Warning email from Amazon

[MrMayor]

Second time this has happened. The first time, I was able to resolve it by calling them. When I log into Amazon, they say there was a payment issue (even though that’s not what the email says), and they ask me to send proof of payment for my last order. I’ll try again, but it’s getting complicated. I only download about 10 files per week at most, and today I received this email from them.

To confirm, you received the warning email/message prior to this one? If so, when did you get the warning email and when did you get this one? What were your download habits (number per day/concurrently, etc) since the first mesage?

[Fogue]

Second time this has happened. The first time, I was able to resolve it by calling them. When I log into Amazon, they say there was a payment issue (even though that’s not what the email says), and they ask me to send proof of payment for my last order. I’ll try again, but it’s getting complicated. I only download about 10 files per week at most, and today I received this email from them.

[Stan001]

I admit i was skeptikal because of the Hello without the name and the Account Specialist signature but upon searching all emails i received from Amazon, i stumbled across one from Amazon US when i was trying to reload a gift card. It does follow the weird format of the warning people have been getting:

OK, so we now have to accept it's real. Again, what to do. Users can only either stop downloading or be careful in what and how much they download.
Will it be easy or hard for streamfab to figure out how it's being detected, as well as then hide it from detection?

[Sebastian001]

Ok so now that we know these messages are legit, we need info from StreamFab to see if there is anything they can adjust on their end to make it more covert.

If it's not possible, then it will be back to Newsgroups only for me (For Amazon stuff). I never stopped using newsgroups as that is all automated with Sonarr. I usually just download stuff i already got off newsgroups but want H265 and subs in my languages.

If they want to lose money from me, they are doing a bang up job. You would think that someone paying $100/month, downloading stuff and NOT distributing it is better than someone not paying and therefore not downloading...

Before StreamFab, i had setup automatic conversion to H265 and removal of all subs except French and English so it's no huge loss. GPU is upgraded from RTX 3050 to RTX 4050 so conversion with nvenc is very fast. It's not lossless but it's mostly TV Shows. I am not gonna die.

With the last DRM update, they were still using the old version, and Streamfab just pretended to Amazon that it was the new version. Germania, or even you, told me something like that. Maybe that could be a clue...

The conversation took place at the time when you were wondering whether Amazon was using a different MPD, since the bitrates had plummeted after the DRM update...

I'm not guaranteeing anything. I could be wrong!

[MrMayor]

You can do that but don't get your hopes up. First, streamfab will have to verify this is happening. Second, figure out if/how Amazon is detecting this. And 3rd, possibly work out a miracle to stop Amazon from detecting it.

BTW, Amazon does allow downloading via their apps.

A couple of years ago (not sure if still in play) Disney would suspend someone for 24 hours if they downloaded 20-25 videos concurrently. I wouldn't be surprised if Amazon did something similar, but the concurrent cutoff being less.

[jpp72]

I HIGHLY doubt we will hear anything from someone representing streamfab. If we do, I will be very shocked.
99% of those who say they got it, it was via email. The one that is concerning is TheRaven, who has stated it was in their Amazon Messages.
This is why jpp72 said it would be amazing if we could get a full screenshot, even if the member had to block out any identifying info before posting.
That can't be faked unless Amazon itself has been hacked. The emails are another issue.
It does seem to overall be very suspicious that some got it, and others who download tons of stuff have not.

Again, if members are concerned, they can completely stop downloading for a while from Amazon or restrict how much and what they download.

Also, even if there is someone from streamfab looking into it, they will have to not only figure out how it is being triggered by Amazon, but also how to bypass it. Especially those who received the message from AmazonUK and us, the .com version of Amazon.

Also, it could be triggered in many ways. But it still seems to be only reported by Streamfab users.

I admit i was skeptikal because of the Hello without the name and the Account Specialist signature but upon searching all emails i received from Amazon, i stumbled across one from Amazon US when i was trying to reload a gift card. It does follow the weird format of the warning people have been getting:

[Sebastian001]

BTW, Amazon does allow downloading via their apps.

Yes, but it's in a cage, you can't get to it!

[TheRaven]

I HIGHLY doubt we will hear anything from someone representing streamfab. If we do, I will be very shocked.
99% of those who say they got it, it was via email. The one that is concerning is TheRaven, who has stated it was in their Amazon Messages.
This is why jpp72 said it would be amazing if we could get a full screenshot, even if the member had to block out any identifying info before posting.
That can't be faked unless Amazon itself has been hacked. The emails are another issue.
It does seem to overall be very suspicious that some got it, and others who download tons of stuff have not.

Again, if members are concerned, they can completely stop downloading for a while from Amazon or restrict how much and what they download.

Also, even if there is someone from streamfab looking into it, they will have to not only figure out how it is being triggered by Amazon, but also how to bypass it. Especially those who received the message from AmazonUK and us, the .com version of Amazon.

Also, it could be triggered in many ways. But it still seems to be only reported by Streamfab users.

I got the email and wasn't sure if it was legit. I deal with Amazon.ca (Canada) and use PrimeVideo.com so I checked message center in Amazon.ca and it was not in there, but there were lots of other messages to do with purchases, etc. So I decided to check Amazon.com (US) and the message was in there. It was the only one. I will post screenshot later when I can.

[Stan001]

Captain Obvious says. If you want to get feedback from the devs you probably should put in a support ticket:
https://streamfab.com/contact.htm

You can do that but don't get your hopes up. First, streamfab will have to verify this is happening. Second, figure out if/how Amazon is detecting this. And 3rd, possibly work out a miracle to stop Amazon from detecting it.

BTW, Amazon does allow downloading via their apps.

[jpp72]

Ok so now that we know these messages are legit, we need info from StreamFab to see if there is anything they can adjust on their end to make it more covert.

If it's not possible, then it will be back to Newsgroups only for me (For Amazon stuff). I never stopped using newsgroups as that is all automated with Sonarr. I usually just download stuff i already got off newsgroups but want H265 and subs in my languages.

If they want to lose money from me, they are doing a bang up job. You would think that someone paying $100/month, downloading stuff and NOT distributing it is better than someone not paying and therefore not downloading...

Before StreamFab, i had setup automatic conversion to H265 and removal of all subs except French and English so it's no huge loss. GPU is upgraded from RTX 3050 to RTX 4050 so conversion with nvenc is very fast. It's not lossless but it's mostly TV Shows. I am not gonna die.

[DQ1]

I HIGHLY doubt we will hear anything from someone representing streamfab. If we do, I will be very shocked.
99% of those who say they got it, it was via email. The one that is concerning is TheRaven, who has stated it was in their Amazon Messages.
This is why jpp72 said it would be amazing if we could get a full screenshot, even if the member had to block out any identifying info before posting.
That can't be faked unless Amazon itself has been hacked. The emails are another issue.
It does seem to overall be very suspicious that some got it, and others who download tons of stuff have not.

Again, if members are concerned, they can completely stop downloading for a while from Amazon or restrict how much and what they download.

Also, even if there is someone from streamfab looking into it, they will have to not only figure out how it is being triggered by Amazon, but also how to bypass it. Especially those who received the message from AmazonUK and us, the .com version of Amazon.

Also, it could be triggered in many ways. But it still seems to be only reported by Streamfab users.

I got the email and it's in my Amazon messages.

[DQ1]

I have no clue. We know why is happening and working on a workaround. We have no clue how they are doing it. Whatever, but would be nice to hear something. You go to say you assume. So you really dont know much either. I want to hear from the experts that sell the software. Is that really unreasonable?

I did not claim to know, nor did I say your request was unreasonable. I just put forth the very question, what could they possibly say? I am not sure why you took that in an adversarial way.

As far as "how are they doing it", well ultimately it does not matter, but this thought process they don't know what leaves their network/resources and who it's going towards is simplistic. They know. There is no way to stop them from knowing from what I understand but I am not a developer. Again, it's probably just a business decision not a case of knowing or not knowing. Just whether to act upon it or not from a financial point of view.

[TheRaven]

Seems like some of the folks getting the warning email admit to renting stuff and then ripping the rentals. Which I never have done.

Captain Obvious says. If you want to get feedback from the devs you probably should put in a support ticket:
https://streamfab.com/contact.htm

Do you mean:

1) Renting, downloading and then cancelling

2) Renting, downloading and then leaving unwatched

3) Renting, downloading and then watching

I have never done 1, sometimes done 2 or 3.

[Sebastian001]

What are they going to say? It is what it is. Amazon will either ban this outright or try to keep it to a dull roar to keep farming rentals and purchases.

I assumed this would be coming at some point. It's all business. If Amazon thinks they are losing more money than what stopping it costs, they will stop it or attempt to. I know Amazon is very profitable but I do not know about Prime Video itself. It seems all the streaming platforms have a rough financial time, given the dearth of yuk most of the new stuff is (my opinion) times are probably harder than usual. So this might make sense for Amazon financially in their minds.

The boss celebrated his wedding, so it has to be paid for :-)

[Stan001]

I HIGHLY doubt we will hear anything from someone representing streamfab. If we do, I will be very shocked.
99% of those who say they got it, it was via email. The one that is concerning is TheRaven, who has stated it was in their Amazon Messages.
This is why jpp72 said it would be amazing if we could get a full screenshot, even if the member had to block out any identifying info before posting.
That can't be faked unless Amazon itself has been hacked. The emails are another issue.
It does seem to overall be very suspicious that some got it, and others who download tons of stuff have not.

Again, if members are concerned, they can completely stop downloading for a while from Amazon or restrict how much and what they download.

Also, even if there is someone from streamfab looking into it, they will have to not only figure out how it is being triggered by Amazon, but also how to bypass it. Especially those who received the message from AmazonUK and us, the .com version of Amazon.

Also, it could be triggered in many ways. But it still seems to be only reported by Streamfab users.