Amazon Scams (Full List of Scams to Be Aware Of)

When it comes to shopping on Amazon, customers need to be aware of a lot of scams. There are plenty of tricks up scammers’ sleeves, from fake reviews to counterfeit products.

This blog post will go over all the different types of scams you need to be aware of when shopping on Amazon. So, read on and stay safe!

Amazon Scams In 2024

Scams targeting shoppers on Amazon have rapidly increased in recent years. From sellers selling fake products to pop-ups, there are many things out there to watch out for in 2024. Amazon customers must be wary of tricks scammers use to access sensitive data like credit information via fraudulent texts, calls, and emails appearing to be Amazon.

Check out this list of common Amazon scams and tips to avoid them in the future, along with other related facts!

What Are the Most Common Amazon Scams?

According to a recent article in the NY Post, scams on Amazon have increased by 500% since 2021. 

There are a few different types of Amazon scams going around, and it’s essential to be aware of them so you don’t become a victim.

1. Failed Delivery Scam

One type of scam targets Amazon rather than shoppers.

With the fake delivery scam, someone orders an item from Amazon and then claims they never received it.

They will then contact customer service and try to get a refund.

This can be difficult to catch because the person may have a fake order number, or they may have deleted the email confirmation.

Eventually, this scam may impact customers as sellers on Amazon fail to profit, and prices are increased as a consequence.

2. Counterfeit Products

Another type of scam is when someone sells you an item that is counterfeit or not as described.

Receiving counterfeit products can be dangerous because you could end up with a fake product that doesn’t work or could be hazardous to health or safety.

3. Amazon Customer Service Call Scam

Another scam has phishers contacting customers and saying they’re from Amazon customer service.

When contacting shoppers, these fake reps might say there’s a problem with your account or order.

They will then ask you for personal information like your credit card number or social security number.

In other situations, they might say there’s a problem with your Amazon Prime membership and then ask you to update your credit card information.

If you get a call from someone claiming to be from Amazon, it’s probably a scam since Amazon will never call a customer out of the blue.

If you get a call from someone claiming to be from Amazon, do not give them any personal information. Instead, hang up and report it to Amazon.

4. Emails

Be careful of any emails you get that look like they’re from Amazon but are actually from a different website.

These emails can contain viruses or links to websites where you enter your Amazon login information, and then the scammer can gain access to your account.

Therefore, if you’re not sure if an email really was sent from Amazon, forward it to stop-spoofing@amazon.com.

5. Third-Party Seller Fake Reviews

When customers buy from a third-party seller on Amazon, they are taking a risk because you don’t know if the seller is reputable.

Often, scammers will create fake websites that look like Amazon and then post fake reviews to lure people in. Therefore, always do your research before buying from a third-party seller.

6. Phishing Text

Sometimes, shoppers might get a text message from a scammer claiming to be from Amazon.

Phishing scams are when scammers try to get your personal information by pretending to send an email or text from a reputable company.

Within the text, they might say there’s a problem with your order or your account and then request you to click on a link.

After clicking this link, shoppers may be taken to a fake website and prompted to enter private Amazon login information, or it will download a virus onto their phone.

Either way, don’t click on the link and report the text message to Amazon.

7. Pop-Ups

Similarly, if you see a pop-up window that looks like it’s from Amazon, beware. Often these pop-ups can contain viruses or links to fake websites.

As such, don’t click on anything in the pop-up and close it out as soon as possible.

8. iPhone

If you are an iPhone user, watch out for a scam where someone pretending to be from Apple support calls you and then tries to get remote access to your phone.

To access private data, they might say there’s a problem with your iCloud account or your iPhone and then ask you to enter your password.

Once they have your password, they can access all the information on your phone. Therefore, if you get a call like this, hang up, and call Apple to support yourself to report it.

9. Free Stuff Scam

9. Free Stuff Scam Amazon

With the free stuff scam, the scammer will contact a shopper and say they saw you were looking at a particular item on Amazon.

Then they’ll say they have one they’re not using and offer to send it to you for free.

However, when you give them your address, they actually send you a fake or empty box, or they might send you a used item that’s not in the condition they said it would be in.

10. Mystery Boxes for Sale

Another similar scam focuses on scammers that sell mystery boxes on Amazon.

In general, these scammers will say you’ll get a certain number of items for a low price, but when you receive the box, it’s either empty or contains items worth far less than what you paid.

11. Extended Warranty Scam

Sometimes, shoppers will be contacted by scammers that say they’re from Amazon customer service and then try to get you to sign up for an extended warranty on your Amazon purchases.

They might even say they can give you a refund if you sign up for the warranty.

Although certain products have warranties that can be purchased on Amazon, this is a scam, and you should never give them your credit card information.

12. Amazon Pallets for Sale

Some scammers will sell Amazon pallets on websites like Craigslist or eBay. They’ll say the pallets are full of returned items from Amazon.

However, when you receive the pallet, it’s either empty or contains damaged or broken items.

13. Amazon Prime Gift Text Message

Another type of phishing text states that you’ve been given or have won a gift card and all you have to do is click on the link to claim it.

But when you click on the link, you’ll be taken to a fake website that will try to steal your information.

14. Amazon Locked Account

With this scam, shoppers receive an email or text message that looks like it’s from Amazon, stating that their account has been locked due to a problem.

To access their account, they need to click on the link to update their Amazon account information. However, this is just another way to steal customers’ private information.

15. Amazon Free Play Station

In this scam, shoppers receive an email or text message that looks like it’s from Amazon with a message that says they can get a free Playstation if they click on the link and take a survey.

Although this offer sounds fantastic, this is another ploy by scammers to get access to personal information.

16. Amazon Free Shipping Scam

Sometimes, scammers will contact shoppers by offering free shipping on their next Amazon order.

In order to access the free shipping offer, shoppers will be directed to a fake website and enter their Amazon account information.

If you are interested in receiving free shipping safely, consider signing up for Amazon Prime.

With Amazon Prime, shoppers can receive free 2-day shipping on thousands of popular Amazon products.

17. Amazon Jobs From Home

Recently, remote work has seen a surge in popularity, and scammers have used Amazon work from home jobs to target job seekers.

In this scam, shoppers receive an email or text message that looks like it’s from Amazon that says you can work from home for Amazon and make a lot of money.

However, when you click on the link to apply, you’ll be taken to a fake website that will try to steal the applicant’s information.

To find legitimate Amazon jobs, including those eligible to be worked remotely, search Amazon jobs.

To know more, you can also read our posts on whether or not Amazon sends text messages, fake Amazon emails, and are Amazon reviews fake.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the scams that have been going around on Amazon lately. Be sure to do your research and never give out your personal information to anyone you don’t know. Finally, if you think you’ve been scammed, contact Amazon customer service immediately.

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Florence Howard

Florence Howard has been freelance writing for over a decade, and has a vocational background in retail, tech, and marketing. Outside of work, she enjoys listening to rock and metal, and playing with her dog and cat.

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