Amazon Scam Calls, Texts and Emails: How to Spot Them and What to Do

Short answer: calls, texts or emails about an Amazon order you didn't place, a "suspicious purchase", a locked account or a refund are a very common scam in the US and UK. Amazon never asks for your password or a one-time code, never asks you to pay outside Amazon, and never asks for gift cards or payment details over the phone. Hang up, and check your orders in the Amazon app or website yourself.

Common Amazon scams

• "Suspicious order" call: an automated voice says an expensive item (often an iPhone) was ordered on your account and asks you to press 1. A fake agent then asks for your login, a code, or remote access to "cancel" it.
• Account locked or suspended: a text or email says your account is on hold and links to a fake sign-in page.
• Refund scam: they say you're owed a refund, get you to log in to your bank with them watching, fake an overpayment and ask you to send the difference back.
• Prime renewal: a message says your Prime membership is renewing at a high price and gives a number to cancel.
• Gift card requests: any "Amazon" caller asking you to buy gift cards is a scammer.

How to check if it's really Amazon

1. Open the Amazon app or type amazon.com yourself and look at Your Orders. If the order isn't there, the message is fake.
2. Check Message Centre in your Amazon account: genuine Amazon emails about your account also appear there.
3. Need help? Contact Amazon customer service from the app or website, not from a number in a message.

How to report an Amazon scam

• Send suspicious emails, with the message attached, to reportascam@amazon.com.
• US: report calls and texts to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and forward scam texts to 7726.
• UK: forward texts to 7726 and emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. If you lost money, report to Action Fraud.

Gave them details or money?

1. Change your Amazon password and turn on two-step verification.
2. Call your bank on the number on your card if you shared card details, logged in to your bank, or sent money.
3. If you bought gift cards for them, contact the gift card company immediately with the card numbers: unused balances can sometimes be frozen.

More help: sent money to a scammer? and fake renewal invoice emails.