Beware of the Amazon Watch Scam
Everyone admires Amazon’s scope and efficiency. Scammers are no exception. Recently, they’ve been piggybacking on Amazon’s reach and excellent name to pull off a scam that’s already taken in thousands of innocent victims. The Amazon Watch Scam – also known as the “fitness watch text” or the “Apple Watch raffle scam” – involves a congratulatory text message pop-up on consumers’ phones and the fraudulent promise of a big win.
Here’s all you need to know about the Amazon watch raffle scam:
How the scam plays out
In the scam, the target receives a text message appearing to be from Amazon and telling them they’ve won an Apple Watch or a similar prize, such as Airpods or a Garmin Fitness watch.
If the victim clicks on the embedded link, they’ll land on a page asking them to provide their personal information. Alternatively, clicking the link may download malware onto the victim’s device.
Red flags
First, it’s important to note that Amazon will never ask a consumer for their personal information or remote access to a device.
Second, familiarize yourself with the red flags that can help you spot when you’ve been targeted by an Amazon watch raffle scam or a similar ruse:
- The text message includes an unusual link.
- The message promises an instant and/or large reward.
- Does it urge you to act now?
- The text appears to be sent from Amazon, but you don’t remember signing up to receive text messages from them.
Avoid the scam
Follow these precautions to avoid the Amazon watch raffle scam.
- Never click on a link sent in a message from an unverified number.
- If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you’re still unsure, call the number to verify if it is legitimate.
- Never respond to suspicious-looking text messages. Instead, block the number.
- If you receive a text message that appears to be from Amazon, update the login credentials of your Amazon account. Have you already clicked on the link? You may want to do a security sweep on your device for viruses and malware.
If you’re still unsure whether Amazon has actually sent a text message, you can check out Amazon’s scam information help and support page to help you verify the authenticity of the message.
Stop the scam
Now you know what the Amazon Watch Scam is, and how to protect yourself. Make sure you do your part to stop those scammers by reporting all scam attempts to the FTC and the BBB. You can also warn your friends and family about the circulating scam. If you like this post, make sure you check out our other posts on our MoneySmart Tips Blog.
Stay safe!
