January 4, 2026
Crabpocalypse: Refunds vs Deepfakes
Using AI generated images to get refunds
AI‑faked damage pics are killing refunds; shoppers and sellers go to war
TLDR: AI-made “damage” photos are slipping through refund systems, even triggering a police detention in China. Commenters split between demanding no‑AI proof, predicting the end of easy returns, and hoping it pushes shopping back local—while warning stricter policies could punish honest buyers and turbocharge distrust across the internet.
Refundageddon is here, according to shoppers and sellers losing their minds over AI‑faked “proof” pics. WIRED found Chinese platforms flooded with refund claims featuring torn bedsheets with gibberish labels and ceramic mugs “ripped” like paper. The wildest case: crab seller Gao Jing spotted dead crabs with legs pointing up, mismatched sexes between videos, and — wait for it — a crab with nine legs. Police agreed it was fabricated and detained the buyer, making this the first AI refund scam to spark a public crackdown. Meanwhile, fraud firm Forter says doctored images in claims jumped 15% this year and are rising globally.
Comments lit up. The “lock it down” crowd demands certified no‑AI proofs, while cynics sigh that “a few will ruin it for all,” bracing for stricter policies and fewer easy returns. Doomsayers predict refunds going back to pre‑Amazon scarcity; optimists dream that AI chaos could push people back to local shops. Others warn generative AI is injecting distrust into everything, from homework to hiring. Meme‑makers are feasting on nine‑leg crab lore and “ceramic cup peeled like cardboard” jokes. Retail workers say they can’t scrutinize every pic, and sellers are testing AI detectors — but nobody trusts bots to be judge and jury. The community vibe: hilarious, terrifying, and very, very ready for refundageddon.
Key Points
- •Retailers report a rise in AI-generated or altered images used to support refund claims.
- •WIRED found multiple complaints from Chinese merchants on RedNote about suspicious photo-based claims.
- •A Douyin case involving a crab seller exposed fabricated videos, leading to an eight-day detention of the buyer.
- •Forter estimates AI-doctored refund images have increased by over 15% since early 2024, with organized scams exceeding $1 million.
- •Sellers are testing AI chatbots to detect doctored images, but tools are imperfect and return policies may tighten.