Online shopping has become a popular and convenient way to purchase items, and Amazon is one of the largest and most popular online retailers. However, it is important to be aware that scams can occur on the platform. Scammers can use a variety of tactics to trick users into giving away their personal information, money, or even their items. It is important to be aware of these scams and to know how to protect yourself from them.
Here are 10 common Amazon scams, along with telltale signs and methods of protection:
Fake product scam
Fake products can be difficult to spot, but there are a few red flags to look out for. For example, if a product is significantly cheaper than similar products from reputable sellers, or if there is a lack of information about the seller or manufacturer, it could be a fake. To protect yourself, be cautious of any products that seem too good to be true, and be sure to research the seller and the product before making a purchase.
GET FREE SCAM ALERTS VIA EMAIL AS SOON AS THEY ARE EXPOSED
NEVER GET SCAMMED AGAIN!
Scammers never stop devising schemes to separate us from our hard-earned money. So, make sure to sign up for our weekly email scam alerts. TotalScam!™ Alert will notify you as soon new scams are discovered.
Phishing scam on Amazon
Phishing scams can come in the form of suspicious emails or messages claiming to be from Amazon. These messages may contain links or ask for personal information. To protect yourself, be aware of how Amazon communicates with its users and never click on any links or provide personal information in response to suspicious messages or emails.
Protect Your Online Activity
Stay safe online with the fastest VPN service
Choose the options that suits your needs:
Get up to 59% off annual plans with NordVPN. Hide your location while online.
VPN private internet connection + antivirus, malware, ransomware, and hacking protection.
Unauthorized purchase scam
Unauthorized purchases can be a major inconvenience, and they can also be a sign of a scam. If you notice an unrecognized charge on your account or an unauthorized purchase made on your account, it could be a scam. To protect yourself from unauthorized purchases, enable two-factor authentication on your account, check your account regularly for unauthorized purchases, and use a unique and strong password for your Amazon account.
Fake review scam
Fake reviews can be difficult to spot, but if you notice a suspiciously high number of positive reviews for a product, or if the reviews seem fake or written by someone who has not used the product, it could be a scam. To protect yourself, be sure to check the reviews and ratings of the product and seller before making a purchase, and do your own research on the product and seller.
Fake return or refund scam
Scammers may try to trick you into returning a product before you have received it, or into sending a product to an address different from the original shipping address. They may also request a refund without returning the product. To protect yourself from these scams, be cautious of any requests to return or refund a product before you have received it, or without returning it.
Counterfeit goods scam
Counterfeit goods are illegal copies of genuine products, and they can be difficult to spot. To protect yourself from these scams, be sure to research the seller and the product before making a purchase, and check the reviews and ratings of the product and seller.
Personal information scam
Scammers may try to trick you into providing personal information, such as your name, address, or bank account information. To protect yourself, never give out personal information in response to a request from someone you do not know or trust.
Phony seller scam
Scammers may create fake seller accounts or use the names of legitimate sellers to trick users into making purchases. To protect yourself, be sure to research the seller and the product before making a purchase, and check the reviews and ratings of the product and seller.
Spoofed website scam
Scammers may create fake websites that look like Amazon or other reputable online retailers in order to trick users into making purchases or providing personal information. To protect yourself, be sure to double-check the website address before making a purchase and be cautious of any requests for personal information.
Unauthorized seller scam
Scammers may create fake seller accounts or use the names of legitimate sellers to trick users into making purchases. To protect yourself, be sure to research the seller and the product before making a purchase, and check the reviews and ratings of the product and seller.
Weekly Scam Alerts - Free Service
Get notified when new scams are exposed!
Scammers never stop devising schemes to separate us from our hard-earned money. So, make sure to sign up for our weekly email scam alerts. TotalScam!™ Alert will notify you as soon new scams are discovered.
In addition to the above scams, it is also important to be aware of any red flags that may indicate a scam.
Some red flags to look out for include suspiciously low prices or discounts, a lack of information about the seller or manufacturer, poor quality or missing components in the product, suspiciously high numbers of positive reviews, and requests to return or refund a product before receiving it or without returning it.
