, some hyperlinks to previously available Amazon pages promoting Flipper Zero instruments are lifeless and displaying “Sorry, we could not discover that web page. Strive looking out or go to Amazon’s dwelling web page.” errors, whereas others checklist it as “Unavailable.”

The one listings one can discover proper now when searching for Flipper Zero on Amazon are equipment like WiFi Devboards, display protectors, and silicone instances.

“This product has been recognized as a card skimming gadget. Amazon coverage prohibits the sale or itemizing of card skimming gadgets,” reads a notification despatched to 1 Amazon vendor (seen by BleepingComputer) confirming a Flipper Zero promote web page was faraway from Amazon’s catalog.

“We took this motion as a result of this product shouldn’t be permitted on the market on Amazon.com. It’s your obligation to verify the merchandise you provide adjust to all relevant legal guidelines, laws, and Amazon’s insurance policies.”

​The corporate additionally warned Flipper Zero sellers to examine all their different listings and take away all different restricted merchandise inside 48 hours or face account deactivation.

“Inside 48 hours of this warning please overview your listings and shut delete, or archive any listings that don’t adjust to all relevant legal guidelines, laws, and Amazon’s insurance policies.”

“Failure to correctly shut or delete all restricted product listings out of your stock could consequence within the deactivation of your promoting account, and funds could also be completely held.”

Nonetheless, not all Flipper Zero potential consumers will likely be upset by the Amazon ban since these promoting it on Amazon have been doing it at a markup. If you wish to purchase a Flipper Zero, you’ll be able to nonetheless get one from the maker’s official store, which gets restocked frequently.

The Brazilian Nationwide Telecommunications Company has also been seizing incoming Flipper Zero purchases primarily based on its alleged use by criminals. Brazilians who purchased the gadgets say the federal government company has rejected all makes an attempt to certify the gadget.

An Amazon spokesperson was not obtainable for remark when contacted by BleepingComputer on Thursday, so we do not know but if it is a non permanent ban or if the corporate will keep the sale restriction.