As we approach the holiday season, we have identified an increase in impersonation scams aimed to target customers. In October, customer reports of impersonation scams sent through SMS messaging increased globally. These types of scams pose risks to consumers’ online security and personal information. In these fake texts, scammers may try to trick you by claiming there are account or order issues, and asking for passwords or personal information—don’t fall for it! Please report Amazon impersonation scams to us here.
Here are some important tips to identify these scams and stay safe:
1. Please enable notifications from Amazon on your mobile device. Doing so will allow Amazon to send you a push notification from the mobile shopping app to accompany text messages from us, which can be used to confirm that it’s real.
2. Be wary of false urgency. Scammers may try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they’re asking. Be wary any time someone tries to convince you that you must act now.
3. Customers can track progress of their deliveries via the ‘Your Orders’ page on the website and app.
October 31, 2024
What do I do with a suspicious text message?
Scammers are continuing to contact consumers about orders that don’t exist, and they’re increasingly using text messages as their contact method. Reports of scam text messages about fake orders nearly doubled in the month of September. Don’t let scammers spook you this Halloween. Remember to check your Amazon account to verify account activity before clicking on links in texts. If the text references activity that doesn’t appear in your account, it’s a scam. Please report impersonation scams to Amazon here.
Here are some important tips to identify these scams and stay safe:
1. Amazon will never ask you to verify personal information over the phone.
2. Reach out to your credit bureau to review any unauthorized activity, and report anything you don’t recognize.
3. Be wary of false urgency. Scammers may try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they’re asking. Be wary any time someone tries to convince you that you must act now.
4. Go directly to Amazon’s website, and visit ‘Your Account’ to make changes to your billing or account information.
September 26, 2024
Were you contacted about a fraudulent purchase?
In August 2024, nearly half of the impersonation scams reported to Amazon worldwide were false messages from scammers alerting you about a fraudulent order that doesn’t exist. In addition to Amazon’s resources like the Message Center, please check your bank account to spot any unusual activity before clicking on links or sharing information over the phone. Report a scam using Amazon’s self-reporting tool or contact Customer Service to report anything suspicious.
Here are some important tips to identify these scams and stay safe:
1. To find out if a message is really from Amazon, visit the Message Center under ‘Your Account’. Legitimate messages from Amazon will appear there.
2. Customers can track progress of their deliveries via the ‘Your Orders’ page on the website and app.
3. Be wary of false urgency. Scammers may try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they’re asking. Be wary any time someone tries to convince you that you must act now.
Published August 29, 2024
What is the scammer’s objective?
In the month of July, we saw a spike in impersonation scams reported by Amazon customers worldwide where the scammer is seeking banking information.
Here are some important tips to identify impersonation scams and keep your information safe:
1. Be wary of false urgency. Scammers may try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they’re asking. Be wary any time someone tries to convince you that you must act now.
2. Amazon will not ask for payment over phone or email - only on our app or website.
3. To find out if a message is really from Amazon, visit the Message Center under ‘Your Account’. Legitimate messages from Amazon will appear there.
Published July 31, 2024
How do I know if a message is really from Amazon?
Did you receive a message from someone asking you to verify a smartphone purchase? In the last month, 40% of scams reported by our customers are false messages from scammers pretending to be Amazon asking you to verify whether a product order was legitimate by clicking a link. Please report scams to us.
Here are some important tips to identify scams and stay safe:
1. To find out if a message is really from Amazon, visit the Message Center under ‘Your Account’. Legitimate messages from Amazon will appear there.
2. Customers can track progress of their deliveries via the ‘Your Orders’ page on the website and app.
3. Be wary of false urgency. Scammers may try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they’re asking. Be wary any time someone tries to convince you that you must act now.
Published July 9, 2024
Look closely at messages claiming to be from an Amazon driver
Did you receive a message from someone claiming to be an Amazon driver? Customers are reporting the return of a scam where they receive false messages from scammers pretending to be Amazon drivers. These messages urge you to click a link under the guise of a driver needing to complete a delivery.