Our investigations into Common Scams of 2024
To further protect yourself from Amazon scams, here are a few additional tips:
- Use a credit card for online purchases: Credit cards offer more protection against fraud than debit cards.
- Use Amazon’s A-to-z Guarantee: This guarantee covers most purchases made on Amazon and can help to protect you in case of any issues with your order.
- Check the return policy before making a purchase: This can help you to understand your rights and options in case you need to return the product.
- If you do fall victim to an Amazon scam, there are a few steps you can take to try to resolve the issue. You can report the issue to Amazon through the app or website, or you may be able to dispute the charge with your bank or credit card company if you used a payment method. If you believe that you have been the victim of a crime, such as fraud or identity theft, you may be able to file a report with the authorities or with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the National Consumers League’s Fraud.org website.
- By following these tips and being aware of the common scams on Amazon, you can protect yourself and have a safe and successful shopping experience on the platform. If you do encounter a scam, remember that there are steps you can take to try to resolve the issue and protect yourself in the future.
Amazon Scam Blacklist
The following phone numbers, websites, and emails have been reported to us by the consumer. If you feel this information is incorrect, you may submit a request for removal or correction by contacting us using this form.
Submit phone numbers, websites, or email addresses associated with a scam. Your submission will be published as soon as it gets reviewed by one of our staff members.
FAQ
Some common Amazon scams include fake product scams, phishing scams, unauthorized purchase scams, fake review scams, fake return or refund scams, counterfeit goods scams, personal information scams, phony seller scams, spoofed website scams, and unauthorized seller scams.
Some telltale signs of an Amazon scam include suspiciously low prices or discounts, a lack of information about the seller or manufacturer, poor quality or missing components in the product, suspiciously high numbers of positive reviews, and requests to return or refund a product before receiving it or without returning it.
To protect yourself from Amazon scams, be sure to research the seller and the product before making a purchase, check the reviews and ratings of the product and seller, use a credit card for online purchases, use Amazon’s A-to-z Guarantee, and check the return policy before making a purchase.
While it is generally safe to use a debit card for online purchases on Amazon, credit cards offer more protection against fraud.
If you think you have fallen victim to an Amazon scam, you can report the issue to Amazon through the app or website. You may also be able to dispute the charge with your bank or credit card company if you used a payment method. If you believe that you have been the victim of a crime, such as fraud or identity theft, you may be able to file a report with the authorities or with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the National Consumers League’s Fraud.org website.
Yes, Amazon’s A-to-z Guarantee covers most purchases made on Amazon and can help to protect you in case of any issues with your order.
Fake reviews can be difficult to spot, but if you notice a suspiciously high number of positive reviews for a product, or if the reviews seem fake or written by someone who has not used the product, it could be a scam.
To protect your personal information while shopping on Amazon, be aware of how Amazon communicates with its users and never click on any links or provide personal information in response to suspicious messages or emails. Additionally, enable two-factor authentication on your account and use a unique and strong password.
To ensure that you are buying a genuine product on Amazon, be sure to research the seller and the product before making a purchase, and check the reviews and ratings of the product and seller.
If you have been scammed on Amazon, you may be able to request a refund through the app or website. You may also be able to dispute the charge with your bank or credit card company if you used a payment method. If you believe that you have been the victim of a crime, such as fraud or identity theft, you may be able to file a report with the authorities or with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the National Consumers League’s Fraud.org website.
Attention: Consumers who have been contacted by scammers could have had their personal information breached. TotalScam!™ highly recommends that consumers whose information has been breached obtain an identity theft protection service immediately.
There are several companies that offer identity theft protection in the US. One of the most inexpensive options we were able to find is the protection offered by LifeLock. You can start your protection here.
Disclaimer: The information and opinions contained on this site are not endorsed by LifeLock. TotalScam!™ receives compensation from LifeLock. This helps support our scam prevention efforts.
Our investigations into Common Scams of 2024
