Amazon telephone customer service verification#
Amazon telephone customer service software#

This type of scam is known as a “business imposter scam,” according to the U.S. Amazon investigates these complaints and will takes action, if warranted.” In a statement emailed to Snopes, Amazon said, “Any customer that receives a questionable email or call from a person impersonating an Amazon employee should report them to Amazon customer service. The scammers, per the reports, were attempting to get customers to give over personal or account information so that they could steal their money. The scammers called people’s phones, saying they have large balances on their Amazon Prime accounts. If you aren't sure, hang up and log on to your account to find the company's customer service number, he adds.In early December 2020, social media users and various news outlets reported that members of the public have been targeted by scammers posing as Amazon representatives. The best advice, says Quilici of YouMail, is not to trust that any incoming calls are coming from the number showing on your caller ID.

Amazon telephone customer service verification#

Amazon suggests protecting your online account with a two-step verification system. These scammers, who promise rewards for filling out fake surveys, are paid fees for driving traffic to certain merchants.Īnother tip from Amazon: While some of its departments call customers, the retailer will never ask you to disclose or verify sensitive personal information or offer a refund that you do not expect. 'These bad actors are misusing our brand to deceive the public, and we will hold them accountable,” Kathryn Sheehan, Amazon's vice president of business conduct and ethics, said in a statement urging consumers to be vigilant “no matter where they shop.'Īmazon just sued some marketers who were allegedly sending fraudulent text messages, pretending to be the company, to drive traffic to online sites selling products and services not related to Amazon. It advises consumers to report the matter to the company and to the Federal Trade Commission. Amazon acknowledges problemĪmazon, for its part, says it is aware that scammers are using the company name to defraud people. One tip-off to a scamming robocall is the use of incorrect grammar or stilted wording, because the calls often don't originate from countries with native English speakers, he adds. “It becomes a trend, and criminals are like everybody else: They'll jump on the latest trend.” When call volume soars like this, it suggests the scams are working, Quilici says.

Amazon telephone customer service software#

Or he may ask to help you by taking over control of your computer via software that lets him gain access to your credit card, banking and other sensitive information - so he can steal your identity and your money. Next, the scammer may ask for your Amazon account information. The Amazon-scam robocalls tend to start with someone saying there has been suspicious activity on your account, and then he asks you to press 1 or call another phone number. “Consumer reliance on delivery services such as Amazon during the pandemic has created an environment where Amazon-related scams are now almost as prevalent as some government impostor scams,” says Mark Fetterhoff, a helpline official. This year, Amazon scams originating from robocalls, texts and emails have been among the top five complaints to AARP's Fraud Watch Network helpline (87 toll-free). People just think, Oh, this is Amazon trying to help me out.” Quilici's firm is not alone in observing a huge rise in Amazon scams. For them to get a call from Amazon or a fraud alert doesn't seem that unusual. “Very few people don't do some ordering from Amazon. 'Amazon's a great target because they're almost universal,” Quilici says. Other big companies, such as Costco, also are prime targets for impostors, so be wary of a call claiming to be from a megaretailer.

consumers now receive an estimated 4.5 billion to 5 billion robocalls a month, he notes.Īmazon impostors are preying on people's trust in its brand, Quilici says.

Prior to the recent spike, robocalls that were supposedly from Amazon totaled about 10 million to 30 million per month, says YouMail CEO Alex Quilici. If you are concerned, contact the megaretailer. These steps invariably spell trouble, so it's best to hang up. An alert purports there has been a suspicious charge on your account - say, for $1,499 - and suggests what steps to take next. Perhaps you've gotten one of the nuisance calls. The calls skyrocketed during the three-month period ending in April, the company says. consumers with up to 150 million robocalls a month, warns YouMail Inc., an Irvine, California-based firm that tracks scam calls and offers robocall-blocking apps. En español | Impostors posing as online retailer Amazon have been bombarding U.S.