This Message From Amazon Offering a Refund Is a Scam
Scammers love to impersonate Amazon. Just last month, the company warned Prime subscribers about a phishing email offering (fake) subscription renewals. Customers have also been targeted by similar messages related to various account issues, as well as mysterious packages of “free” items that turned out to be scams .
Scammers are at it again with a new phishing scam that offers (fake) refunds for recalled purchases, according to a new warning from the Federal Trade Commission .
How Amazon SMS Refund Scam Works
As outlined in the FTC notice, the current scam begins with a text message sent to the potential recipient on behalf of Amazon. The message states that as a result of a “routine quality check,” the company has determined that your recent purchase is substandard or has been recalled. You can get your money back without returning the item, but to do so, you must click on the included link and provide some information to request a refund.
This is a malicious link that takes you to a phishing site, and instead of getting a refund if you click the link and submit your claim, you will be giving the scammers your personal and/or financial information.
How to Spot an Amazon Text Message Scam
Like many scams, this one isn’t very sophisticated, but the promise of an easy refund can be enough to convince some recipients to act without thinking. Common warning signs include poorly written text with odd formatting, strong calls to action, and senders with foreign numbers or email addresses. As a general rule, you should never click on links received in text messages, unsolicited emails, or social media posts. These are common phishing scams. Also, never respond directly, as this could invite further attacks from the scammers.
If you have concerns about an Amazon purchase, log in to your account by going directly to the site or app and reviewing your order history. You can also check which messages are actually from Amazon by going to Accounts & Lists > Account > Your Messages .
If you receive an unwanted text message that you believe is a scam, you can forward it to 7726 (SPAM) and report it as spam through your phone’s messaging app. Then delete it.