Black Friday is just around the corner, and with it comes the holiday season, which also brings a rise in impersonation scams. As shoppers flock to online retailers, Amazon becomes a particularly big target, with scammers attempting to access sensitive information like Social Security numbers, bank details, and Amazon account credentials.
Amazon’s VP of Worldwide Buyer Risk Prevention, Scott Knapp, explains that the most common Amazon impersonation scams involve fake order or shipping confirmations claiming that payment is required, and fake purchase alerts for popular tech products. In 2023, Amazon saw a nearly 1.5x increase in reports of this scam from three weeks prior, and a 13x spike in customer reports compared to three weeks earlier.
To stay ahead of these scams, Amazon is taking several steps. The company is initiating takedowns of scammers with public-private partnerships, and has a team of machine learning scientists and expert investigators who protect its store and consumers from fraud and other forms of abuse. In 2023 alone, Amazon initiated takedowns of more than 40,000 phishing websites and 10,000 phone numbers being used as part of impersonation schemes.
To help customers stay safe, Knapp recommends watching out for red flags, such as requests for account or payment information and creating a false sense of urgency. He also suggests verifying the email by hovering over the “From” name and checking the sender’s email address to ensure it’s a genuine Amazon email. Additionally, customers should beware of phishing links and avoid clicking on random links, especially in messages about shopping deals or account issues.
To protect themselves, customers can use antivirus software, be cautious of “too good to be true” offers, and consider using a personal data removal service to reduce their digital footprint. Finally, if customers encounter an impersonation scam, they should report it to Amazon.
Overall, while scammers will do their best to ruin the holiday season, most of their tactics can be easily avoided with the right tools and a little common sense. By being cautious and taking the necessary precautions, customers can enjoy a scam-free shopping experience this holiday season.
