Amazon has issued a warning to all customers using their account.
As Black Friday sales have started and the countdown to Christmas is on, many people may be opting to carry out some online shopping this year. But shoppers are being urged to be vigilant and not fall victim to any scams.
Amazon has issued a warning to customers, urging them to report any suspicious activity and follow simple steps before clicking any links sent to them.
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On their website, Amazon states: "E-mails, text messages or calls from Amazon will never ask for your personal information. Here are some helpful tips for each type of contact, to determine if it's from Amazon, and how to report it if not."
They added: "We take fraud, scam, phishing and spoofing attempts seriously. If you receive correspondence you think may not be from Amazon, please report it immediately by visiting Report a Suspicious Communication."
In an email to customers, they wrote: "During this time of year, we often see a surge in impersonation scams. Stay safe by learning to identify and avoid them."
Impersonation scams are when fraudsters reach out to you pretending to be someone you trust to get personal and sensitive information. They can change their tactics to make them hard to detect.
Scammers will also pretend to be from Amazon, sending you messages to say your account will be suspended and to act now to update your account. It will contain links for you to follow but people are being urged to spot the signs that this is a scam.
Another scam comes with Amazon Prime membership. The company said people may receive unexpected calls or texts or emails referring to an issue with their membership and will ask for payment information.
However, Amazon will never ask for payment information over the phone.
Amazon's top safety tips include:
Amazon owned channels
Always go through the Amazon mobile app or website directly when seeking support or making changes to your account
False urgency
Be aware of false urgency. Red flags are when someone tries to convince you to act now.
Never pay over the phone
Amazon will never ask you for payment information, including gift cards, so be aware of scammers calling you for information.
Verify links
Legitimate websites contain "amazon.co.uk" or "amazong.co.uk/support" so make sure you always check for misspellings or repeated characters. Again, Amazon reiterates using the website directly for anything.
Verify email addresses
Legitimate Amazon emails contain “@amazon.co.uk”. The company urges you to check who emails are from before clicking on any links.
More information and tips to stay safe can be found on the Amazon website.
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