Can you get scammed on Amazon? Absolutely! If you shop on Amazon, it’s essential to know what red flags to look out for. Our cybersecurity experts have compiled a list of 15 common Amazon scams, and we offer useful tips on how to protect yourself.
Here are a few examples of Amazon scams that can really compromise your wallet, account or device:
- External payments: The Amazon scammer will ask you to go off Amazon and pay through a different service.
- Amazon phishing scams: You’ll be tricked into giving out private information via email, text or phone. Links can also be malware.
- Fake product listings: Scammers will rate a fake or non-existent product highly, convincing people to buy it.
- Mirror websites: Amazon scammers will create websites that look like Amazon, then hijack your account once you click on the fake Amazon website link. Malware injection is also a danger.
The list goes on! Below, we go into depth on the 15 most common Amazon scams. Keep in mind that many of these are far less likely to impact you if you’re using a VPN.
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Continue reading for more information about Amazon scams. We provide safety tips and explain how to report scams to Amazon.
Next time you shop on Amazon, watch out for cybercriminals! Thanks to its popularity, Amazon is rife with scammers looking to pull a fast one on unsuspecting shoppers.
Since scammers come up with new ways to cheat people out of their money, it’s crucial to spot red flags. We’ve listed 15 of the most common Amazon scams you need to watch out for.
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15 Most Common Amazon Scams
Amazon scams are widespread. As with PayPal scams, people usually don’t know they’re being targeted until it’s too late.
But what are the most common Amazon scams? Our cybersecurity researchers have taken a hard look at the underbelly of online shopping and rounded up 15 Amazon scams to look out for.
1. Phishing scams (phone, text, email)
Phishing is a common scamming technique. Whether by call, text message, or email, it remains one of the biggest threats to online security.
In a phishing email or text message, you’re often invited to click on a link.
If you click the link, chances are you’ll end up on a malicious website with scammers out to harvest any data you enter or else infect your device with malware.
You might also receive a phishing phone call. A scammer will be out to still your login details, payment info, or address.
How it works:
- You’ll receive a phone call on your personal number from someone claiming to work for Amazon.
- They’ll tell you there’s a problem with your account. To “fix it,” they need to confirm your personal details.
- You’re asked to share sensitive information, not realizing you’re talking to a scammer.
Keep in Mind
Amazon never asks for personal information over the phone or via email. Even if you share seemingly unimportant information, like your name and address, it could result in identity theft.
NordVPN works in the background of your devices and will detect phishing attempts via text or email. The VPN will block malicious websites before you fall victim to a scammer.
2. Refund scam
Another common Amazon fraud involves fake refund notifications. Scammers will reach out to you, promising a refund for an item you’ve ordered. They may also tell you somebody made an unauthorized purchase on your account, and you can get your money back.
How it works:
- You receive an email that claims you’re due a refund.
- You’re asked to click on a link — that will lead you to a malicious website — or call a number, which connects you to a scammer.
- Malware infects your device via a fake site, or you’ll be tricked into giving up personal information that can be used to hijack your account.
Refunds and free money back are tempting, which is why scammers use them. Just remember you’ll likely be aware of or expecting a refund. So make sure not to bite on random communication.
3. “Mystery box” scam
The concept of a “mystery box” is that you buy a box online that may be filled with valuable goodies.
The thrill of not knowing what products you might get is similar to gambling — and just like gambling, you can lose big time.
How it works:
- You come across a “mystery box” on Amazon that may contain high-value items for a very low price tag.
- You gamble on getting the valuable item and buy the box.
- When you receive the box, it contains something with low or zero value, and you’ve lost your money.
Some mystery boxes are legit. But this doesn’t stop scammers from hijacking the idea to orchestrate scams.
Don’t buy anything you’re unsure about! Amazon won’t refund you simply because the items are of lower value than you expected.
4. External payment service scam
In this scam, Amazon fraudsters will trick shoppers into paying for items with cash transfers, circumventing Amazon’s official payment system.
How it works:
- Amazon scammers create a product listing for an item that looks legitimate, but likely doesn’t exist. They may pay people to write fake reviews to make the product look real.
- When you try to buy the item, the seller sends you a message asking you to pay outside of Amazon, for example through Venmo or Zelle.
- If you follow through, you transfer money directly to the scammer.
Since you’ve paid externally, you’re not covered by Amazon’s buyer protection.
