When shopping on Amazon, be aware of these scams before clicking on any “purchase” buttons or indulging in any Amazon fraud. Scammers take advantage of Amazon’s good brand, both on and off the internet.
As of this writing, Amazon sells more than $500 billion in merchandise annually. A substantial portion of those bucks might have come from your wallet.
Amazon and eBay, two of the most prominent retail platforms in the world, attract fraudsters who are attempting to take advantage of customers by stealing their money, personal information, or both.
Online retail giant Amazon took in $177.9 billion in net sales in 2017, up from $19.17 billion in 2008, a ninefold increase. In contrast, the GDP of oil-rich Algeria in 2017 was $173 billion. According to Forbes, Amazon’s market capitalization dwarfs that of all but 16 nations.
Scammers, identity thieves, and fraudsters have flocked to Amazon’s booming orbit because of all the money on the table. If you’re a regular Amazon shopper, you’ve probably seen how easy it is to lose money on the site.
The number of scams taking advantage of Amazon’s popularity is on the increase. From July 2020 to June 2021, fraudsters posing as Amazon employees contacted 96,000 individuals, stealing $27 million from 6,000 victims who fell for the hoax. Older people are more likely to be targeted, with a median loss of $1,500 recorded.
Amazon-related scams come in many shapes and sizes. Theft from Amazon customers has been made more difficult by criminals’ ingenuity.
You should look out for these warning signs if you’re approached by someone purporting to be from Amazon when purchasing on the site.
Do you know what some of the most popular Amazon frauds look like?
When it comes to frauds, Amazon impersonators are among the most popular. Almost one in three victims of corporate impersonators indicate that the fraudsters claimed to be from Amazon, according to the FTC’s statistics.
In this scam, a fake Amazon employee may promise to reimburse you for an order, then claim that the “overpayment” has been refunded and ask you to return it.
In another hoax, the fraudster may say that you need to purchase gift cards and provide the card details in order to safeguard your Amazon account from hackers. In both circumstances, you’re just handing over your hard-earned cash to con artists with no link to Amazon.
Scammers are known to place recorded messages on Amazon customers’ phones saying that there is an issue with their Amazon account. The FTC has cautioned Amazon consumers about these types of scams as well. You’ll either be given a button to push to contact customer support or a phone number to call back to have your problem resolved.
They’re either attempting to acquire your Amazon login or your credit card information from you. They are frequently able to fool caller ID so that it seems that the call is being made by Amazon’s customer support staff..
An email scam is also a kind of Amazon fraud. In an official-sounding email from “Amazon,” you’ll be prompted to change your payment details due to a problem with your account. Otherwise, the email will look to be a shipment confirmation for an order you didn’t really make. If you don’t verify your account, you’ll have to.
You are being asked to click on the link or contact the phone number and submit crucial information that would give the fraudsters access to your account or credit card.
Scams using Amazon gift cards go well beyond simple spoofing of a company. All of these frauds involve you paying fees or making purchases using Amazon gift card numbers that Amazon has compiled:
- Scams in Social Security. Scammers say that you must use an Amazon gift card to address a problem with your Social Security number.
- Phishing for employment with fake job offers. As soon as you accept the job offer, the caller demands that you pay a fee in the form of an Amazon gift card.
- False information may be found on the internet. Amazon gift cards may be used to pay for products on any website.
- One-upmanship. It’s common for scammers to pretend to be your employer and urge you to purchase Amazon gift cards for staff incentives or client presents.
- Scams involving unpaid debt or taxation. An Amazon gift card is used to settle fictitious debts or fees, much as in Social Security frauds.
Scammy third-party vendors on Amazon aren’t exempt from taking use of the Amazon Marketplace listings to steal money from consumers, of course In order to circumvent Amazon’s protections, con artists have been known to persuade victims to send money by wire transfer or another method outside of Amazon.
It’s not uncommon for online retailers to promote fake goods at ridiculously low rates, ship you the incorrect item or address your box to the wrong person, or just fail to deliver your order at all. All of them are similar to eBay scams that clients need to be aware of.
What to look out for in Amazon scams – warning signs
In many Amazon scams, fraudsters try to deceive you into handing over personal or payment information that they may use to steal your money or identity. The Marketplace’s retail frauds are another common occurrence.
In order to prevent being conned, here are five things to keep an eye out for.
- Do not use a gift card to pay for sales, fees, or refunds. On respectable sites, genuine transactions take happen. As stated by the Federal Trade Commission, if someone asks for the back of your gift card’s serial number, they are defrauding you.
- Anyone attempting to contact or deal with you through means other than Amazon’s website should be avoided.
- Especially if the caller or the email message makes it sound urgent, do not dial or click on any phone numbers or links in emails relating to your account. Look for the company’s customer support phone number or utilise their online chat if you need to contact Amazon. Additionally, Amazon provides detailed instructions on how to check the authenticity of emails and messages, as well as phone conversations.
- Never click a link in a text message unless you’ve examined the sender carefully. If you want a text message gift card from Amazon, you’ll need to text 455-72. Call’s a fraud if it comes from a different phone number.
- You should exercise care while making purchases from Amazon third-party vendors. When it comes to shopping for a decent price, Linda Sherry, director of national priorities at Consumer Action, says that doing your homework is always better than winging it.
You should avoid buying from vendors who don’t have loads of positive feedback from the site’s “confirmed buyers,” according to Sherry. As a general rule, you should study product descriptions and reviews, and if required, use your “Spidey sense” to discern the product’s worth.
According to the author, legitimate dealers would be open and honest about the quality of their items as well as their pricing.
The bottom truth is that online buying carries dangers, and fraudsters realise that Amazon’s huge consumer base affords sufficient opportunities. Consider the possibility that you’ve been duped by a con artist and use your common sense to prevent it.
Use Amazon With Caution
Generally speaking, Amazon.com customers can anticipate to have a positive and dependable experience on the site and with Amazon.
Keep your personal information and money out of the hands of Amazon fraudsters by avoiding the situations outlined above.