Here are the latest scams reported to Amazon Canada

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Published April 2, 2024 at 3:02 pm

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Amazon Canada deals with thousands of fraudsters every year and has just sent out some of the latest scams.

In 2023, Amazon initiated the takedown of more than 40,000 phishing websites and 10,000 phone numbers impersonating Amazon, according to a report from the company.

There were two main types of scams in 2023 — fake order issue scams or fake account issue scams, Amazon said.

Fake order issue scams are typically unexpected calls, texts, and emails that often refer to an unauthorized order and ask the customer to act urgently to confirm or cancel the purchase by providing personal or payment information.

Amazon Canada said customers should always check their order history on the website or via the Amazon Shopping app.

Only legitimate purchases will appear in your order history.

In the fake account issue scams, fraudsters call or send a text or email purporting to be from Amazon and claiming there is unauthorized activity on your account and that your account will be suspended or locked.

The fraudster then tries to lure the customer into providing personal or payment information or sign-in credentials.

Amazon suggests people don’t click on any links or provide information without authenticating the email or verifying the link.

People can visit the Amazon message centre, which displays a log of authentic communications sent from Amazon.

Tips for avoiding scams:

  1. Amazon will never ask you to download any software in order to receive assistance. Always go through the Amazon mobile app or website when seeking customer service, tech support, or when looking to make changes to your account.
  2. Be wary of false urgency or secrecy. Scammers might try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they’re asking. Be wary any time someone tries to convince you that you must act now or cannot discuss with trusted individuals.
  3. Never pay over the phone. Amazon will never ask you to provide payment information, including gift cards for products or services over the phone. Check your financial institution records for unknown or suspicious account activity and seek the advice of your financial institution directly.
  4. Verify links first. Review the link for misspellings or repeated characters. Legitimate Amazon websites contain amazon.ca or amazon.ca/support. Go directly to the website when seeking help with Amazon devices/services, orders or to make changes to your account.
  5. Verify email senders. Legitimate Amazon emails contain “@amazon.ca”. In your web browser, hover over the display name under “From” to see the full sender address. Look for misspellings or added or substituted characters. Visit the Amazon message centre to view authentic messages from Amazon.

For more information on how to stay safe online, visit security and privacy on the Amazon customer service page.

People can also report suspected scam calls, texts, or emails to amazon.ca/reportascam.

Lead photo: Karolina Grabowska

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