Amazon scam fraudsters are impersonating customer service staff and tricking UK shoppers into handing over sensitive information — costing victims thousands of pounds
Amazon shoppers need to stay vigilant amid a concerning new wave of scams targeting the retail giant’s customers. Fraudsters are masquerading as the well-known shopping platform, and it seems some shoppers are falling victim.
According to Report Fraud, criminals managed to steal more than £86,000 from victims during October alone. This emerging threat marks a shift in tactics, with scammers moving beyond simply dispatching emails or bogus text messages. They’re now ringing customers directly, posing as Amazon staff members.
Once they’ve got someone on the line, the fraudster claims that suspicious items have been placed in the victim’s Amazon basket.
To lend credibility to the con, they’ll then quote a delivery address that doesn’t match the victim’s and insist that somebody is trying to buy goods using the victim’s payment details, reports the Express.
The fraudster maintains that the only way to halt these transactions is by securing the account immediately. Bogus instructions follow.
These typically involve requesting that victims share their screen through messaging applications and hand over access to personal documents, like a passport or driving licence, for “verification” reasons.
Perhaps most alarming is when scammers instruct the victim to install remote access software. Once this is set up, it gives criminals full control of computers and enables them to carry out transactions in the victim’s name.
Commenting on the scam, Chief Superintendent Amanda Wolf, Head of Report Fraud Operations, warned: “Fraudsters are increasingly successful when they can make their approach feel ordinary. A call about an account issue, a delivery problem or suspicious activity can catch any of us off guard, particularly when it appears to come from a brand we know and trust.
“The best defence is to pause. Criminals want people to react quickly; we want people to take a moment, challenge what they’re being told and verify it through a trusted route.
“Whether somebody claims to be from Amazon, your bank, the police or any other organisation, don’t feel pressured into acting immediately. End the conversation, find the genuine contact details yourself and make contact independently. A few moments of caution can make all the difference.”
An Amazon spokesperson said: “Scammers that attempt to impersonate Amazon put consumers at risk and there are a variety of scams that ask people to make payments by email, phone, or text for items or services. Be wary any time someone tries to convince you that you must act now – scammers may try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they’re asking, and they use convincing tactics to reel consumers in.
“We encourage consumers to report suspected scams to us so that we can protect their accounts and refer bad actors to law enforcement to help keep them safe.”