Table of Contents
Amazon is one of the most popular shopping platforms worldwide. As of 2023, Amazon has over 310 million users, making it the top e-commerce website. However, despite being a trusted website, its popularity has also attracted numerous scammers.
Awareness of such scams is essential, as falling victim to these scams can lead to financial loss, identity theft, and personal data leaks. Such scams affect not only buyers but also unsuspecting buyers.
So, whether you use Amazon as a businessperson or a shopper, this article will offer insights useful for keeping yourself safe. We’ll discuss what these Amazon scams are, how widespread they are, their different types, what to do if you’ve been scammed, and a lot more!
Amazon scams: What they really are
There are numerous types of Amazon scams. But, in general, they revolve around impersonation scams, in which the scammers pretend to be the platform’s representatives. They may trick you into sending them money or sharing your personally identifiable information [PII].
In addition to gaining customers and sellers, the platform’s popularity has amassed countless opportunistic thieves. The following are some of the many ways a scammer may target you on Amazon:
- Fraudulent sellers: Scammers may pose as deceitful sellers and create lists of counterfeit or fraudulent products to trick you into buying them.
- Fake Amazon websites: You may be tricked into giving your details to scammers who create fake websites that appear to be Amazon Prime setup pages or Amazon listings.
- Tech support scams: Hackers and cybercriminals pretend to be Amazon support representatives and trick you into sharing your account passwords or granting them remote access to your computer.
- Phishing scams: Amazon scammers pretend to be from the company and send social media messages, texts, phone calls, and emails. They ask you to click on a link or share your information, which may lead to identity theft.
What do the stats and reported scams suggest
According to the 2021 Federal Trade Commission report, Amazon is at the top of the list of impersonated businesses, followed by Apple. Moreover, approximately 1 in 3 people reporting a business impersonator claim the scammer pretended to be an Amazon representative.
Source: FTC
These scams were reported to have increased by 500% between June 2020 and 2021, with the money lost to scammers accumulating to a whopping $27 million. The reported median individual loss was reported to be $1,000.
Furthermore, people aged 60 and above were reported to be four times more likely to report losing money to an Amazon impersonator than younger people. The median for those below 60 came to about $825, while the median for those above 60 was $1,500.
In 2021, a man from Rocky River, Ohio, lost over $124,000 after scammers convinced him his account was in danger. They asked him to move his money to a newly set up account to save his details and money.
15 Amazon scams you should know about
The following are a few popular Amazon scams that you should know and protect yourself from:
- The “write a review” scam
This is an Amazon scam in which scammers target victims after major shopping periods, such as Black Friday or Prime Day. They request victims to leave Amazon reviews and get paid in exchange. However, if you click the link they send, you’re directed to fake Amazon websites.
This phishing attack includes emails with malicious links that lead to a fraudulent website that looks like Amazon. Such websites aim to lure victims into sharing their usernames, passwords, or card details. These details are then used for numerous types of identity thefts.
- Fake job offers
There’s been an increase in fake job offers, which lure victims with high-paying, remote work opportunities. Now, scammers are posing as Amazon recruiters to bait job seekers. According to a report, there’s been a 27% increase in reports to the FBI of employment-related scams.
Scammers post fake employment ads for jobs at Amazon and contact applicants to discuss the job offer. Instead, they try to collect bank account information or credit card details. Their justification is that the information is needed for an upfront processing fee.
- Receiving Amazon products that you didn’t order
If you’ve ever received packages from Amazon without placing an order, you could be a victim of a brushing scam. Such free items might spark your joy but could be a sign that your data is at risk.
A man from Menlo Park reported receiving over 100 Amazon packages of items he didn’t order in less than a year between 2021 and 2022. An explanation could be that third-party sellers are sending him these items. These sellers send mystery parcels to unsuspecting users without a return address.
The parcels typically include inexpensive items like Bluetooth speakers or screen protectors. They then use these fake orders to write fake reviews under the victims’ names. Such scams are carried out to improve seller ratings and attract customers they can exploit.
- Frozen Amazon account scam
If you’re receiving emails or texts claiming your Amazon account is locked, they may be just a scam. Scammers use fear-mongering as a tactic to collect your account information. Once you click on the link shared with you to verify your account, the information is shared with scammers.
