Amazon.com scams hit shoppers before the holidays

How it Works:

You get an e-mail that appears to be from Amazon.com stating your recent order cannot be shipped. Claiming a problem with processing, the e-mail informs you that you won’t be able to access your account or place orders with Amazon until you confirm your information. A “click here” link leads to an authentic-looking Amazon web page to confirm your name, address and credit card information. After entering the information and clicking on a “save and continue” button, you are redirected to Amazon’s actual website. What You Should Know: The scam e-mail subject line will say “Your Amazon.com order cannot be shipped.” If the “from” line in the e-mail contains an Internet Service Provider other than @amazon.com, the e-mail is not from Amazon. What You Should Do: If you get an e-mail like this from Amazon (or any other online retailer), don’t click on the link! If you’ve recently ordered from Amazon and are concerned about missing an authentic update, use your web browser to independently (not through the e-mail) log in to Amazon.com and check under “Your Orders” to see if the e-mail’s details match any of your order information. If the information doesn’t match, then the e-mail is a scam. Spotted a scam?  Tell us about it.  Our scam-tracking map gives you information about the latest scams targeting people in your state.  You’ll also find first-hand accounts from scam-spotters who are sharing their experiences so you know how to protect yourself and your family. Getty Images/iStockphoto

Topics

Fraud Watch NetworkAmazon.comavoiding holiday scams

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