“Amazon Scams” searches have skyrocketed recently, as Amazon warns of several scams currently making the rounds to trick customers into sending sensitive information, including login details and banking information.
Scammers are using Amazon Prime membership scams and account suspension/deletion scams to gain access to user accounts and bank accounts, contacting users via email, text and phone calls. For anyone that falls for them, you’re at risk of being a scam victim – and no one wants that.
According to Google searches, as tech platform BettingApps shared with ReviewsFire, search terms related to Amazon scams have seen a huge surge recently. This includes “Amazon Prime scam” increasing by 1,150% and “Amazon text scam” seeing a 733% spike. With this rise in Amazon-specific phishing attacks, it’s time to be more cautious around suspicious emails, texts and unexpected phone calls.
Don’t want to become a victim? Follow this guide to find out what to look out for and how to avoid Amazon scams.
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Signs of Amazon scams
Most common scams reach users via texts, email, and even phone calls. Amazon scams operate similarly, and they often request users to send over personal information or login credentials in the disguise of a legitimate representative to help customers with a false problem or an illegitimate upgrade on offer.
Text messages and emails from scammers often include a link to a fake website for customers to enter their login details. It is important to never click on any links shown in suspicious messages.
Scammers often use social engineering tactics to trick users by issuing a sense of urgency in their messages. These phishing tactics get victims to click on the link without thinking. Moreover, these dodgy links can install malware on your device. That’s why avoiding a link on any Amazon-related text is best.
Another sign of a scam is when the sender asks for information related to your Amazon or Amazon Prime account, such as payment details or account credentials. The online marketplace will never ask you to disclose this information over email, text or phone. If you see these kinds of messages, stay well away from replying.
Example of Amazon scams
Several Amazon scams have circulated emails and text messages, but threat actors develop new schemes to dupe people into falling for their tricks. Two scams to beware of are the Prime membership and account suspension/deletion scams.
Amazon Prime membership scam
The Prime membership scam involves the sender requesting a fee or issue with a customer’s membership, asking to either confirm or cancel a charge on their account. This is done either via text, email or phone call. It aims to get users to provide payment information to pay the cost and keep their Prime membership.
Of course, there isn’t a fee to pay in the first place, as the scammer is just trying to steal your financial information.
Account suspension/deletion scam
The account suspension or deletion scam aims to get victims to click on a dodgy link to steal their account information. This is more often done through text or email. It alerts customers of their account being suspended or deleted and asks them to click the fraudulent link to “verify your account.”
Clicking the link will land them on a fake login page to enter their details. However, this gives the threat actors their account credentials, allowing them full access to the victim’s account.
How to avoid Amazon scams
If you received a suspicious message, you aren’t alone. Scammers often send millions of phishing emails or texts, thousands at a time, to trick recipients, with malicious messages being sent to email addresses and numbers found through social profiles or via data breaches. These scams are widespread, meaning attackers cast a wide net to see how much they can reel in.
To stop receiving scam texts from random numbers, including ones from Amazon scammers, we have just the guides below. Otherwise, find out how to avoid them once and for all.
Use antivirus software to scan and block scams
One of the best antivirus software will stop scams in its tracks, whether they are via text or email. Many high-standard AV protection offers near-perfect scores when detecting and protecting against malware, meaning even complex malicious software can’t go unnoticed in messages or emails.
Messages from threat actors can contain harmful links or attachments filled with malware, which you never want on your device. The good news is you can let one of the best antivirus software services do all the legwork for you, as they have security and privacy features to protect your accounts.
Services such as Avast One, Bitdefender, Norton 360 and more have protection tools that block malicious email addresses, links and attachments. To make sure scams block malware damaging your device and to keep safe from threat actors hacking your phone through texting and more, set yourself up with an antivirus.
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Avoid dodgy links
Amazon states that it will never ask customers to provide sensitive information over the phone or on any website that isn’t Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk, for example. This means it’s better to search and go to the website and not trust any other dodgy URLs.
Make sure to hover over any link you receive to make sure it leads to an official Amazon website. Otherwise, you can use the official Amazon app on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Nothing is urgent
Scammers will intimidate users by issuing a sense of urgency and authority in their messages or phone calls. No matter how official it sounds, always double-check any alarming message you have never received before or information that doesn’t add up. Amazon will never ask for your credentials or information to be provided immediately via phone, text or email.
Stay away from any messages persuading you to “act now.”
Use two-factor authentication
If scammers somehow get access to your account, they won’t be able to go far if you have two-factor authentication (2FA) set up. When a login attempt is made, you will receive a text or email to confirm access to the account – something the scammer won’t have.
It will also notify you about unauthorised attempts on your Amazon account, allowing you to change your password so threat actors no longer know your credentials.