Watch Out
In some cases, cyber criminals might convince you to visit a malicious third-party website to steal your payment details or login credentials. Make sure you keep yourself protected with NordVPN, which has a Threat Protection tool against malware.
5. Bait-and-switch scam: fake products
We’re prone to checking reviews before we buy something. Scammers will use fake Amazon reviews to trick buyers into purchasing fake or low-quality products.
How it works:
- Fraudulent sellers hijack old product listings that have positive reviews.
- They sub out the existing product details and images with their information — usually a counterfeit or poor-quality item.
- Since the reviews are so positive for the original product, you’ll see the product at the top of your search results with good ratings.
- If you buy the product, you’ll be sent a fake item lower in value than the original, or you may get nothing.
Sometimes the fraudulent reviews are from a different item entirely. If you don’t actually read the reviews, you may be duped into buying a bum product. Make sure to sift through them to see if they’re actually reviews of what you want to buy.
6. Gift card scam
Gift card fraud has reached astronomical heights. Scammers may approach you positively (“You’ve won a prize!”) or try to scare you (“You need to pay a fine!”), but the end goal is the same: make you pay for gift cards.
How it works:
- Scammers will use leaked data (your email address or phone number) to contact you.
- You’ll be told to click a link to claim a prize, or you might receive a fake invoice or fine.
- You’re told to buy gift cards to unlock the prize or compensate for the fine by providing the code on the back of the gift cards to the scammers.
Why Gift Cards?
Gift cards are a common choice among criminals who launder money. The funds are far harder to trace than monetary transfers. This makes it more likely that criminals can get away.
Gift card fraud is no joke. According to Capital One, one in four Americans has been target of a gift card scam.
If someone ever asks you to buy gift cards for an unusual reason, you’re likely dealing with an Amazon scammer. Make sure you also watch out for scammers trying to get you to reveal your gift card PIN or number under the pretext of “verifying your card balance.”
7. Fake Amazon websites
Scammers are known to create fake websites that look like Amazon’s site to hijack your account.
How it works:
- Scammers create fake websites that mirror legitimate Amazon websites. These fake Amazon websites usually have a similar URL — like Amazan.com or Amazon-shopping.com — to mislead victims.
- They leverage common phishing tactics to drive unsuspecting victims to these websites directly. Often, this is done through emails like the one below.
- If you enter your login details into the website, a keylogger will send these details to the scammers, allowing them to hijack your account.
Our usual recommendations for avoiding phishing scams apply here — don’t click on links in emails. To visit Amazon, type the URL directly into your browser. We recommend using NordVPN to block malicious websites and files while browsing.
8. Missed delivery scam
Online shopping is so common that it’s easy to forget you have a delivery scheduled. When you receive an email saying you have missed a package, you may feel the urge to reschedule the delivery. Via malicious links, you’ll end up being scammed.
How it works:
- You receive an email telling you that you’ve missed a delivery, and you’re asked to click on a link to reschedule it.
- If you click the link, you’re taken to a clone website of a legitimate delivery company’s website.
- The fraudulent website tells you that there’s an unpaid delivery fee of a few dollars.
By paying a small sum on a malicious website, scammers can capture your payment method.
Pro Tip
Most delivery companies will put a card through your door if you miss a parcel. Even if they don’t, avoid clicking on any links in unsolicited email. If it is a genuine delivery, the company will almost invariably try again.
9. Customer service scam
In this scam — sometimes referred to as help desk fraud — criminals will post fake numbers online that supposedly let you talk to Amazon customer support. When victims call, scammers will use the opportunity to ask for remote access to devices, personal information, or even payment for their support service.
How it works:
- Fraudsters will advertise fake numbers online, claiming these are official numbers to talk to a customer support agent. They’ll try and make this look legitimate and push the result to the top of search engines.
- When Amazon customers end up calling the number, the scammers will pretend to be computer technicians or other Amazon agents trying to help you.
- If you end up giving out private information, this will be used to scam you.
Make sure to only use communication via the official Amazon site. Amazon will only call you if you request a customer service call.
10. Amazon brushing scam
Ever wondered why you’ve been getting random Amazon packages that you didn’t order? While it could be a mistake, it might be an Amazon brushing scam.
A brushing scam occurs when customers are sent unsolicited items that are then used to generate “verified purchase” reviews.
How it works:
- A malicious seller gets hold of your details and uses them to send you products.
- The Amazon seller can then use the fake orders to write Amazon reviews in your name, promoting their scam products instead.
