Say No to the Amazon Scam

The best way to deal with a scammer is not to allow him access to you.

Everyone has caller ID by now, right? Don't answer a call if you don't know who is calling. If an unknown caller is someone you need to talk to they will leave a message and you can call them back.

If somehow you do answer a call and the caller sounds suspicious hang up immediately.

If you think somehow your credit card is at risk call the credit card company at the number on the back of your card and check the last few charges.

If you think your bank account is at risk call the bank or log in to your bank account and check the last few transactions.

Here are some links about common scams:

https://www.scamspotter.org/?gclid=...EcwEoCtM3cuk9QTWFVyuu8Gbhn08DT34aAoiAEALw_wcB

https://amacfoundation.org/elder-fr...SNuIMuem2TM-uCoi9RAmDpcqOHc71dFAaAmlHEALw_wcB
 

Gaer said:
I just got an e-mail warning me about Amazon scams,
but I'm not going to click on it!
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I got the same email from Amazon yesterday. I didn't bother opening it, because I think I'm smart enough to spot scams. But having said that, I admit that I never questioned whether it was from Amazon or not.
 
@Myrtle Thank you. That was a thorough and concise list. Very helpful.
Myrtle said:
Everyone has caller ID by now, right? Don't answer a call if you don't know who is calling. If an unknown caller is someone you need to talk to they will leave a message and you can call them back.
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Relying on caller ID has it's drawback sometimes. I've missed some important calls that way. Sometimes it's more important to me to talk to the caller than for the caller to talk to me, so doesn't leave a message. Great informative list though Myrtle. TY again.
 
Of course the same advice won't work for everyone's situation but it has for me. I hope we'll all be safe. We need our money more than the scammers do. :)

Pepper said:
I don't have Caller ID on my landline. I almost never answer this phone and most calls never leave a message.
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JustBonee said:
Maybe we've reached a point in time when we just need to think SPAM first ... sad, but if we didn't initiate the communication, be suspicious.
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Be suspicious is good advice, JustBonee. :) Apparently seniors are the most scammed group. Sometimes the scams that happen are just heartbreaking.
 
I'm really sure what Facetime is. But, Lara, you said you made changes to your Amazon accts. via Facetime. Why didn't you directly use the Amazon site? Like I said I'm not familiar with Facetime.
BTW, when the internet was started, one of the selling points was that you could connect with anyone, anywhere. That also means anyone can connect with you, anywhere. It irritates me that if I click on Home Depot to buy a widget, then there will be widget ads all over the place.
 
I'm sorry that happened to you Lara, but I'm glad you were smart and didn't give those scammers your personal info over the phone. You did the right thing. It's a shame how many corrupt people are trying to steal from others these days.
 
MarkinPhx said:
I think that even the most level headed people sometimes panic in such situations and common sense escapes them for a few moments and all it takes is a few moments for the scammers to get what they need. Thankfully Laura did not have such a panic moment !

I kind of relate it to having a flat tire on the highway. Everyone has been told what to do in such an event since they were teens but when that flat tire actually does happen on the highway some panic (understandably) and forget all the safety precautions that has been ingrained in their head.
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I can appreciate your example ....
Perhaps people besides panic,........ Some are just accustomed to responding or doing things "right now " as opposed to taking a moment to analyze and use critical thinking in the situation........be it a scam or flat tire.

I have said before... I worked for a large company obsessed with phishing prevention etc and sent regular series of "Tests " and the people who failed consistently were those who scanned emails NOT READING and then clicked on some random link. Froze their computer for an hour and they had remedial classes with security. That did not help with their Rush in finishing their work at all.

I believe as OP pointed out....... she realized many items that simply did not add up.

Several people do not see or appreciate ........unraveling things once you fall for something is more costly and definitely more time consuming then taking the time up front to look for all red flags. Or even possible flags....... i would rather contact my bank for a maybe that turns out legit then try to undo real damage.

I have seen a scam package delivery issue text from FED EX ..........but the link URL says FED EZ
Many other simple flags people overlook.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I'm really sure what Facetime is. But, Lara, you said you made changes to your Amazon accts. via Facetime. Why didn't you directly use the Amazon site? Like I said I'm not familiar with Facetime.
BTW, when the internet was started, one of the selling points was that you could connect with anyone, anywhere. That also means anyone can connect with you, anywhere. It irritates me that if I click on Home Depot to buy a widget, then there will be widget ads all over the place.
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That's a browser targeted ads issue, can be easily fixed.
 
Lara said:
This scam is rampant right now according to my fraud department. I never thought I'd go this far with scammers but they were so good. I just opened an Amazon account yesterday and it was complicated because I was on with my daughter but wanted my own account. So we made the change together on Facetime. I worried at the time if info we were sharing could be hacked via Facetime.

A woman with an Indian accent called me today saying she was "from Amazon" and noticed that 15 accounts had been opened in my name in NY and had already purchased a computer for $1,400. She tried to get my CC and SS card information from me to help me stop this fast. When I said no and that I would just call "my bank" about it myself she asked for the name of my bank so she could call them for me, she sounded so smart and caring that I half believed her.

She then transferred me to a man with the same Indian accent saying he was from my "bank" and wanted my account number or social security number. I said no, I wanted to call the my fraud department. He immediately transferred me to my "fraud department", another guy with an Indian accent.

You would not believe what he told me I had to do. He said he was going to call my local sheriff to come to my house and give me a new social security card and that I should take that to a place to get all my bank money from there asap...but he said it wouldn't be cash but rather all on a card. I said I'm going to hang up now and he said, "If you hang up the government will never give you your money back for that computer purchase...I said I'm going to call my fraud department myself right now and hung up.

I called the fraud department and he said this is the most common scam going on right now and many people are losing all their money.

My bank's fraud department found no fraudulent activity on my account regarding Amazon purchases but gave me a Provisional Credit for $888 for monies taken by someone named "Mary from FL" of Verizon (I live in NC) in a very nefarious way...until the Fraud department can investigate.
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Wow! Thanks for the info.
 
Anybody else getting all their photos and documents delected from icloud unless they come up with some kind of payment? I get at least one email a day warning me about this. Today I got two. One of them was typed in a weird looking font, with every letter changing from one font style to another. Who on earth would ever believe that? (I always just ignore it, but they don't give up.)
 
ElCastor said:
I get scam email, purportedly from Amazon, on an almost daily basis. Not Amazon’s fault. Just the thieves that plague the Internet and our phone lines. It’s a shame that law enforcement doesn’t devote a little time to pursuing these jackasses.
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Yes. And other companies also including Xfinity which I have. When you hover over the e mail without clicking on it the e mail, the sender is usually something totally weird like lpyyz256009@whatever.....
 
Jeni said:
what amazes me with all the red flags in what you wrote .... wonder how many fall for this stuff..... who would give them any of this stuff
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Seriously. The accent alone showing up in multiple people should be a tip off if nothing else. ;)
 
This from Amazon.com:


Here are some important tips to identify scams and keep your account and information safe:​


1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Verify links first.​

Legitimate Amazon websites contain "amazon.com" or "amazon.com/support." Go directly to our website when seeking help with Amazon devices/services, orders or to make changes to your account.

For more information on how to stay safe online, visit Security & Privacy on the Amazon Customer Service page.


If you receive communication — a call, text, or email — that you think may not be from Amazon, please report it to us at, amazon.com/reportascam.
 

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