Amazon can be a convenient way to shop, but it can be an increasingly risky proposition.
According to a report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Amazon scams are on the rise. The agency says, “From July 2020 through June 2021, about one in three people who reported a business impersonator to the FTC said the scammer claimed to be calling from Amazon.”
Reported losses exceeded $27 million with the median loss per person being about $1,000. The FTC report says this scam “may be disproportionately harming older adults.”
Warning: Avoid Scams on Amazon
There are many types of scams that target Amazon shoppers. They can come in the form of a phone call, text message, email, social media post or a browser pop-up. These messages can look like they are coming directly from Amazon.
Here are some of the most common scams to watch out for.
General Phishing and Smishing Scams
Email scams are regularly showing up in people’s inboxes. The messages are sometimes different, but in this case, they all appear to be coming from Amazon and contain links, attachments or phone numbers. All of these messages intend to steal your personal and financial information.
Fake Order Notifications
When you place an Amazon order, you typically receive an email confirmation. But scammers also send fake confirmations which list items that you did not order. You should carefully review every email you get to ensure that it is legitimate.
Scammers send these fake notifications hoping that…
