Online shopping giant Amazon have released warnings of scams specific to their brand as we enter the final two weeks of online shopping prior to Christmas.
Amazon - the world’s largest retailer and the sixth-largest company on the planet according to Forbes - have issued brand-specific scam warnings to all its customers via email in a bid to protect consumers and its corporate image.
There are a multitude of scams that exist to try and dupe retailers, especially at this time of year as people head online to search for gifts and bargains.
We recently published a round-up of just some of the scams doing the rounds, but now Amazon have released a warning of scams specific to the shopping titan.
"Stay safe from scammers this holiday season by getting to know their most common scams", they announce, before listings the scams.
If you're an Amazon customer, have a read of the scams that the company themselves are eager to tell you about.
Order Confirmation Scams - these are unexpected calls/texts/emails that often refer to an unauthorised purchase and ask you to act urgently to confirm or cancel the purchase. These scammers try to convince you to provide payment or bank account information, install software to your computer/device, or purchase gift cards.
If you received correspondence regarding an order you weren't expecting, you can verify orders by logging into your Amazon account. Only legitimate purchases will appear in your order history - and Customer Service is available 24/7 to assist.
Tech Support Scams - scammers create fake Amazon websites claiming to provide tech support for your devices and Amazon services. Customers who land on these pages are lured to contact the scammer and fall prey to their schemes.
Go directly to the help section of the Amazon website when seeking help with Amazon devices or services. If you do use a search engine, use caution. Legitimate Amazon websites contain "amazon.com" such as "amazon.com/support".
Here are some important tips so that you can identify scams and keep your account and information safe:
Trust Amazon-owned channels. Always go through the Amazon mobile app or website when seeking customer service, tech support, or when looking to make changes to your account.
Be wary of false urgency. Scammers may try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they're asking. Be wary any time someone tries to convince you that you must act now.
Never pay over the phone. Amazon will never ask you to provide payment information, including gift cards (or “verification cards”, as some scammers call them) for products or services over the phone.
If you receive correspondence you think may not be from Amazon, please report it to them. For more information on how to stay safe online, visit Security & Privacy on the Amazon Customer Service page.
Additional resources:
Tips to determine if an email, phone call, text message, or webpage is really from Amazon.
If you're concerned about your account security, go to Protect Your System for tips and recommendations.
Reporting
Report all Fraud and Cybercrime to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or online. Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. Report SMS scams by forwarding the original message to 7726 (spells SPAM on the keypad).