- Fake reviews entice more people to buy the item, who, in turn, get swindled — and your details may be used for other scams.
The best way to avoid being a victim of Amazon brushing scams is to ensure your cybersecurity is up to scratch. Stop crooks from getting hold of your details in the first place by installing NordVPN.
This VPN encrypts your data, making it harder for third parties to hack your traffic.
11. Amazon jobs scam
This is an elaborate scam where cyber criminals will reach out to you with offers for non-existent jobs with Amazon. In exchange for training materials, you’ll be tempted into giving out your personal information.
How it works:
- Scammers will reach out to you via email, text or phone (usually after your data has been leaked somewhere else).
- They’ll pretend to be recruiters offering job opportunities at Amazon.
- In exchange for training courses, they’ll retrieve personal information from you that can be used against you.
Make sure you also watch out for fake job listings on social media. Scammers may pretend to be former Amazon employees, eager to recruit you. Keep in mind that Amazon won’t ask you to pay money for an interview or selection materials.
12. Amazon Prime Video scams
In this scam, Amazon Prime members will receive calls or emails that inform them of issues with their Prime Video account or subscription. In order to “fix the problem,” payment details, login credentials, and even bank account and credit card details will be requested.
How it works:
- Scammers will impersonate Amazon employees reaching out to talk to you about potential Amazon account fraud (the irony!) that applies to your Prime subscription.
- They’ll claim there’s an issue with the account that requires them to confirm some account information.
- Amazon Prime scams also convince customers the problem is urgent — making it more likely you’ll give up your private details.
13. Fake discount coupons
Scammers will promote Amazon discount coupons and try to get Amazon shoppers to click on malicious links or give up sensitive data.
How it works:
- A scammer will copy legitimate coupons and distribute the counterfeit coupons via email, social media, or other sites.
- They will convince people to exchange personal information for the coupons.
- Alternatively, they will invite users to click on coupon links and plant malware instead.
The best VPNs are designed to spot fraudulent or dangerous websites. You can use NordVPN’s browser extension to do the work for you while you’re shopping online.
14. “Write a review” scam
During shopping periods with great discounts and sales, threat actors will tempt you to “get paid to write Amazon reviews.”
How it works:
- You’ll receive a text or email that tells you you can receive money in return for writing product reviews on Amazon.
- A fraudulent link in the email will take you to a fake Amazon site.
- The moment you enter your details to leave a review, a scammer will have access to payment information, username, password, and more.
15. Account suspension scam
A really vicious scamming technique involves convincing people their Amazon accounts are about to be suspended, tempting them into providing info to reinstate it.
How it works:
- You’ll receive a phone call or email telling you your Amazon account won’t work for much longer.
- The scammer uses urgency to get you to respond quickly if you wish to prevent your account from being suspended.
- Once you give out your personal information, the scammer has what they want!
Pro Tip:
If in doubt, delete the message, and log into your account to see if you’re actually at risk of being suspended or not. You can always reach out to Amazon’s customer support if you suspect something may be wrong.
The concerning thing about Amazon scams is that they can look very real! Keep reading to find out how to recognize the signs you’re about to be scammed.
If you’d rather protect your devices right away, have a look at our list of best VPNs right now to see how VPN providers can protect you.
How to Tell You’re Being Scammed on Amazon
Now that we’ve listed the Amazon scams to watch out for, it’s time to go over how you can recognize that someone is trying to scam you.
Be wary of the following things:
- Suspicious links: As you’ve seen, many Amazon email scams rely on links that lead to fake sites or contain malware. Make sure you verify the source before you click on any link.
- “Amazon representatives” reaching out: It’s highly unlikely Amazon will ever contact you over the phone unless you request a customer service call. If a stranger calls you out of the blue, end the call as soon as possible.
- Dodgy reviews: If something feels off about a review, make sure you click on the reviewer’s name to see a full list of all of the reviews they’ve left on Amazon. This gives an indication of whether a review account is real.
- Something seems too good to be true: Whether it’s a prize, a coupon, or a great discount on an expensive product, be wary of any message claiming you can “make easy money” or receive products for free.
Psychological tricks to watch out for
Hackers are getting better and better at tricking us. They will try to manipulate us emotionally into giving up private information.
They will exaggerate the urgency of a situation, threatening you with fake invoices, account suspension and time limits. We always recommend verifying any problems with Amazon’s actual customer support team.
On top of that, they will try to convince you they’re legit by copying Amazon’s style of communication. However, pay attention to the details and you’ll find that email addresses are unusual or you’re never addressed by your name.
