When I saw it was happening, I stopped transferring money and so far haven't had problems. Through experience I've learned over the years that these problems occur with Amazon occasionally and it's best to check sites like Reddit to see what's going on. Then just stop doing whatever I'm doing until the problem clears.I agree completely. However, the issue was with Amazon Payments not Mturk. It affected others besides Mturk workers (at least according to one of the reps I spoke with). It had nothing to do with Mturk. And for all we know they could still make us pay back the balances which is why I am not touching the additional money in my account. It is possible though, that they just write it off as a mistake and call it a loss (which they apparently have done before when this has happened), or they could come up with some way for people to pay it back. At this point it is unclear. What Amazon wants to do about the loss is completely up to them. They can either decide to take the loss if it is more beneficial for them, or they can decide to ask for the money back. All I know is that they are finally communicating with us and I am happy about that.
Yes, Amazon probably can take a tax loss depending on how much money is involved in this. But recipients will have to pay taxes on this extra income if Amazon doesn't reclaim it. I'm wondering too, if Amazon asks for the money back, do some bank charge fees to return it to the accounts involved or to Amazon for the return? Those costs might get expensive if they add up. But I don't know if that occurs, only that banks will charge for whatever they can.
But my real fear would be that Amazon will look on any members who don't at least ask how to return the money as untrustworthy and shut their worker account. Many people here need the work. It's not worth that chance to me.