Will Amazon Ever Call You?

Imagine receiving a call informing you that someone used your Amazon Prime account to buy a $500 Xbox. The catch? You don’t even have an Amazon Prime account. This is exactly what happened to Cinda Stewart. She managed to avoid falling victim to an Amazon scam call, but not everyone is so lucky.

If you’re a regular Amazon shopper, you might not think twice if someone claiming to be from the company contacts you over the phone. However, falling for an Amazon scam call can be costly and could even compromise your identity.

In this article, we’ll explain how Amazon scam calls work, provide tips on how to quickly identify scammers, and highlight the latest scam calls you should be aware of.

How Amazon Scam Calls Operate

Amazon scam calls are a type of phone scam where malicious individuals attempt to deceive you into revealing personal information, such as your Amazon account details or financial data.

Here’s how these scam calls typically play out:

1. You receive a call from an unknown number or one that appears to be from Amazon.
2. The caller claims to be from Amazon’s customer support or security team.
3. They inform you that there’s an issue with an order you placed or that your financial data has been compromised.
4. To resolve the problem, they request personal information, like your Amazon account username and password.
5. If you provide these credentials, scammers can take over your Amazon account and steal stored credit card numbers.

Because many people shop on Amazon, receiving a call from the company’s support or security team may not raise suspicion. However, it’s important to remember that Amazon will never ask you to provide or verify sensitive information over the phone.

How Do Scammers Get Your Phone Number?

You may wonder how Amazon scam callers obtain your phone number. There are several ways scammers can acquire this information:

• Purchasing data from brokers who specialize in collecting personal information and selling it to marketers or fraudsters.
• Scouring your online presence, including social media profiles, for contact details.
• Obtaining your phone number from the Dark Web as a result of a recent data breach.

While it’s impossible to completely remove your personal information from the Dark Web, knowing it’s out there can help you stay vigilant and protect yourself from scammers.

Example: Identifying an Amazon Phone Scam

Amazon phone scams come in various forms. To stay safe, it’s crucial to recognize the warning signs of a phone phishing scam. Let’s look at an example shared by a victim:

Although many people might view this as a legitimate message, several red flags indicate that it’s a phone scam:

• It’s a robocall. Scammers use automated technology to target thousands of people per day. Engaging with them connects you to a live scammer who will continue the fraud. It’s worth noting that robocalls are generally illegal unless you have specifically given the company permission to contact you in this way.
• The caller creates a sense of urgency. Fraudsters aim to make you act without thinking by using phrases like “suspicious activities” and “Amazon fraud department.”
• You’re asked to “verify” sensitive information. Scammers use threatening situations to persuade you to provide personal details such as your Social Security number or credit card numbers. Remember, Amazon will never ask for your password or other personally identifiable information over the phone.
• The call is overly vague. Phone scammers rely on statistics and hope that they reach someone who recently made a purchase from Amazon. Vague statements about “the purchase” without providing specific information are indicators of a scam.
• You don’t have an Amazon account (or Prime account). Scammers contact as many people as possible, increasing their chances of finding someone who believes their story. In the Reddit post mentioned earlier, the victim stated that they didn’t even have an Amazon account, making this a clear red flag.

The 7 Latest Amazon Scam Calls

All Amazon scams have the same objective, but scammers employ different tactics to achieve it. Here are seven common types of Amazon scam calls and how to identify them before it’s too late:

1. Someone ordered an iPhone on your Amazon account.
2. There was a “fraudulent purchase” on your account.
3. Additional information regarding an upcoming delivery.
4. “Verify” an Amazon purchase.
5. Your package is lost.
6. Refunds for a recent Amazon purchase.
7. Fake Amazon technical support phone calls.

Although these scams may vary, they all follow the same pattern of attempting to gather your personal information or deceive you into making a financial transaction.

What to Do If You Receive an Amazon Scam Call

Amazon scam calls pose no threat unless you disclose personal information or your Amazon password. To ensure your safety, follow these steps:

1. Do not divulge personal information. Amazon will never ask you for sensitive information over the phone, such as passwords, two-factor authentication codes, or financial details. Legitimate support representatives can access your account information through internal systems. Regardless of the situation, do not share any data.
2. Hang up if something seems suspicious. If the caller or their requests raise suspicion, end the call and use the phone numbers provided on Amazon’s official website to contact the company. For security issues, log into your Amazon account through their website and reach out to them from there.
3. Report the scam call to Amazon. Amazon is aware of scam calls and is taking measures to inform customers about potential new scam tactics. Use the provided link to report scam calls directly to Amazon.
4. Warn your friends and family. Share information about the scam calls with your loved ones to help them recognize and avoid falling victim to similar scams.
5. Monitor your Amazon account and credit for suspicious activity. Regularly check your Amazon account to identify and report any unauthorized transactions promptly. The quicker you catch and report fraudulent activity, the better your chances of recovering any lost funds.

