Ahead of Black Friday 2025, Amazon has issued an urgent 48-hour security alert to all its UK customers, warning that ignoring the advice could prove very costly. The retail giant is urging heightened vigilance as cybercriminals prepare to exploit the shopping frenzy.
The Impersonation Threat
In an email seen by Mirror Online, Amazon explicitly detailed the risks shoppers face. The busy shopping season, beginning on Friday, November 28, is a prime time for impersonation scams. In these schemes, fraudsters pretend to be from a trusted company like Amazon and contact shoppers in an attempt to steal sensitive personal and financial information.
Amazon cautions that criminals use a variety of sneaky tactics. These include sending fake delivery notifications, falsely claiming your account needs an urgent update, or creating a false sense of urgency to resolve non-existent problems. Victims who fall for these ploys can inadvertently hand over data that leads to stolen money and compromised accounts.
Common Scams to Watch For
The company highlighted the most widespread scams circulating this November. Shoppers should be extremely wary of:
- Bogus messages concerning delivery or account issues.
- Misleading posts on third-party social media platforms promoting deals that seem too good to be true.
- Unofficial requests for passwords or payment details.
- Unfamiliar links urging you to 'verify' account credentials on fake phishing websites.
Amazon will never send emails asking customers to verify their account credentials, a key fact to remember.
Amazon's 5 Golden Rules for Safe Shopping
To help customers navigate the Black Friday sales safely, Amazon has released five crucial rules to follow:
1. Shop Officially: Always conduct your shopping, customer service queries, and account changes directly through the official Amazon mobile app or the Amazon.co.uk website.
2. Payment Safeguards: Amazon will never ask you to make a payment or provide payment information, including gift card details or wire transfers, over the phone.
3. Two-Step Verification: bolster your account security by setting up 2-step verification. You can activate this at amazon.co.uk/2SV.
4. Use a Passkey: For a safer and faster login, consider using a passkey, which uses your device's face, fingerprint, or PIN instead of a password. Set one up at amazon.co.uk/passkey.
5. Beware of Urgency: Scammers often try to panic you into acting quickly. Be very careful any time you are pressured to act immediately.
With a massive weekend of discounts on tech, fashion, and home appliances ahead, staying alert is paramount. Only shop via official websites and be highly sceptical of any unexpected text or email messages that appear out of the blue, especially those containing links to unbelievable deals.
