As one of the largest online retailers, Amazon is frequently targeted by scammers. All scammer’s end goal is to steal consumers’ money. This means that scams can be very convincing, however there are general tell-tale signs that the seller is not legitimate. To avoid becoming another number on the scammers list, we are going to teach you how to spot an Amazon scam, avoid it, combat it, and what to do if you find one.
The Amazon Scope
With its origin as an online book seller, Amazon has, over the years, expanded its range to selling a variety of consumer goods and digital media. In addition, it offers a cloud computing platform. This platform provides services for various websites and client-side applications. Any form of cloud computing platform provides an opportunity for hackers and scammers to take advantage.
How To Identify Amazon Scams
Internet services have made it possible for individuals to access their personal information from anywhere in the world. While being an advantage to the consumers, it is simultaneously an advantage to the scammers. Scams are not always difficult to see, however, when successful, they are difficult to trace. The best way to avoid being scammed is to know the warning signs of a scam and to report them when found.
How To Spot An Amazon Scammer Via Email
The following email discrepancies are signs of potential Amazon scams:
- Amazon will never send an email requesting sensitive personal information about the consumer. This includes information regarding one’s banking details or passwords of any kind.
- Amazon will never ask the consumer to update their payment information. When logged into your account, “Manage Payment Options” gives the consumer the power to update any necessary changes regarding payments.
- Emails with typos and grammatical errors are a good indication that they are not actually from Amazon.
- Amazon will never send mails containing attachments to install specific software on your device.
- If you receive an order confirmation email that does not match the details under “Your Orders” on your account, it is not from Amazon.
- Emails sent from Amazon containing an internet service provider (ISP) other than “@amazon.com” is a fraudulent email and should not be opened but rather reported.
How To Spot A Scammer On The Amazon Website
It is important to pay attention to the length of time that a seller has been on Amazon. If they are a new seller, it is a good idea to look at their reviews before placing an order. The number of listings under a seller should also be noted. Consumers should be cautious of sellers with an unreasonably long number of listings. Especially if they are new sellers who have only recently been added to the site, it could be a warning sign.
Prices are particularly important. Consumers should stay away from prices that are so low that they cannot be compared to products of a similar brand.
How To Spot An Amazon Scammer Through Payment Schemes
Amazon advises that when you are in doubt, ask for more information about the payment. Do not send payments without being comfortable that it is from Amazon. Sellers who direct you away from the Amazon website should not be trusted, a legitimate Amazon seller would never do this.
Avoid making payments to claim prize winnings or a large amount of money. This also applies to payments asking to be made in guarantee of a credit card loan. It is advised that if you feel uneasy, do not make the payment. It is safer to report it or get in contact with customer services.
How To Report An Amazon Scam
As scammers are becoming more advanced, Amazon takes any attempts on their consumers very seriously. To report an email or webpage you suspect of being fraudulent, start by opening a new email. Attach, or forward, the suspicious email. Attaching the email is the easiest way for Amazon to track it. However sometimes attaching the email is not an option therefore forwarding the email will give the same indication of a scam.
Remember that a suspicious email is any email claiming to be from Amazon, but not having @amazon.com in its ISP. For webpages, simply copy and paste the link into the new email. Send this email to stop-spoofing@amazon.com.
These are just a few tips on how to notice and report an Amazon scam. There are many other ways in which an individual could be scammed, so make sure you stay updated on new online scams with anti-fraud news.