Amazon Scams Exposed: Common Tricks and How to Stay Safe

If you have ever been on Amazon and were looking for that perfect deal, you know that fantastic feeling of finally finding that item on your wish list at the perfect price. Sadly, not everything that shines like gold is actually golden, and not every Amazon deal is real.

This is especially pertinent given that millions of Amazon transactions are made on a daily basis, which makes it extra attractive to scammers who are always coming up with new ways of targeting Amazon customers like you.

In this Mysterium VPN article, we'll help you identify common Amazon scams, learn how to spot fraudulent activities, and show you some steps you can follow to help you protect your Amazon account and personal information.

The History of Amazon

Amazon was not always the online retail giant that it is today; it was once just an ambitious online bookstore started by Jeff Bezos in his garage in 1994.

Amazon has since grown into an almost all-encompassing e-commerce platform, selling pretty much anything, from gadgets to groceries. It's now a global player in streaming with Amazon Prime Video, in cloud computing, and even in cutting-edge AI technologies.

To support this growth, Amazon has implemented a number of security measures, such as encrypted transactions, secure payment methods, and fraud detection systems.

However, as with any company, even one with all these safeguards in place, scammers are finding ways to exploit the gaps that exist, whether through human error or misplaced trust.

Understanding Amazon Scams

Let's get down to business!

What Are Amazon Scams?

Amazon scams are kinds of impersonation fraud where the bad guys (or gals, we don't discriminate) try to imitate Amazon executives in order to get their hands on your personal information, money, or access to your Amazon account.

These scams can happen through your email, text messages, phone calls, and even fake websites that are eerily similar to the official Amazon website.

Scammers aren't new in the online shopping community and consistently find new ways of engaging with you that are very similar to authentic Amazon company communications.

For instance, they might send you an email about your order history or your most-used payment method and ask you to click on a link to confirm something, but that fake link will only take you to a fake website, where you'll end up duped.

Popular Amazon Scams

Here's a rundown of the most common Amazon scams.

Fake Listings

Scammers like to post too-good-to-be-true deals for high-demand items, such as electronics or brand-name clothes and accessories. These listings often have minimal details, vague descriptions, or suspiciously low prices.

A scammer will post a listing for a popular item for a low price, like a luxury brand bag, for a few hundred dollars, hoping that fashion-forward individuals will jump on the offer.

After someone does, the money they just paid for their dream bag ends up in the scammer's pocket, and no bag even reaches the buyer's doorstep.

To avoid spending money on a sham listing, be careful and read the seller's reviews, make sure the description makes sense, and, of course, don't fall victim to an unrealistic price.

Phishing Emails and SMS

While scammers spend most of their time online, they sure do love phishing (a little fishing pun for our aquatic folks). Phishing is one of the most common ways for the bad guys to get you.

If you're being phished, you'll receive a security alert email or text message claiming that there’s an imminent problem with your Amazon account. The message urges you to respond ASAP, awakening the fear of God in you. Of course, how could it not? Your personal and banking information is in trouble!

The message will ask you to click on some type of link to confirm your information, and that's how they get you — once you click on their fishy link, scammers gain scammer access to your account — or worse, your bank account.

To ensure you see only legitimate purchases, always check your order history or banking information on Amazon. This can help you identify phishing scams that falsely request sensitive information.

Amazon Impersonation Scams

Sometimes, a scammer can get brave enough to call you, pretending to be a representative of Amazon's customer support team. These unwelcomed phone calls may claim there’s a “suspicious purchase” or a problem with your Amazon app.

Of course, such tech support scams are just another way to sneak their way into your Amazon account and exploit you as much as possible.

The scammer will most definitely ask you to reveal your payment information or even for you to grant them remote access to your device. The urgency in their voice and the pressure to act quickly is the downfall of victims of this scam, who only want to protect their account information.

To avoid falling victim to Amazon impersonation scams, make sure the person you're speaking to actually works for the company, and don't hurry to divulge information about your Amazon accounts.

Brushing Scams

Who doesn't love a surprise mystery box? Not victims of a brushing scam, that's for sure. Here's how the United States Postal Inspection Service describes these scams:

"A person receives packages or parcels containing various sorts of items which were not ordered or requested by the recipient. While the package may be addressed to the recipient, there is no return address, or the return address could be that of a retailer.

The sender of the item(s) is usually an international, third-party seller who has found the recipient’s address online. The intention is to give the impression that the recipient is a verified buyer who has written positive online reviews of the merchandise, meaning they write a fake review in your name.

These fake reviews help to fraudulently boost or inflate the products’ ratings and sales numbers, which they hope results in an increase in actual sales in the long run. Since the merchandise is usually cheap and low-cost to ship, the scammers perceive this as a profitable pay-off."

Scammers engaging in this scheme create fake accounts to buy and send mystery boxes to random people. Their endgame? To falsify Amazon reviews for their bogus products.

Amazon Prime Video Scams and Membership Renewal Scams

These simple yet effective scams involve fraudulent emails or phone calls claiming your Amazon Prime membership is about to expire.

They’ll ask you to renew it, often redirecting you to a malicious website or demanding immediate payment. It's essentially a way around the good ol' phishing scam, except they pretend to care about your Amazon Prime Video account to gain sensitive data.

Scam Prevention Tips

Now that you're an expert on identifying Amazon scams, you have to learn how to avoid them. Let's get going!

Verify Before You Buy

It's simple to become giddy over a fantastic offer, but it's important that you take a moment to check out the website before clicking the "Buy Now" button. These pesky scammers frequently create counterfeit Amazon websites that remarkably resemble authentic Amazon websites.

