UK Amazon shoppers are being warned about a sophisticated scam involving fake product recall texts. Consumer watchdog Which? has identified fraudulent messages that appear to come from Amazon, alerting customers to non-existent safety recalls and directing them to phishing websites designed to steal login credentials.
The scam text, sent from a spoofed UK mobile number, claims that a purchased item is being recalled and instructs recipients to stop using it immediately. It then provides a link to claim a full refund. Which? analysed the link and found it leads to a fake website that mimics Amazon's official login page, tricking users into entering their email or phone number and password.
Which? reported the fraudulent website to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and shared the link with Amazon, which confirmed it was fake. The website was registered just last week, highlighting the ongoing threat. Scammers use the stolen details for future fraud, such as unauthorised purchases or identity theft.
Amazon advised customers to be wary of any message creating a sense of urgency and to avoid clicking on links in unsolicited texts. Instead, users should log into their account directly via the official Amazon website to verify any recall claims. The company encourages reporting suspicious messages to reportascam@amazon.com.
To protect accounts, security experts recommend updating passwords immediately and enabling two-factor authentication. Consumers are urged to treat any unsolicited communication claiming to be from Amazon with scepticism and to verify information through official channels.
