A Utah man has been ordered to pay $7.9 million after a state court found him responsible for running a large-scale fraudulent Amazon business scheme that impacted hundreds of consumers. The ruling was issued by the 4th District Court, following a lawsuit filed by the Utah Division of Consumer Protection against Parker Wilde.
The case centered on false claims related to automated Amazon store business opportunities that, according to investigators, never truly existed.
How the Fraudulent Amazon Business Operated
From 2020 to 2023, Wilde—an alumnus of Brigham Young University—marketed what he described as fully automated Amazon stores. He convinced consumers that they could earn passive income without managing day-to-day operations.
Fees Charged to Consumers
Victims were required to pay multiple upfront costs, including:
- Consulting fees between $5,000 and $20,000
- Inventory charges of $7,000 to $10,000 per product category
These payments were presented as necessary investments to launch and operate the promised Amazon stores.
False Promises and Misleading Claims
According to court records, Wilde guaranteed monthly passive profits of $2,500 to $7,200 within just 60 days of launch. He also claimed that customers would receive a full refund within one year if their store failed to become profitable.
However, the state’s investigation revealed that these assurances were completely misleading.
Investigation Reveals No Profits and No Refunds
The Utah Division of Consumer Protection found that:
- Many customers never received a functional Amazon store
- Some never had any products listed or launched
- No verified customer earned a profit
- Refund requests were ignored, despite the advertised money-back guarantee
This pattern confirmed that the Amazon automation business was not delivering on any of its promises.
Alleged Misuse of Consumer Funds
In addition to false advertising, several complaints accused Wilde of misusing clients’ credit card information. Financial records reportedly showed that a significant portion of consumer funds was diverted toward:
- Personal cryptocurrency investments
- Paying off Wilde’s own credit card debt
These findings further strengthened the case for consumer fraud and financial misconduct.
Permanent Ban and Consumer Protection Message
Alongside the $7.9 million judgment, the court issued a permanent ban preventing Wilde from:
- Participating in telemarketing
- Promoting any money-making or investment opportunities within Utah
Katherine Hass, Director of the Utah Division of Consumer Protection, stated that the ruling sends a strong warning to anyone considering similar scams. She reaffirmed the division’s commitment to protecting Utah residents and holding fraudsters accountable.
