Scams are getting smarter: 12 ways scammers can trick us on Amazon

Amazon seems like a very convenient way to shop, but it's also becoming increasingly insecure. According to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report, Amazon scams are on the rise. Read more about the scammers told the publication Clark.

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The FTC reports: "From July 2020 to June 2021, approximately one in three people who reported a scam to the US Federal Trade Commission said the scammer claimed to be calling from Amazon."

Losses exceeded $27 million, with an average loss per person of about $1000. The FTC report said the scam "could disproportionately harm seniors."

How to spot a scam on Amazon

There are many types of scams that target Amazon buyers. They can be in the form of a phone call, text message, email, social media post, or browser pop-up. These messages may look like they come directly from Amazon.

Here are some of the most common scams to watch out for.

Understanding Phishing and Smishing Scams

Fraudulent emails regularly appear in people's inboxes. The messages are sometimes different, but in this case they all seem to come from Amazon and contain links, attachments, or phone numbers. All of these messages are designed to steal your personal and financial information.

Fake Order Notifications

When you place an order on Amazon, you usually receive a confirmation email. But scammers also send out fake confirmations listing items you didn't order. You must carefully check every email you receive to make sure it is legitimate.

The scammers send out these fake notifications in the hope that the recipient will feel the need to respond urgently, believing they have been charged for an order they did not place. The email may contain a phone number or a link asking you to sign in and confirm or cancel your order.

When you click on the link, it directs you to a fake Amazon website designed to steal your credentials and payment information. By calling this phone number, you will contact a cybercriminal who will request confidential information.

Fake Prize Notifications

Winning prizes can be very exciting, except when it's a scam. Here are three different ways scammers use "prizes" to steal your information:

• Claim your prize by clicking on the link: this scam may take the form of an email, text message, social media post, or browser pop-up saying that you are eligible to win a prize if you follow a link. Clicking on the link may infect your device with malware and steal your personal information.
• Get a reward for completing the survey: the questions asked can be used to build your profile; this information can be shared with other cybercriminals and shared on the dark web. The information they collect leads to identity and financial theft.
• Get a prize, but pay for shipping: you are prompted to enter billing information to cover shipping costs, but your financial information is stolen instead.

Suspicious activity on Amazon account

Ironically, another common scam is based on the premise of suspicious activity on your account. You receive an email, text message, or phone call notifying you that your account has been suspended due to unusual activity, or it may say that a suspicious purchase has been made from your account, often with a link to a large amount of dollars.

On the subject: Thousands of Americans received suspicious empty envelopes in the mail: experts blame Amazon for this

You will be prompted to follow a link to unlock your account or confirm a payment. The link directs you to a fraudulent website designed to steal your credentials and other personal information.

Fake account

The invoice can look very similar to the actual Amazon invoice, and often the order is for a very expensive item. This should prompt you to quickly cancel the order. If you click on a link or call a phone number, you will be asked to provide personal and credit card information in order to cancel your order and receive a refund. Instead, your information will be stolen and used for fraudulent purposes.

Overpayment Fraud

Among other things, you may receive a message stating that you are entitled to a refund of an overpayment or an erroneous payment. You will be prompted to click on a link to update your billing or contact information. Or the message will include a phone number to call. Do not click on the link and do not call the number. If you do this, you will be asked to provide personal information or remote access to your computer.

Brashing

Another type of scam, known as brushing, is when you receive a package that you never ordered. Usually the package contains an inexpensive lightweight item that costs very little to ship. As a rule, the return address is not indicated on the package.

Fraudsters use orders to write fake reviews using the recipient's name to improve sales statistics and rankings on Amazon.

While this seems somewhat innocent (and you got something for free), this should worry you, because the fact that scammers have your address often means that you were part of a data breach that exposed your personal information to cybercriminals. The stolen data in this case is more than just your name and address. These may include: your social security number, bank account information, credit card information, medical information, usernames, passwords, and other sensitive information.

Porch theft

This is possible if your Amazon account has been compromised. The thief will place the order using your account and then track the delivery. When the package appears at your door, he will steal it.

This is especially dangerous because the thief has access to your Amazon account and payment information.

Fake job offer scam on Amazon

Looking for a new job? There is also a scam for this. Cybercriminals post fake job ads on Amazon. When a victim applies for one of these, the cybercriminal may call and ask for sensitive information such as your social security number or banking details.

It's entirely possible you'll receive a phone call, email, text message, or social media message inviting you to apply for a high-paying job at Amazon. When you answer, a fake Amazon HR representative will ask for your confidential information or tell you to pay an application fee.

Prime Video Subscription Fraud

Some scammers target Amazon Prime Video customers when setting up their accounts. You can click on fraudulent ads or be taken to a fake website that looks like an Amazon Prime Video setup page. You will, say, be prompted to enter a code displayed on the TV screen during installation. You will then be asked to call a phone number to complete the setup. While you call the number, they ask for payment information, passwords, or multi-factor authentication codes.

Amazon review scam

Sometimes you get messages offering to pay you to write a review on Amazon. Instead, you are redirected to a fraudulent website where you are asked to enter your Amazon username, password, or billing information.

Typosquatting - url interception

Another tactic is known as "url grabbing". Fraudsters create fake websites that appear to be legitimate resources from popular companies. These sites may look very authentic with official company logos and a familiar user interface, but the URL is slightly different from the actual web address. If you look carefully, you will notice a spelling mistake, a letter out of place, a missing letter, or some other flaw in the address.

Typically, someone ends up on one of these sites by making a simple typo in the web address. What is wrong with a typo? If you end up on one of these fake sites, you may be prompted to enter a username, password or other sensitive information, which will lead to the theft of your personal data and funds.

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How to protect yourself from Amazon scams

Although scammers are actively trying to rob us, there are several strategies that should be applied to prevent this from happening. The best way to protect yourself is to be aware and suspicious of links and phone numbers. You should be careful to avoid being scammed. These tips will help you:

• Be alert. Before clicking on links, carefully examine and be suspicious of any message requesting information.
• Go directly to your Amazon account. Confirm any purchases or messages by visiting your Amazon order history.
• Change your Amazon password regularly and use a strong unique password for every site you visit. Never use the same password twice.
• Check URLs before clicking on them. Hover over the link and look for anything unusual in the address.
• Add websites you frequently visit to your Favorites list in the browser so you don't have to enter the address each time.
• Be careful when opening attachments. They are often infected with malware.
• Please use a credit card when ordering online. Consider using a credit card solely for online purchases.
• Never look up support phone numbers or email addresses using a search engine. The scammers post fake numbers and email addresses that often appear at the top of the search results list. If you contact them, it will lead to the theft of personal data and funds. Instead, go directly to the Amazon website for support.
• Block any phone numbers which are not obtained from a legitimate source.
• Turn on multi-factor authentication for your Amazon account.

What to do if you have been scammed

If you think you have been scammed, here are a few things you can do:

• Report a scam to Amazon using this link.
• Report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission using this link.
• Call your local police station to report the scam and file a complaint.
• Post a fraud warning on your accounts at all three credit bureaus.
• Contact the lenders and financial institutions you do business with. Let them know that your accounts may have been compromised. They will direct you to their anti-fraud departments and help you take the appropriate steps to protect your accounts.
• Change your Amazon password.
• Keep a record of all steps you take to report and document fraud.

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