When it comes to convenience, service, and scale of products, nothing beats Amazon. Unfortunately, though, scammers frequently leverage Amazon’s reputation in their own best interest. Keep yourself safe by watching out for these five Amazon scams.
1) Update your order
In this scam, a shopper places an order on Amazon and then gets a phone call or notice by email or text. It claims there’s an issue with their account and that they must update or confirm their info before they can receive their purchase. The contact may ask the target to re-share their payment information or other personally identifiable information.
Don’t get scammed. If you’re asked to update your payment information, and something seems off, look up your account on Amazon. If you aren’t prompted to update your payment method on that screen, the message you received is from a scammer.
2) We owe you a refund
In this scam, the target receives a text or email stating that they have been overcharged for a recent Amazon purchase and are owed a refund. The text or email will also provide a phone number for the recipient to call. When you call, an “Amazon rep” will ask to be granted access to your computer so they can issue the refund. Unfortunately, doing so will give a scammer direct access to your financial accounts.
Don’t get scammed. Any notification from Amazon will be available on the company’s website. Log into your account to ensure you’re getting the notification from Amazon. Also, it is extremely unlikely that Amazon will send you a notification like this – they aren’t known for accidental charges.
3) Off-platform payments
In this scam, the scammer asks you to follow a link for an off-platform payment. Amazon only provides payment protection on its own site. As such, you (the Amazon shopper) lose all purchase protection and will likely end up with a faulty product or none at all.
Don’t get scammed. Authentic Amazon sellers will never ask for payment outside the actual Amazon site.
4) Amazon Prime Video scams
In this scam, consumers looking to set up Amazon Prime video on their smart TV are lured into bogus sites that look identical to Amazon’s smart TV setup page. The target will be asked to enter Amazon’s six-digit code on their TV and then call the phone number the site provides. On the phone, the scammers will ask them to share the two-factor authentication code sent to their device by Amazon. Doing so gives the scammer access to your Amazon account.
Don’t get scammed. Never share your passwords, authentication codes, or login credentials by phone. If you need to set up Prime Video on your TV, visit Amazon’s website directly for instructions.
5) Mystery boxes, prizes, and super-low deals
This scam manifests as a link you can click or a number you can call for a prize you’ve allegedly won or to purchase a deeply discounted item. Doing so will lead you right into the hands of the scammer, who will ask for your PII or download malware onto your computer.
Don’t get scammed. Never follow a seller’s directions away from the actual Amazon site. Also, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Stay alert and follow the tips mentioned here to avoid Amazon scams and enjoy shopping on the world’s largest marketplace without compromising your safety. Enjoyed this article? Check out more like this on our MoneySmart Tips blog.