The messages warn you that your Amazon account is frozen or suspended due to suspicious activity. They include phone numbers or malicious links that open the door to a scammer. In addition to stealing your information, such links could be used to spread malware.
- Technical support scams
Scammers sometimes pose as Amazon’s tech support team to gain remote access to their victims’ computers. Unlike most other Amazon scams, scammers don’t contact their victims directly. Instead, victims find their contact information on SERPs [search engine results pages].
Fraudulent websites with contact information are sometimes advertised at the top of search results. Anyone facing technical difficulty would search for “Amazon technical support” and be directed to these sites.
One such incident happened to a 72-year-old in 2022, who unknowingly granted remote access to a scammer. The scammer was charged $717 for fraud, and Amazon reimbursed the victim.
- Fake invoice scams
Did you ever receive an invoice for Amazon purchases you didn’t make? Scammers create and send fake purchase notifications pretending to be from Amazon to make you believe you’re being billed for premium-priced products.
The fake invoice includes a phone number you might call in a panic. Once you call that number, the scammer will try to extort your details. If you question their request for personal information, they’ll claim it’s for “security reasons.
Brenda Duffy received a fake invoice in 2022 for about $2,700 worth of technology items. Luckily, she dodged the scammers by spotting some red flags she knew from being a target of similar scams.
- Fake Amazon websites
Fake Amazon websites, aka phishing URLs, put your financial and personal information at risk. The sites contain similar domain names to Amazon.com and trick victims into sharing sensitive information.
These websites have slight changes in the spelling of the URL address, making them relatively harder to spot. For example, you might see “Amazon.com.billing-inquiry.com” or “Amazon-activity.com” on your SERP.
In addition, scammers also use phishing emails and fake ads to lure victims to these sites. If you try logging in and making a purchase, your Amazon account information will be shared with the involved malicious parties.
- Amazon gift card payment scams
Gift card payment loss almost tripped between 2017 and 2020, according to the Better Business Bureau [BBB]. In most reported cases, scammers demanded Amazon gift cards as part of their scams. In one example, a Californian woman was tricked by Amazon imposters into buying more than 30 gift cards worth about $16,000 in total.
In this type of Amazon scam, scammers send a phishing email and lure you into making a phone call to them. In the case of the Californian woman, the email included a fake invoice for expensive items.
When you call the provided number, the scammer informs you that your account on the platform isn’t safe. They’d further instruct you to make gift card payments promised to be reimbursed.
Once you share the numbers on the back of your gift cards, the scammer takes the money and disappears.
- Amazon Prime Video websites scam
First-time users of Amazon Prime Video often fall victim to deceitful Amazon scams. Cybercriminals create scamming websites and ads that target keywords similar to “set up Prime on TV,” that land on fake websites.
These websites are quite similar to Amazon’s SmartTV setup page. And once you enter the 6-digital code on your TV, the website prompts you to dial a number.
The scammers then ask you to share your two-factor authentication code over the phone to gain access to your Amazon account. Later, they encourage you to upgrade to premium services. If you’re convinced, you will be sent a PayPal invoice link. Scammers will finally use this link to steal your money and credit card details.
- Review hijacking
Review hijacking includes fake listings with real reviews. This is when scammers hijack old product listings with reviews and replace the price, product, and description, leaving the old reviews.
The fake listings typically appear in the top search results due to their ratings and reviews and may even be “shipped by Amazon. However, you will receive a counterfeit or fake product if you order any listed items.
Review hijacking was witnessed first-hand by multiple tech writers who found approximately $2,400 worth of 16TB SSD drives for only $100 on Amazon. These drives were, of course, fake and included a generic microSD card with 64GB storage.
- Amazon text messages scams
Phishing scams sent via text messages are quite common. These scams involve victims receiving text messages from scammers claiming to be Amazon representatives. They lure you with low-interest credit, prizes, or payment information issues – among other things.
After you call the number, the scammer tries to get your PII for identity theft or financial fraud. On the other hand, the message could contain links that could initiate a malware download on your device.
- Refund scams
Scammers may contact you, posing as Amazon representatives and claiming the platform owes you a refund for wrongful charges. You’ll be urged to contact a number/email regarding unauthorized purchases or issues with a recent purchase on your Amazon account.