Did You Provide Personal Information to a Scam Caller? Follow These Steps

Revealing your personal information can lead to an Amazon account takeover or other types of fraud, such as identity theft. If you’ve given any personal data to a scammer, take the following actions to minimize the damage:

If you provided the scammer with your Amazon login details:

• Visit IdentityTheft.gov and file an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
• Report the scam to both Amazon and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Change all your online account passwords, ensuring they are strong, unique, and at least 10 characters long, including a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Consider signing up for identity theft protection. Aura safeguards your sensitive information, account passwords, and financial accounts, alerting you in real-time if any fraudulent activity is detected. Try Aura free for 14 days to see if it’s right for you.

If you sent money to scammers:

• Contact your identity theft insurance provider to explain the situation. Aura provides access to a team of U.S.-based Fraud Resolution Specialists 24/7, who can guide you through the necessary steps to secure your identity and recover your money.
• Call your bank or credit card issuer to cancel compromised accounts and dispute any unauthorized charges.
• Freeze your credit with all three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). A credit freeze prevents scammers from opening new accounts or obtaining loans in your name. While freezing your credit, request a free credit report to check for fraudulent accounts or transactions.
• File an identity theft report with the FTC. This official report is essential for disputing fraudulent charges and proving that you are an identity theft victim.
• If you have any information about the scammers that could help lead to their arrest, such as their names or contact details, file a police report with your local law enforcement.
• Notify any companies the scammers contacted while impersonating you, informing them of your identity theft. In most cases, these companies will request a copy of your FTC or police report before closing accounts or forgiving debts.
• Change all your online passwords and consider implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for added security, using authenticator apps like Google Authenticator.

If scammers gained remote access to your computer:

• Disconnect the device from the internet, as most malware requires an internet connection to communicate with the hackers.
• Perform a comprehensive antivirus scan to isolate and delete any malicious files or applications.
• Delete any unfamiliar apps, browser extensions, or add-ons (especially those recommended by the scammer). Exercise caution, particularly with remote access apps like AnyDesk or TeamViewer.
• Use a different device to update your account passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all your accounts. Back up your computer and restore it to its original settings. Freeze your credit and notify your bank and credit card issuer that you’ve fallen victim to fraud and identity theft.

How to Stop Amazon Scam Calls

Instead of constantly being on guard against Amazon scam callers, you can take steps to block and avoid unwanted calls. Follow these measures:

• Screen calls using Aura’s AI Call Assistant. Aura’s advanced technology will answer unknown calls for you and screen them according to your preferences. Configure filters to ensure you don’t miss important calls, such as appointments, deliveries, or emergencies.
• Consult your cell phone carrier for available tools to block spam numbers. Most service providers offer paid applications or tools that help screen and block spam callers.
• Block spam numbers directly on your iPhone or Android. iPhone users can enable the “Silence Unknown Callers” option in their settings, which sends calls from unknown numbers directly to voicemail. Android users typically have Caller ID and spam protection enabled by default, but it’s always wise to verify this in your phone’s settings.
• Remove your phone number from broker lists. Data brokers compile phone numbers and sell them to businesses. While legitimate companies might use this information for marketing purposes, scammers exploit it to obtain personal details. You can contact data brokers yourself to remove your information or use a solution like Aura, which automatically removes your numbers from broker lists.
• Register your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. Although this won’t eliminate scam calls, it can reduce the number of spam calls you receive.
• Install a call-blocking app on your mobile device. These apps reduce the volume of spam calls or force scammers to explain their purpose for calling. While these apps can be helpful, preventing spam calls at the source is often more effective.
• Be cautious about the personal information you share on social media. Sharing details online increases the likelihood of your phone number ending up on spam call lists and makes scam calls more convincing.
• File a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Reporting Amazon scam calls helps the FCC identify new scam trends and expedite efforts to catch the perpetrators.

Don’t Fall Prey to Amazon Scam Calls

While receiving Amazon scam calls may seem like a harmless annoyance, they can pose serious problems. Most people lead busy lives and cannot be on high alert all the time, nor should they have to be.

Aura, the top-rated identity theft and digital protection service, can be your eyes and ears. Aura continuously monitors your bank accounts, providing real-time alerts if any suspicious activity is detected. Additionally, Aura’s built-in data broker removal feature automatically reduces spam calls and texts. In the event that your identity is stolen, Aura provides a $1,000,000 insurance policy to protect all adult members on your plan.

Silence phone scammers with Aura. Try Aura free for 14 days and experience peace of mind.