The Best Weapon Against Amazon-Related Scams? Knowing How They Work

Criminals keep finding new ways to use the company’s name to steal from consumers

Christina Ianzito,

Updated August 08, 2025

AARP

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En español

Published May 07, 2024

/ Updated August 08, 2025

Illustration: Matt Chase

Scams are epidemic these days as criminals use every conceivable avenue to separate consumers from their cash. It makes sense that they frequently pretend to be big companies or institutions affiliated with millions of people (potential victims, in their minds): the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, big banks such as Wells Fargo and Chase — or massive retailers such as Amazon.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued an alert this month that noted a “growing wave” of government and business-impersonation scams “aimed squarely at retirees’ life savings.”

And Amazon, which brought in nearly $638 billion in net sales last year, is “the low hanging fruit” for scammers, because it’s one of those “entities that binds us all,” says Mark Fetterhoff, a senior adviser at AARP Fraud Watch Network.

The massive company is among the most frequently impersonated businesses, along with Best Buy and its Geek Squad service, according to FTC data.

Criminals replicate how Amazon and other businesses communicate with their customers “in ways that are incredibly convincing,” says Abigail Bishop, Amazon’s head of external relations for scam prevention. “It’s an ever-evolving problem.”

(Read how AARP has teamed up with Amazon to help other companies protect their customers from scams.)

The latest Amazon impersonation scams

1. A twist on the refund scam. The FTC recently warned of an uptick in reports of impostors who will send texts apparently from Amazon claiming that there’s a problem with a recent purchase. To receive a refund — without needing to return the item — click a link. But there is no refund: ”It’s a phishing scam to steal your money or personal information,” the FTC notes.

2. A twist on the membership renewal scam. Amazon says that more customers report receiving fake emails saying their Amazon Prime subscription will automatically renew, but the price given is unusually high (Amazon refers to it as “an unexpected price”). The email may include a “cancel subscription” button that leads to a fake Amazon login page. (Always confirm your Amazon account information directly through the app or by typing Amazon.com into your browser, the company advises.)

Other common Amazon impersonation scams

Sometimes the criminals will use a mix of the scams described below.

The fake order or delivery. You’ll receive a message that there’s a problem with your shipment and you need to pay a fee to straighten it out. The message may include a link that — like so many delivery scams involving UPS or the U.S. Postal Service — if clicked, might download malware to your computer or lead you to a request for personal information. Or you may be contacted by phone, and the criminal will request your password, payment information or other sensitive data. They may suggest that there’s a technical problem and ask to take control of your computer to fix it (see “Tech support scam” below).

Suspicious purchase. The criminals call to confirm your purchase of what’s usually a big-ticket item. “And you’re like, ‘I’m sorry. What?’ ” Bishop says. “You’re caught off guard, which they use to their advantage, creating that false urgency. ‘We really need to resolve this issue.’ ”

They may ask for your login info. It’s not a new scam, Bishop notes, but “continues to be prevalent, because, unfortunately, it’s effective.”

Membership renewal scams. Many people don’t remember when their annual payment for Amazon Prime is due, so when customers are told it’s time to pay up, it seems plausible, Bishop says. Scammers know you are probably busy and have a lot on your mind, she says, so they “are going to find those sorts of cracks in your day to weasel in and try to get you to do something that you shouldn’t.”

Tech support scam. Criminals incorporate the Amazon name in this extremely common scam, in which you’re told there’s a problem with your account, Fetterhoff says. “Then they’ll say, ‘We have someone who can remote on to your computer and take care of it for you.’ And while this person thinks they’re getting all the help in the world, what’s going on is [the scammers] are charging things or taking their personal information,” which can be sold on the dark web or used to perpetrate other crimes.

Employment scam. Criminals will pretend to be Amazon job recruiters, offering nonexistent work-from-home jobs. They’ll tell the prospective victim, “We need you to set up an account and purchase this subscription to get an interview,” Bishop says. Or once you’re offered a job, they may ask for a start-up fee or tell you that you need to buy a “starter kit” with Amazon.com gift cards.

Publishing scam. Scammers tout publishing services to authors. “The scammers’ websites are designed to lure authors into paying a fee to publish, and then deliver substandard services or no services at all,” Amazon warns on its site.

How to protect yourself from Amazon-related scams

Amazon’s advice includes:

1. If you have questions related to an order, always check your order history on Amazon.com or via the Amazon Shopping app. Only legitimate purchases will appear in your order history.

2. Do not click on links in an email or provide your information without authenticating the email or verifying the link. Visit the Message Center, which displays a log of authentic communications sent from Amazon.

3. Know that Amazon will never:

Request that you purchase a gift card for any service.
Ask you to download or install any software to connect with customer service.
Ask you to pay for something over the phone.

4. If you’re trying to engage with Amazon, log in to your account on the site or app. Don’t google Amazon to get its site: Scammers’ fake Amazon sites might come up in search results. Instead, type Amazon.com in your browser, or use the Amazon app on your phone.

Find other scam-prevention tips on Amazon’s site.

More tips for avoiding all kinds of scams:

Slow down. If you receive an out-of-the-blue communication from Amazon (or anyone) that suggests you need to take immediate action due to an urgent issue, take a breath. Stop and think. Scammers try to get victims into a heightened emotional state — otherwise, thinking calmly, you might be more likely to hang up the phone or delete their “urgent” message. As the FTC notes, “Anyone who’s rushing you into paying or giving information is almost certainly a scammer.”
You can’t always trust your caller ID. Remember that scammers can spoof numbers, so don’t assume a call is from Amazon just because your caller ID says it is.
Use hard-to-guess, original passwords for everything. Always make sure you have different passwords for all of your accounts. This is the golden rule of fraud prevention. When possible, use multifactor authentication, such as facial ID and a code sent to your phone.

Where to report Amazon-related scams

You can report scams at amazon.com/reportascam or reportascam@amazon.com, whether or not you’re a customer. Though Amazon isn’t able to respond to these messages, it’s important for the company to be aware of the kinds and scope of schemes. Once reports reveal patterns, the company can warn customers and take legal action when possible.

You can also report to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov). The more information authorities have, the better their chances of linking cases and ultimately catching criminals.

If you’re a victim of a scam or wondering if something might be a scam, contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360. It’s a free resource, with trained fraud specialists who can provide support and guidance on what to do next and how to avoid scams.

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Christina Ianzito covers scams and fraud, and is the books editor for aarp.org and AARP The Magazine. Also a longtime travel writer and editor, she received a 2020 Lowell Thomas Award for travel writing from the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation.