However, the device can be easily purchased in the US on other marketplaces. Amazon has decided to ban sales of the Flipper Zero device, developed by a Russian startup and unofficially called the "Russian Tamagotchi for hackers." Flipper Zero is a portable device for pentesting and testing various digital and hardware devices. The device was developed by a Russian startup and unofficially called the "Russian Tamagotchi for hackers." Flipper Zero is equipped with multiple wired and wireless interfaces, such as RFID, radio, NFC, infrared, Bluetooth, etc., which allows it to be used for testing and debugging various devices. However, Amazon has decided to ban sales of the device in its online store, since the gadget can be used for skimming bank cards. This is not due to the Flipper Zero’s capabilities directly, but rather the fact that Flipper Zero could potentially be modified into a skimmer, a device that is installed on ATMs, credit card terminals, and other payment devices to steal credit card information. Amazon began blocking sales of Flipper Zero on April 6, 2023, when it sent cease-and-desist notices to sellers. The notices stated that Flipper Zero had been identified as a card skimming device, which violates Amazon’s policy prohibiting the sale or listing of card skimming devices. Amazon eventually banned Flipper Zero from its platform entirely, placing it in a “restricted products” category that includes many devices used by criminals, such as devices for duplicating digital keys.