The scammer will then ask you to grant them remote access to your computer to resolve the issue. If you fall for this scam, your financial accounts may get hacked, or you may be coerced into making transactions on a bogus website.
- The mystery box scams
Amazon sellers post mystery box listings with unbelievably low prices for premium items. However, if you place an order for one of these mystery boxes, you’ll likely end up getting scammed.
There have been reports of victims receiving old, broken, or cheap items in their expensive mystery boxes. Moreover, you will likely not get your money back since you knowingly paid for the box.
- Amazon scam calls
Cinda Stewart, a woman from Lincoln, received an unexpected call from who she thought was a legitimate Amazon representative in 2022. The person on the phone told her that her Amazon Prime account was compromised and she would be charged $500.
Luckily, when the scammers asked for her Social Security Number [SSN], she hung up, escaping the cybercriminals. However, only some are fortunate enough to dodge such scammers.
- Off-platform payment request scams
Amazon is filled with con artists who trick people into making payments through third-party apps like Venmo and Zelle or wire transfer services like Western Union. The primary reason is that such services don’t offer much buyer protection.
Opting for these payment methods makes you ineligible for Amazon’s A-to-Z guarantee. So, when you buy products from fake listings with fake reviews, you can’t request a refund through Amazon.
Ways to spot an Amazon scam
The following are a few signs you’re dealing with an Amazon scammer:
- They typically involve emails with links to suspicious websites, offering money in exchange for Amazon reviews.
- Amazon never sends text messages, so if you receive a text, it may be from a scammer.
- Amazon-related job opportunities not posted at Amazon.com/jobs are usually fake, and they request an upfront processing fee.
- If you’ve received item[s] you never placed an order for from third-party sellers, you might be a brushing scam victim.
- Receiving emails from suspicious email addresses or messages on your number indicates that a scammer is trying to contact you.
- Scammers pretending to be from Amazon pressure you into sharing account information.
- Amazon has official email addresses listed on the official website for contact; all others are fake.
- Messages from Amazon wouldn’t typically contain typos, formatting issues, grammatical errors, odd designs, and other similar issues.
- If you see Amazon websites that are out of their standard format [e.g., with a full-stop before “amazon.com” such as “https://pay.amazon.com”], it’s likely a fake website. These websites also have too good to be true prices for items.
- If you receive requests for payment through gift cards, it’s not Amazon but a scammer.
- Amazon’s representatives will never ask you to share your two-factor authentication code.
- Products on a 90% or above discount are typically counterfeit or fake, as are overly generic reviews.
- Messages or emails regarding refunds are a tactic to grant access to your data or computer.
- Too good-to-be-true listings on Amazon are typically fake, counterfeit, cheap, old, or broken items.
- Scam listings with fake reviews often request off-platform payments.
You’ve been scammed – What to do next
Taking swift action is vital if you think you’ve fallen for an Amazon scam. It could take scammers a few minutes to strip thousands of dollars off you or steal your identity. Therefore, in addition to being vigilant, be steadfast once you’ve spotted a scam.
Here are a few tips on what to do next:
What to do if an Amazon scammer has access to your account
- Log into your account and change your password immediately.
- Review your settings [payment, cards, billing addresses, shipping addresses, phone numbers, etc.] and profile to spot any changes.
- Check your order history to confirm whether any suspicious purchases have been made recently.
- Check your “Archived Orders” to verify whether the scammer has tried to hide fraudulent orders.
- Contact Amazon’s security team at (888) 282-2406 to inform them about the breach and report any scam orders. Request cancellations and refunds if required.
- Call your bank, credit card issuer, or any other payment company to report the fraud and review for any unauthorized transactions or charges.
What to do if you’ve sent gift cards, cryptocurrency, or money to the scammer
- Cash payments: Contact the US Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 if you’ve sent cash via direct mail, explain the suspected fraud, and ask them to intercept the package.
- Cryptocurrency: You can request a refund and report the scam to the involved company. However, it’s unlikely you’ll get your money back.
- Money app: Report the fraud to the platform, e.g., Zelle or Venmo, and request payment reversal. Also, notify the credit card company or bank if the application is linked to your debit or credit card.
- Gift card: Don’t throw away the gift card and receipt; contact the company to explain what happened.
