Amazon has issued a warning to its 220 million Prime members regarding increased phishing attempts impersonating the company to illicitly obtain personal and financial information.
Scammers are sending fraudulent correspondence, often via email, text, or phone calls, claiming to be Amazon. These attempts aim to steal data such as Social Security numbers, bank details, or Amazon account credentials. In 2024, Amazon reported taking down over 55,000 phishing websites and 12,000 phone numbers associated with these impersonation schemes.
Amazon observed an increase in reports concerning fake emails, with more than two-thirds of these scams related to fabricated order or account issues. These reports frequently involve scammers asserting that a user has made an unauthorized purchase and then soliciting account information for “verification.” Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon’s Vice President of Selling Partner Services, stated, “Scammers who attempt to impersonate Amazon put consumers at risk. Although these scams take place outside our store, we will continue to invest in protecting consumers and educating the public on how to avoid scams.”
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Malwarebytes also issued an alert about fake emails falsely claiming an Amazon Prime subscription will auto-renew at an unforeseen price. Such emails may incorporate personal data acquired from external sources to enhance their credibility. They might also feature a “cancel subscription” button that redirects to a fraudulent Amazon login page. If a user enters their credentials on this fake page, scammers gain access, potentially compromising their actual Amazon account and other online accounts utilizing the same login details. These fraudulent pages may also prompt users for payment information and other sensitive data.
Amazon is working to educate customers on scam prevention. The company has implemented a secure email capability for users of Gmail, Yahoo!, and other major email providers, displaying the Amazon smile logo in their inboxes. Amazon advises consumers to verify purchases on its platform, rely on the official app and website, and understand that Amazon will never request payment over the phone or email. They also caution against false urgency and note that Amazon will never ask customers to purchase a gift card. If uncertainty arises, direct contact with Amazon is recommended.
