Picture this scenario — you receive an unexpected call from the Amazon customer service team. They’ve flagged your Amazon account for suspicious activity when an order was placed from an unfamiliar IP address.
You don’t recognize the purchase and worry someone has access to your account and the information stored in it. But you’re grateful that the marketplace has detected it and alerted you quickly.
Fortunately, Amazon can stop the purchase but requires your account and credit card details to confirm your identity and authorize a payment reversal.
What do you do? In an ideal world, you should dig a little deeper to confirm the story. But chances are you’re panicking at the thought of an account breach and, therefore, don’t think twice about handing over the required information.
If so, you will now have a bigger problem at hand — you have just been scammed!
Americans lost $1.1 billion to impersonation scams last year, and, not surprisingly, Amazon is the second most-imitated business, based on Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports.
So, the next time you receive any calls claiming to be from the popular marketplace, don’t be hasty to respond.
Amazon Phone Scams: How Do They Work?
Scam calls that impersonate Amazon employees are designed to extract personal information. The storylines typically don’t raise suspicion and can involve an unauthorized high-value purchase, suspicious account activity, a payment issue, or a similar matter.
These are common issues anyone can face in a marketplace. So, how can you identify Amazon scam calls from genuine customer service calls? Here are the red flags to watch.
- Pressure to Act Fast
Pressure, threats, and similar emotional triggers are widely used in call scams. So, be skeptical when a caller tells you to act quickly without giving you enough time to check details on your own.
- Requests for Personal Information or Money
Amazon will never push you to share your credit card information, SSN, Amazon password, or other personal data over the phone. Neither will it ask you to transfer money to third-party accounts.
- Vague or Confusing Details
Have you received an unexpected call about an order you never placed? Is the caller referring to an Amazon Prime account you don’t have? Do the details about the incident seem hazy? Then, it’s likely a scam.
- Need for Secrecy
If a caller asks you not to share what they tell you with anyone else, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with a fraudster. Amazon will be transparent about customer matters, so there’s no need for a pledge to secrecy.
Protecting Yourself From an Amazon Scam Call: What You Need to Know
Here’s how to avoid an Amazon call fraud and protect your data from criminal advances.
- Authenticate the Caller
Nowadays, mimicking company phone numbers is pretty easy. So, don’t be quick to believe someone on the other end of a phone call before you verify their details.
You can contact Amazon directly to confirm the call’s origin and reverse search the phone number on Nuwber to learn more about its registered owner.
- Check Before You Act
To avoid costly mistakes, you must take your time to review the information the caller has provided.
For instance, if the details seem vague or unclear, ask questions to clarify. Log in to your Amazon account and see whether there are security alerts, and check your bank and credit card statements for a fraudulent charge.
- Ignore Automated Calls
Robocalls are inexpensive and easy to launch on a mass scale with minimum supervision. This has made them a popular medium for stealing personal data in Amazon call scams.
Therefore, be careful if you receive an automated message that asks you to answer a prompt using the phone’s keypad or with voice responses.
- Never Share Identifiable Data
Spend a moment to understand who and what you’re dealing with without rushing to hand over your personal and financial information to a stranger.
Your first and last name, social security number, home address, bank account number, Amazon account credentials, and similar details should always remain confidential.
- Protect Your Amazon Account
To prevent a breach, set up a complex and unique password for your Amazon account. Never share it with anyone or use it for other online accounts. Enable multi-factor authentication for extra protection.
In addition, avoid clicking unverified links to sign in to your account or allowing unknown individuals with remote access to your computer.
- Set Up Caller ID
Caller identification facilities provided by your cell phone carrier will help you ignore unwanted calls by identifying callers.
Another option is installing a caller ID and call-blocking app that can detect and block scam and spam calls. Some of these apps will also have extra features, such as message screening and call recording.
Despite these technological advances, it’s crucial to remember that no system is entirely foolproof.
While these tools can reduce the frequency of unwanted calls, you should remain vigilant and not depend entirely on caller identification, especially in light of caller ID spoofing risks.
Wrapping Up
Amazon impersonations are on the rise, and by falling victim, you could compromise your identity and incur significant financial losses. So, detecting and avoiding such scams is a must if you’re concerned about personal safety.
The good news is, many Amazon call scams have similar characteristics. In most instances, fraudsters will pressure you to act quickly, ask for personal data, provide vague and confusing information, and request you keep things a secret until the problem is resolved.
To protect yourself from an impersonation scam, always authenticate who you’re speaking with. Cross-check information without believing everything someone says, and never share personal and financial information over the phone. Be particularly careful if you receive a recorded message from Amazon. Automated prompts on robocalls are best ignored.
In addition, keep your Amazon account safe by following necessary security protocols and install a caller ID app to block scam and spam numbers.
Reviewing your Amazon account, credit card and bank statements, and credit reports from time to time is equally important for detecting fraudulent activity before things escalate.
FAQ
How do Amazon call scams work?
Phone scammers posing as Amazon representatives can use a variety of techniques to get hold of sensitive information.
Calling to confirm an expensive Amazon purchase is one such scheme many people fall for. In this scam, a fraudster imitates Amazon staff and asks users for their credit card number and Amazon account log-in credentials to stop the purchase or reverse the phony charge.
Shady actors may also contact you regarding a lost package, an inaccurate delivery address, a payment issue, or fraudulent account activity.
Some scams involve robocalls and may ask for your account details to verify or update your Amazon account.
Does Amazon make phone calls about suspicious activity?
According to Amazon’s website, the company will contact customers in case it notices anything unusual about their account activity. However, this is usually done using email security alerts and push notifications.
Even then, it’s important to confirm you’re dealing with an authentic message and verify facts before you respond. For example, never provide personal or financial information until you’ve confirmed who has initiated the message.
Use the regular Amazon site URL to log in to your account and check your order history. Also, go to messages and see whether there are security alerts.
What are the common risks of call scams?
Most Amazon phone fraud ends up with identity theft. This means giving a criminal access to identifiable data, like social security numbers, contact details, Amazon account passwords, bank and credit card numbers, and other personal information.
The repercussions of compromised identity-related data are varied and can haunt you for years to come.
For instance, when a scammer finds out your account credentials, they can take over your account, max out your credit card with expensive purchases, or use stored personal data to commit various frauds targeting others. They can also sell your details on the dark web, exposing you to even more scams.
How should I respond when I suspect a call is fake?
If you’re certain you’re dealing with a scammer, hang up the phone immediately and reverse search the contact number.
Block it and inform Amazon’s customer support team. Also, share your experience with friends and family to alert them to potential threats.
Sometimes, you might feel unsure whether a call is fake. In such moments, probe the caller to find more information. However, refrain from providing identifiable or Amazon order-related information.
Let the caller know you’ll call them back after verifying the details. Then, contact Amazon on its regular hotline to authenticate the call.
What should I do if I fall victim to an Amazon call scam?
Ensure you keep records of all communications. This will be invaluable for mitigating the damage.
The specific organizations to contact will depend on what personal information you’ve disclosed to a fraudster. For instance, alerting your bank and credit card issuer and placing an account freeze is essential when you’ve shared your financial data.
However, despite the type of scam, you should report the incident to the police. Make a complaint to the FTC, too, and seek advice on creating an identity theft recovery plan. You must also inform Amazon and change the password of your Amazon account.
About the author
Chief Technical Officer at Nuwber
With nearly two decades of experience in the IT industry, Eugene possesses comprehensive knowledge across his professional field, including in data management, data protection, and information search. Through his writing, he aims to provide valuable insights and practical advice on how to safely explore the online environment and leverage digital tools to enhance people’s lives.
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