- Third-party wire transfer: Contact the company and ask them to reverse the charges after explaining the scam.
- Debit/credit card: Tell your card issuer about the fraudulent transaction and request them to reverse the charges.
What to do if the scammer has your personal information
- File an identity theft report with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov.
- Change your passwords for online accounts, especially IRS tax accounts, banking, and email, which are high-value targets.
What to do if the scammer is an Amazon seller
- As soon as you realize that the Amazon seller you’re dealing with is a scammer, end all contact with them.
- Follow Amazon’s reporting guidelines to report suspicious activities on the platform.
- If the scam occurred outside the platform, file a police report with local law enforcement.
How to report an Amazon scam
Did you recently get in touch with someone pretending to be from Amazon? You should report the fraud immediately; the easiest way is through the official Amazon website. Here’s how you can report an Amazon scam:
- Log into your account and go to Amazon’s Customer Service Official site.
- Find the “Help” page options and select Security and Privacy > Report Something Suspicious.
- Make your selections depending on your response to the suspicious communication.
- Submit your report, offering as much information as you can. For example, add screenshots and the sender’s name, email address, and address.
Protect yourself – steps to take to prevent falling victim to Amazon scams
We’ve only scratched the surface with the list of Amazon scams highlighted in this article. With countless old and emerging scams, the best course of action is to take appropriate precautionary steps.
The following are a few tips to stay safe and protect yourself from Amazon scams:
- Try only to use the official Amazon mobile app.
- Secure your devices from scammers, hackers, and all cyber criminals with a trusted Virtual Private Network, such as PureVPN, and antivirus software.
- Bookmark the official website on your devices to avoid typos or clicks to bogus sites.
- Only make payments through Amazon and avoid off-platform payments.
- Make payments via credit cards instead of debit cards, as the former are relatively safer.
- Don’t make payments before reviewing all shipping costs, terms, and fees.
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links or call numbers shared in unsolicited emails and text messages.
- Always verify claims made about your Amazon account by logging into your account and checking notifications and order history.
- Don’t share your login credentials or personal information with anyone – not even with those you think are Amazon representatives.
- Avoid contacting those who offer lottery winnings, prizes, or large amounts of money in exchange for your money.
- If someone from Amazon is creating a sense of urgency, stay calm and check your account to verify the information provided first and foremost.
- Use this Scam Tracker to see if others have reported similar scam incidents, or use this Amazon Fraud Detector to detect online fraud via machine learning.
- Use varying passwords for your online accounts, pick a strong password for Amazon, and enable two-factor authentication.
Frequently asked questions
You can report a scammer on Amazon by logging into your account and navigating to the “Report Something Suspicious” section under Help > Security and Privacy. Alternatively, you can contact the platform’s security department at (888) 282-2406.
No, you should avoid making payments via third-party applications, such as Zelle and Venmo, or even wire transfer services like Western Union, as these payment platforms don’t offer buyer protection. Making payments outside of Amazon will remove Amazon’s A-to-Z guarantee, so you can’t request refunds either.
It’s possible to receive phone calls from legitimate Amazon representatives. The platform typically contacts customers via emails, text messages, and phone calls. However, its representatives will never ask you for your credentials, personal or financial information, and other sensitive data.
You can spot a fraudulent seller on Amazon via reviews. If the reviews seem too generic or about a different product entirely, they’re most likely a scammer. Moreover, if the seller is requesting off-platform payments, offering too-good-to-be-true prices, or has bad reviews, it’s best to avoid them.
You can protect yourself against Amazon scams using strong passwords, two-factor authentication, antivirus software, and a trusted virtual private network [VPN], such as PureVPN.
Bottom line: Allow PureVPN to protect you online
Scammers use your trust in the platform to steal your identity, passwords, money, and more. It’s best to stay one step ahead of these cybercriminals by learning to spot old and new Amazon scams and taking precautionary steps to protect yourself.
For extra layers of security, download PureVPN. This VPN offers 256-AES encryption, an internet kill switch, no logs policy, and much more to ensure your safety. Its multi-device usage safeguards you on all operating systems and up to 10 devices simultaneously.
But don’t take our word for it; try it out yourself to witness the peace of mind you deserve when shopping or selling online.
PureVPN
April 11, 2023
1 year ago
