You could lose an average of $1,000 by falling for an Amazon scam. Here’s how to protect yourself.
Identifying Amazon Scam Calls and Messages
The first step is to know how to recognize these scam messages, also known as phishing attacks.
An example of a phishing attempt could be an email (like the one below) asking you to change your password. There are several ways to tell that this email is fake. First, the sender’s email address ends with “.info” – legitimate Amazon emails will always end with “@amazon.com” or one of these listed addresses (some of which vary by country or region).
Additionally, Amazon will never ask for any of your login details or other personal information like the email below. Messages that convey urgency and ask you to take immediate action are also red flags. “Email should be used as a notification system, not as a shortcut,” says Santora. You should also be wary of any spelling or grammatical errors in the message.
Some Amazon phishing attempts may also ask you to pay via a gift card or send pictures of gift cards. According to the FTC, if someone asks you to give them the numbers on the back of the card, it’s a scam.
Avoid Clicking on Links in Fake Amazon Messages
When reading one of these messages, do not click on any links or attachments, or download anything. “If there’s a link, don’t click it,” warns Santora. Instead, hover over the link to check the URL and verify the source.
Any text messages you receive from Amazon telling you that you’ve won a prize are also scams, and you should avoid clicking on the link. “This can be a gateway for scammers to access your financial information,” says Christopher Liu, CFA and founder of the personal finance platform, WealthAwesome.
Liu also says to be cautious of Amazon scammers contacting you about your account being suspended – they usually ask you to install a remote access tool that will instantly restore your Amazon account.
What this actually does is give them easy access to your phone or computer. “This will allow them to search for sensitive information like your Amazon account login and your social media accounts, as well as online banking accounts,” Liu explains.
You can defend yourself against phishing attempts by not following any of the instructions in these messages, and by not providing any personal information online or over the phone. If you have any doubts about your account or an order, contact Amazon directly to verify the information, rather than dealing with a scam call or message.
Amazon has a form you can use to report phishing and fraud attempts.
What to Do if You’ve Been Scammed
Unfortunately, cyber hacking attacks are on the rise. “These scams are increasing due to the vast amount of publicly available information,” says Santora.
If you are a victim of a phishing attack on Amazon and have had your money stolen, report it to your bank or credit card company to see if you can dispute the charges.
You should also report the scam to the FTC, which has a page for reporting fraud. Once you file a report here, the FTC may take enforcement action and try to recover your money.
Change the passwords for your Amazon account and other important personal logins. Overall, the best thing you can do is stay vigilant for phishing attempts and know how to verify messages to keep your money and personal information safe.
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Federal Trade Commission, Amazon Tops List of Impersonated Businesses.
Source: https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/technology/safety-family/amazon-scams
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