Finally, keep in mind that Amazon will never ask for your personal data — they already have it in your account! Don’t share personal and financial information over the phone or via email.
How to Protect Yourself From Amazon Scams
As we round up our whistle-stop tour of Amazon scams, we’ve got some tips on how to protect yourself.
- Use a VPN for online protection. NordVPN has built-in malware protection and will encrypt all your data. It creates a buffer between you and online scammers.
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- Avoid external payment services. Always pay for items within Amazon’s ecosystem and not on third-party apps — it’ll stop you from losing money without recourse.
- Ignore attachments: Besides malicious links, phishing emails may carry malware-laced attachments that can compromise your computer.
- Don’t call phone numbers in texts or emails. If you need to speak to Amazon customer service representatives, use the Amazon customer support page on the company’s official website. Alternatively, take the official phone number directly from the Amazon website, or request a customer service call.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). Even if a third party gets access to your Amazon password, they won’t be able to log into your account if you have 2FA enabled. See our guide to setting up 2FA for more information.
- Use the Amazon app. Your phone’s Amazon app remains logged in at all times. You can quickly check on the status of your account or your orders without having to input your credentials, limiting the risk of being hacked.
- Don’t reply to scam emails. You may be tempted to tell scammers off — we are sometimes! But all you’re doing is confirming to them that your email or phone number is in use. And you might end up getting more phishing attempts as a result.
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What to Do If You Are Scammed on Amazon
If you’ve fallen victim to a scam on Amazon or you receive a suspicious message, you can report it to Amazon. Amazon has an entire team dedicated to combating scams and detecting Amazon account unusual activity.
If you receive a phishing email, you can report it in one of two ways:
- By sending the email as an attachment to [email protected]
- By forwarding the email to [email protected]
While Amazon prefers attachments, we recommend choosing the second option and simply forwarding it.
Some phishing emails contain attachments that are riddled with malware. Don’t risk downloading or opening the wrong thing — simply forward the email, delete it, and don’t think about it again.
It’s also worth checking with your credit card company to monitor for any suspicious transactions. If you’re worried about identity theft, check out LifeLock identity theft protection.
Will Amazon refund me if I get scammed?
You’re unlikely to get a refund if you’re scammed — but it depends. Like PayPal, Amazon has strict rules for getting a refund.
We’ve skimmed through the terms and conditions, and you aren’t likely to have much luck. However, the Amazon A-Z Guarantee details exactly when you are and aren’t covered.
Final Thoughts: Stay Safe From Amazon Scams
Amazon scams are rife due to the popularity of the e-commerce website. Most of them rely on age-old phishing tactics to reel in victims. Don’t ever give out your personal information to anyone. Also, be wary of surprise discounts or gift cards.
If you’re unsure about an email, you can always report it directly to Amazon.
With the rise in cybersecurity threats, a VPN provides a key layer of protection — especially when shopping or handling other finance-related activities online. For a low price of $ 3.39 per month, you’ll be fully secured with NordVPN!
Want to learn more about shopping online safely? Check out the articles below for more information.
- Tips for a Safer Online Shopping Experience
- How to Be Safe Online: Cyber Hygiene Tips
- The Best CyberSecurity Tools to Protect Yourself
Do you have questions about Amazon scams? We’ve covered some of them in the FAQ section below.
If you receive an Amazon scam email, forward it to [email protected] and delete it. Never click on any of the links in the message.
If you’ve already been scammed, contact Amazon to see if you’re eligible for a refund. Depending on your region, you should also report it to the authorities. For example:
- Action Fraud in the United Kingdom
- Federal Trade Commission in the United States
Yes, Amazon notifies you when it detects a suspicious login. But, cybercriminals also use fake notifications to lure victims to phishing sites.
If you receive such a notification, we recommend typing the official Amazon website into your browser to check on your account. Never click on a link in a message.
Check out our NordVPN review to see how this simple software can protect you from phishing emails, malware, and cloned Amazon websites.
Amazon brushing scams involve a scammer sending a package to your home so they can write a fake product review in your name. In some cases, scammers might use your details for other purposes. Contact Amazon to report any suspicious deliveries you receive.
One of the few messages that Amazon sends is a warning if someone logs into your account from an unfamiliar device or a new location. Always pay attention to these messages and treat them with caution.
Don’t click on suspicious links, and enable two-factor authentication to prevent other people from accessing your account.