Here are some important tips to identify scams and stay safe:
1. Customers can track progress of their deliveries via the ‘Your Orders’ page on the website and app.
2. Be wary of false urgency. Scammers may try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they’re asking. Be wary any time someone tries to convince you that you must act now.
3. Please enable notifications from Amazon on your mobile device. Doing so will allow Amazon to send you a push notification from the mobile shopping app to accompany text messages from us, which can be used to confirm that it’s real.
Published May 30, 2024
Alerts about fake orders are #1 scam for fourth straight month
Did you receive an alert asking for verification of a purchase you don’t remember making? Beware of this common scam.
For the fourth straight month, the most frequently reported scam involves a made-up issue with your order. These messages use a false sense of urgency to try to get your credit card information to verify or dispute an order you never placed.
Here are some important tips to identify scams and stay safe:
1. Be wary of false urgency. Scammers may try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they’re asking. Be wary any time someone tries to convince you that you must act now.
2. For any questions related to an order, always check your order history on Amazon.com or via the “Amazon Shopping” app. Only legitimate purchases will appear in your order history.
3. Do not click on any links or provide your information without authenticating the email or verifying the link. Visit the Message Center which displays a log of authentic communications sent from Amazon.
Published April 30, 2024
Alerts about fake orders are #1 scam
Were you surprised to receive an alert about a purchase on Amazon that you never made? The message wasn’t really from Amazon.
Be aware of a rise in scams involving fake purchases, where scammers claim that there is a shipping issue with your order. These messages are most often sent over email, and state that a payment is required – most often by credit card – to fix the issue with your order.
Here are some important tips to identify scams and stay safe:
1. For any questions related to an order, always check your order history on Amazon.com or via the “Amazon Shopping” app. Only legitimate purchases will appear in your order history.
2. Do not click on any links or provide your information without authenticating the email or verifying the link. Visit the Message Center which displays a log of authentic communications sent from Amazon.
Published March 28, 2024
A rise in membership renewal scams
Do you have a membership or subscription to an online service? Be aware of a rise in “Membership Renewal Scams,” where bad actors pose as legitimate companies and request you to renew by giving your credit card information.
Here are some important tips to identify scams and stay safe:
1. Don’t pay unless it is through the company’s app or website.
Always use the company’s mobile app or website to make a payment or make changes to your membership or subscription.
2. Be wary of false urgency.
Scammers may try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they’re asking. Be wary any time someone tries to convince you that you must act now.
To learn more about Amazon’s approach to protecting consumers from impersonation scams, visit our Scam Prevention page here.
Published March 19, 2024
Of all Amazon impersonation scams reported by our customers globally in 2023, over two-thirds of scams were related to order issues or account issues and both were reported in 20+ countries.
Order Issues
These scams are unsolicited phone calls, text messages, or emails containing details about a purchase you never made, asking you to confirm or deny the purchase and provide account information to the scammer.
Account Issues
These scams involve fake billing issues, and may refer to unauthorized account access, often threatening account suspension unless the fake issue is resolved urgently.
Here are some important tips to identify scams and keep your account and information safe:
- Trust Amazon-owned channels.
Always go through the Amazon mobile app or website when seeking customer service, tech support, or when looking to make changes to your account. - Be wary of false urgency.
Scammers may try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they’re asking. Be wary any time someone tries to convince you that you must act now. - Never pay over the phone.
Amazon will never ask you to provide payment information, including gift cards (or “verification cards,” as some scammers call them) for products or services over the phone. - Verify links first.
Review the link for misspellings or repeated characters. Legitimate Amazon websites contain “amazon.com”. Go directly to our website when seeking help with Amazon devices/services, orders or to make changes to your account. - Verify email senders.
Review email senders before clicking on email attachments. Legitimate Amazon emails contain “@amazon.com.” In your web browser, hover over the display name under “From” to see full sender address. Look for misspellings or added or substituted characters. Visit the Message Center to view authentic messages from Amazon.
To learn more about Amazon’s approach to protecting consumers from impersonation scams, visit our Scam Prevention page here.