Amazon customers are being urged to watch out for a new scam that could see them lose thousands of pounds. Criminals are impersonating the retail giant, using convincing phone calls to target shoppers.
The scam appears to be working on some people, with many falling victim and reporting they have lost substantial sums of money. According to Report Fraud, scammers stole more than £86,000 from victims during October alone.
How the scam works
This marks a concerning shift in approach from scammers. Instead of using emails or text messages, they are now calling people directly while posing as Amazon employees.
They claim suspicious items have been added to the victim's Amazon basket. To make the story sound more convincing, they tell the user a delivery address that does not belong to the customer and suggest someone is trying to use their bank card to make online purchases.
The caller states there is a way to halt the sale of the unauthorised goods and secure the account. However, this is where the real danger lies.
Remote access risk
The caller is encouraged to share their screen through messaging apps and hand over sensitive documents for verification purposes. In addition, some people are told to download remote access software.
Once installed on your device, this allows fraudsters to take control and potentially access personal information.
Official warnings
Chief Superintendent Amanda Wolf, Head of Report Fraud Operations, said: "Fraudsters are increasingly successful when they can make their approach feel ordinary.
"A call about an account issue, a delivery problem or suspicious activity can catch any of us off guard, particularly when it appears to come from a brand we know and trust. The best defence is to pause.
"Criminals want people to react quickly; we want people to take a moment, challenge what they're being told and verify it through a trusted route. Whether somebody claims to be from Amazon, your bank, the police or any other organisation, don't feel pressured into acting immediately.
"End the conversation, find the genuine contact details yourself and make contact independently. A few moments of caution can make all the difference."
An Amazon spokesperson said: "Scammers that attempt to impersonate Amazon put consumers at risk, and there are a variety of scams that ask people to make payments by email, phone, or text for items or services.
"Be wary any time someone tries to convince you that you must act now - scammers may try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they're asking, and they use convincing tactics to reel consumers in.
"We encourage consumers to report suspected scams to us so that we can protect their accounts and refer bad actors to law enforcement to help keep them safe."
How to stay safe
Amazon users are being told there are easy ways to avoid becoming a victim of the scam. Legitimate companies, banks and police officers will never phone you out of the blue to transfer money or ask for sensitive information.
If you receive a suspicious call, do not be afraid to hang up. Never follow instructions to download software, share your screen or hand over personal documents.
