Section 3 “Related Account” Suspensions: Hidden Links, Ghost Accounts, and the Global Fallout

This article is a summary of a post originally published at - ave7LIFT

By ave7LIFT

Amazon’s “related account” suspensions are the nightmare scenario for legitimate sellers: you wake up to a Section 3 notice saying your account is “related to an account that may not be used to sell on Amazon,” even though you haven’t intentionally operated a second account. The core problem is that Amazon treats this as a data risk event, not a “who’s right/wrong” debate—so emotional or generic appeals usually get rejected.

Diagnosis: why Amazon “links” you (even accidentally)
Amazon’s systems look for a material connection—signals that suggest shared ownership, control, or infrastructure. Common tripwires include:

• Global Selling / Unified accounts: one login across regions can create a “global domino,” where a minor issue in a low-revenue marketplace triggers a shutdown in your primary market.

• VA / agency login hygiene: sharing a main login or letting a VA bounce between multiple accounts can create IP/device/cookie overlaps that look like a network connection.

• Ghost accounts & failed applications: old, dormant, abandoned, or previously rejected accounts can resurface and “infect” a healthy account years later.

• Third-party apps & API tokens: forgotten tool access (repricers, inventory apps, etc.) can leave active connections you’re no longer monitoring.

• Rare but real sabotage: “weaponized” attempts to manufacture a link (e.g., spoofed addresses or suspicious activity patterns).

Root cause mindset: find “Patient Zero.”
As discussed in more detail on ave7LIFT, the fastest path back is to identify the original source of the link (the first account/marketplace/system that triggered the chain). Appealing to the “wrong” marketplace first can waste days while funds stay frozen and inventory keeps accruing fees.

Treatment plan: what a winning response must show
The article’s theme is forensic separation—you don’t just promise compliance; you document it:

• Locate the link (marketplace, user permissions, app token, ghost account)

• Sever it (fix the source account/issue; revoke access; close/verify old entities properly)

• Provide “chain-of-custody” style proof that you lack a material connection (financial/managerial/operational)

• Manage operational fallout: stranded FBA inventory can keep bleeding via storage/aging fees, and Brand Registry features can become inaccessible during suspension.

About ave7LIFT
ave7LIFT helps Amazon sellers detect “invisible” Presence risks—then diagnose what Amazon’s bots are actually reacting to. You can find more of their work at ave7LIFT.
You’ve just seen the highlights. For the complete guide (including escalation options when standard appeals fail), read the full article on ave7LIFT.