Advice for avoiding fake websites:

• Verify the URL in your browser at all times. Reputable Amazon URLs begin with "https://" and contain "amazon.com" (for example, hhtps://amazon.com).
• You should always avoid links in emails or messages claiming to be from Amazon. These could lead you to a fake website, and we don't want that, do we?
• When buying anything, just use the Amazon app; it's the best way to guarantee that you're on the correct platform before you spend your money.

Look At Reviews and Seller Ratings

Although they can be useful, Amazon reviews aren't always reliable. In order to make their items appear more desirable, Amazon scammers frequently publish phony reviews.

How to tell apart fake reviews:

• Be vigilant. Reviews are likely to be phony if they all seem unduly enthusiastic or use the same wording.
• Use tools like Fakespot or ReviewMeta to analyze the authenticity of reviews.
• Examine the seller ratings. Sellers with low or unsatisfactory ratings may be scammers.

Turn On Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

2FA is your best friend when it comes to protecting your Amazon account against a pesky Amazon scammer.

It adds an extra step in the login process, making it harder for scammers to break in, even if they have your password.

How to enable 2FA on Amazon:

• Go to “Login & Security” in your account settings.
• Select “Two-Step Verification” and follow the instructions to add your phone number or an external authentication app.

Don't Click Weird Links

Phishing links often claim there’s an issue with your order history, payment method, or Amazon Prime membership renewal.

How to stay safe from phishing attempts:

• Inspect emails for spelling errors, generic greetings (“Dear Customer/Sir/Madame”), or urgent language designed to pressure you.
• Hover over links with the cursor to check where they lead before actually clicking on them.
• If you’re unsure, don’t click — go straight to Amazon’s website or use the Amazon app on your phone or tablet to check your account.

Be Cautious with Third-Party Sellers

Amazon is a marketplace, which means many products come from third-party sellers. Protect yourself when buying from third-party sellers:

• Look for the “Fulfilled by Amazon” tag, which indicates the item is stored and shipped by Amazon.
• If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is; don't kid yourself. Research the seller before purchasing.
• Avoid sellers with no return policy or those requesting direct payments outside of Amazon.

Monitor Suspicious Communication

Unsolicited phone calls, sketchy emails, and strange text messages can all be traps. Here's how to handle weird communication:

• Don’t provide any personal information or payment details over the phone unless you’re sure you’re speaking to an Amazon employee.
• Remember that Amazon will never ask you to verify your login credentials via email or text.
• If you receive a suspicious message, report it to Amazon through their “Report Scams” page.

Use Secure Payment Methods

Using secure payment methods can add yet another layer of protection against fraudulent transactions.

• Use credit cards instead of debit cards. That's because they offer better fraud protection, and your credit card company can reverse charges for unauthorized purchases if anything were to happen.
• Avoid wiring money or sending prepaid gift cards. These are a scammer’s favorite payment method.
• Check your bank statements regularly for any money travels you don’t recognize.

Stay Informed

Scams evolve, just like we do, and staying informed is one of the best ways to protect yourself. Subscribe to newsletters from consumer protection agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or Amazon’s own scam alerts.

Why it matters:

• New scams, like Amazon Prime Video scams or mystery box hoaxes, pop up frequently.
• Being aware of the latest Amazon scams can help you identify red flags faster.

Trust Your Gut

Sometimes, your gut knows best. If something feels a bit wrong about a deal, a seller, or a message you've received, listen to that nagging feeling. It’s better to double-check than to fall for a scam.

Safe Payment Practices

To avoid falling victim to Amazon scams, it’s essential to use legitimate Amazon websites and payment methods. Here are some tips to ensure you’re always on the right track:

• Direct access: Always go directly to the official Amazon website (amazon.com) to make purchases or access your account information. Avoid clicking on links in emails or texts that claim to be from Amazon.
• Check the URL: Be wary of fake websites that look like Amazon but have a different URL or design. Legitimate Amazon URLs will start with “https://“ and include “amazon.com” (e.g., amazon.com or smile.amazon.com).
• Official payments only: Never pay for Amazon purchases outside of the official Amazon website or app. Scammers might try to redirect you to a fraudulent website to steal your payment information.
• Secure payment methods: Use a secure payment method, such as a credit card or Amazon’s own payment methods, which offer buyer protection. Credit cards, in particular, provide better fraud protection, and your credit card company can reverse charges for unauthorized purchases.
• Protect your information: Keep your payment information and Amazon account password secure, and never share them with anyone. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for an added layer of security.

What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed

• Contact Amazon: Use the Amazon app or website to report the incident and secure your Amazon account.
• Notify your credit card supplier: Report unauthorized charges to your bank or credit card provider. They can help reverse fraudulent transactions.
• File a complaint with the FTC: The Federal Trade Commission tracks scams and can offer guidance on the next steps.

How to Stay Safe While Shopping Online

• Use a VPN: A VPN, like Mysterium VPN, encrypts your internet traffic, preventing scammers from creating schemes to intercept your data or access your financial accounts.
• Never share sensitive information: Legitimate companies, including Amazon, will never ask for your personal information, bank account details, or passwords through unsolicited phone calls or emails.
• Monitor your accounts: Check your order history and account statements for any fraudulent transactions. Early detection is key.
• Keep your devices updated: Outdated software can be vulnerable to attacks. Ensure your mobile device and apps are up to date.

Final Thoughts

By staying vigilant, verifying personal information, and using tools like Mysterium VPN, you can enjoy legitimate purchases while dodging the latest Amazon scams like a pro.

Remember, if a deal feels too good to be true, it probably is — and it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

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