Scammers are spoofing Amazon at alarming rates and we want you to be aware of these fraudsters. Consumers are receiving up to 150 million robocalls per month from fraudsters claiming to be with Amazon, according to YouMail*. Fraudulent text messages are on the rise as well. In 2020, about 10 percent of all scams involved Amazon, according to the Better Business Bureau.
COMMON SCAMS
- One of the most common Amazon scams is when the fraudster leaves a fraudulent phone message (they know most people don’t pick up anymore) saying that “there is an unusual charge on your Amazon account for $399.99” and to call the “Amazon Fraud Department.” When the consumer calls back, they provide a link to a fraudulent web site to “complete a fraud form.” The fraudster says he/she will help fill out the form and the cursor starts blinking on the computer, meaning they now have access to the consumer’s computer and possibly his/her bank accounts. The fraudster then has the ability to show images of a fake bank statement, with the consumer thinking there was a unauthorized transaction which showed the consumer must give back money (like $3,000) to Amazon. The mistaken extra $3,000 is designed to get the victim to hand over real cash via a gift card, bitcoin or wire transfer*.
- Another common scam is using text messages. Sometimes text messages are sent out from “Amazon” to unsuspecting people which states they have won a prize or says a delivery is pending. A link is included in the text. That link, which you should not click, takes you to a form asking for an address, social security number or other personal information.
The bottom line is you need to be think before you act when you get messages like these. NEVER accept a call from Amazon and call them directly using phone numbers on their web site.
For additional information directly from Amazon, visit these Amazon web pages:
- Identifying Whether an Email, Phone Call, Text Message, or Webpage is from Amazon
- Report Suspicious Emails, Phone Calls, Text Messages, or Webpages
- Common Amazon gift card scams
*Amazon scammers are slick, good at what they do: Here’s what to watch for