Don’t mail that return: A guide to beating AI fraud bots

December 26, 2025

By Kim Komando

This isn’t the most exciting topic for sure. But it is something you need to know.

If you’re heading to the post office, FedEx, UPS or some other drop-off to return something expensive, think iPads, laptops or those fancy noise-canceling headphones, stop right there. Before you tape that box shut, you need what I call “return proof” photos. 

Here’s why.

📦 The shocking reality

Retailers are drowning in a $100 billion return crisis. According to the National Retail Federation, about 15% of all holiday returns are fraudulent. Scammers have perfected a trick called “empty box” or “box swapping.” That’s when they return a box filled with rocks or junk to mimic the weight of the original item. Or they see a box that looks like a return and steal it.

Because of this, retailers are hitting back with aggressive AI-powered fraud bots. 

The problem? These bots don’t have a heart, and they often flag honest people like you. If a warehouse worker opens your box and claims it was empty, guess what? It’s your word against a billion-dollar corporation’s automated AI system. 

Without evidence, your refund is as good as gone.

📸 Three-photo protocol 

Don’t just hope for the best. Take 30 seconds to build a digital paper trail. Grab your phone and snap these three pics.

1. The Serial Shot: Take a clear, focused photo of the serial number on the device itself and the matching sticker on the original box. This proves you’re sending back the exact unit you bought, not a “decoy.”
2. The Hero Shot: Take a photo of the item nestled safely inside the shipping box with the bubble wrap or packing material. This is proof that the box wasn’t empty when it left your hands.
3. The Sealed Shot: Take a final photo of the taped-up box with the return shipping label clearly visible.

Your photos are time-stamped and geotagged. If a retailer denies your refund or claims the box arrived empty, don’t bother arguing with a machine or a low-level rep. 

Use my secret phrase: “I have time-stamped, GPS-tagged photographic evidence of the serial number and the packed condition of this item. Please provide the direct email for your fraud prevention department, so I can submit these files for a manual override.”

You’ve bypassed the bot and moved your case to a human. In the world of tech returns, the person with the best data always wins.