Amazon warns customers to beware of impersonation scams. What are they?

Amazon is taking proactive steps to inform its users about potential scams as the holiday shopping season approaches. The e-commerce giant is particularly focused on alerting customers to impersonation scams, where fraudsters pose as Amazon representatives to steal personal data or money.

On November 28, Amazon confirmed to USA TODAY that it has been sending messages to its customers providing guidance on avoiding these scams. The company emphasized that these communications are educational in nature, rather than urgent warnings.

The messages were first sent to U.S. customers in early November, and this week, similar notices have reached users in the United Kingdom.

Amazon Users Are Prime Targets

Amazon has over 310 million active users worldwide, according to AMZScout. In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that one-third of respondents had been contacted by someone claiming to be an Amazon representative. Scammers often pressured individuals, claiming urgent help was needed or that Amazon would take punitive action if they did not comply. Among all impersonation targets, Amazon led with 35%, followed by Apple at 6%.

The FTC recorded about 96,000 reports of targeting, with nearly 6,000 victims reporting financial losses totaling more than $27 million. The median reported loss per individual was $1,000.

Christy Vargas from Amazons public relations team noted that scammers put customers at risk and reaffirmed the companys commitment to protecting users and educating the public. She encouraged users to report suspicious activity to help safeguard accounts and alert law enforcement.

Recognizing Impersonation Scams

Impersonation scams involve criminals pretending to be trusted organizations to extract money or personal information. Scammers use calls, emails, texts, and social media messages to reach their targets, often leveraging customers previous interactions with legitimate businesses.

Common signs of these scams include:

• False urgency: Scammers pressure customers to act quickly.
• Requests for personal information: Asking for addresses, payment details, or account credentials.
• Payments outside Amazon: Soliciting payments through third-party sites or wire transfers.
• Gift card schemes: Requesting gift card numbers, codes, or PINs.
• Unexpected orders: Notifying victims of orders they did not place.

How to Report Suspicious Activity

If a customer receives suspicious messages or calls, Amazon provides several reporting options:

• Shared Amazon account information
• Given remote access to devices
• Reported suspicious products, sellers, or other activities
• Received unsolicited packages

Non-Amazon users can report suspicious communications via email at reportascam@amazon.com. Reports may receive automated responses. Users can also report potential fraud to the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Additional guidance for identifying and reporting scams is available at:

• How to identify scams
• Report scams

Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, Norfolk, Virginia. Email: sdmartin@usatoday.com.

Author: Sophia Brooks