Martin Lewis, the founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, has issued an urgent warning about Amazon scams after revealing he nearly became a victim himself. The personal finance guru, known for his consumer advice on ITV and podcasts, said the incident demonstrates that scams 'can happen to anyone'.
Lewis Details the Scam Attempt
In a post on X on Thursday, July 16, 2026, Lewis recounted receiving a WhatsApp call from someone claiming to be from Amazon while he was in a studio preparing for a recording. 'I got a Whatsapp call from 'Amazon',' he wrote, explaining that his mind was preoccupied. The caller asked if he had ordered a new iPhone, citing 'reports of suspected fraud'.
Lewis said he replied that he had not placed such an order. The caller then instructed him to cancel it and sent a six-digit code to reply to. 'I was feeling rushed and pressured, as the team needed to record, but finally enough of my brain turned onto the call and alarm bells started,' Lewis added.
How He Avoided the Scam
When Lewis asked to verify the call's legitimacy, the caller became pushy, insisting that if he did not send the code, the iPhone would still be dispatched. This raised red flags: 'Why would he want to risk sending a high value item, if the customer says it wasn't ordered?' Lewis queried.
While still on the call, Lewis searched the telephone number and confirmed it was a recognised 'Amazon scam number'. He believes that had he replied with the code, 'he would have then asked for further details and that would've started the data mine'.
Lessons Learned
Lewis admitted that answering the call inadvertently confirmed his number was active, a consequence he will have to manage. He emphasised the 'real lesson' was 'how sophisticated and plausible it was'. 'And even though I'm obviously hyper-alert to scams as my face is in half of them, catch someone at the wrong time, when they're not paying attention, and anyone can be caught out!' he wrote.
Amazon's Advice on Suspicious Communications
Amazon advises customers who receive suspicious emails, calls, or messages claiming to be from the company to verify them before taking action. The company asks recipients to forward messages to verify@amazon.com or submit them via their website. Those without an Amazon account can report scams at reportascam@amazon.com. Amazon also identifies scam trends to help customers stay aware of common tactics.
