BBB Scam Alert: Phony Amazon callers are phishing for your info
By Better Business Bureau. February 3, 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic has people shopping online and ordering from Amazon. Naturally,
scammers are finding ways to cash in. Better Business Bureau is receiving reports that con artists are posing as Amazon employees,
calling people, and claiming to need information about
their account or that something is wrong with an order.
BBB warns to be on the lookout for suspicious calls and emails because in some cases, it looks
like the call is coming from BBB.
How the Scam Works:
The phone rings and when answered, it is a recorded message claiming to be from Amazon
stating there is a problem with your Amazon account. The messages range from a fraudulent
charge on your Prime card to a lost or damaged package to an unfulfilled order for an iPhone. But no matter what the recording is,
these scammers have the same goal: getting your
personal information. The con artists will either outright ask for credit card and account login details. Or, they will request
remote access to your computer under the guise of "helping" to solve
the issue.
The Federal Trade Commission published examples of these scam calls.
There is a confusing twist on this scam. The con artists are spoofing other organizations' phone
numbers to help disguise their calls and lend them credibility - including BBB's number! That
means they probably using other phone numbers too, so watch out.
How to Spot this Scam:
Be skeptical of email and unsolicited calls. Some departments at Amazon will call customers, but Amazon will never ask you to
disclose or verify sensitive personal information or
offer you a refund you do not expect. Amazon will never ask you to make a payment outside of
their website and will never ask you for remote access to your device.
Ignore unsolicited messages that ask for personal information. Amazon will also never
send you an unsolicited message that asks you to provide sensitive personal information, such
as your tax ID, bank account number or credit card information.
Ignore calls for immediate action. Scammers try to get you to act before you think by creating a sense of urgency. Dont' fall for it.
Beware of requests to pay via wire transfer, prepaid debit card or CashApp (such as
MoneyPak, iTunes or similar cards). These are almost always a sign of fraud.
Report it to Amazon. Any customer that receives a questionable email or call from a person impersonating an Amazon employee report
them to Amazon customer service. Amazon
investigates these complaints and will takes action, if warranted.
For More Information
Read BBB's tips on phishing scams and tips for online shopping safely. Learn how to identify whether a call or message is really from Amazon.
If you've gotten a phony call or been the victim of another scam, make others aware by filing a
report on BBB Scam Tracker.
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