Multiple Faces Detected
May 8th, 2025
Amazon has over 310 million users and remains one of the most trusted shopping platforms in 2025. Scammers know people trust Amazon, and that’s why they take advantage of it.
Amazon scams are carried out by fraudsters who use the platform’s trusted name to trick people into giving up their personal details or money.
In 2023 and 2024, global scam-related losses topped $1 trillion. Many of these started with phishing schemes that pretended to be from Amazon to fool users into sharing sensitive information.
But phishing is just one part of the problem. Amazon scams come in many forms, and knowing how they work is one of the best ways to protect yourself.
Common Amazon Scams to Watch Out For
Scammers keep coming up with new ways to trick people, especially online shoppers. Knowing the most common Amazon scams can help you avoid getting caught.
Here are a few to watch out for:
Phishing Emails
Scammers send fraudulent emails that look like they’re from Amazon. They often claim there’s an issue with your account or a recent purchase to pressure you into acting quickly.
Impersonation is especially common during high-volume shopping seasons, when credit card fraud becomes harder to detect.
Scammers may also pose as representatives from Amazon affiliates that process payments. It’s important to verify suspicious emails using a reverse email lookup before clicking on any links or sharing information.
Example
Charlotte Cowles lost $50,000 after receiving a call from someone claiming to be from Amazon’s fraud department. She was then transferred to a fake FTC agent who convinced her to move her savings to a so-called “safe account.” Sadly, it was controlled by scammers.
Brushing Scams
Getting surprise packages from Amazon that you never ordered? That could be a brushing scam. Sellers send free items to your address with fake reviews to boost their product’s credibility. It might seem harmless, but it usually means your info has been compromised.
Example
In December 2024, Australians reported receiving random items like torn fabric or cheap toys along with QR codes linking to sketchy websites. Authorities warned people not to scan unknown QR codes and to check shipping updates only through official carriers.
Typosquatting
This involves scammers making fake websites that look like Amazon, with names like Anozam.com, to steal your login or payment info. Always investigate the website properly before entering any personal details.
Overpayment Scams
In this scheme, scammers overpay for an item and then ask for a refund of the excess. After you send the refund, you discover their original payment was fake, leaving you out of pocket.
Example
Amazon filed a lawsuit against a group on Telegram called “Chin Chopa.” The group is accused of stealing over 10,000 items by making fake returns. They tricked Amazon by inventing stories, like using fake police reports, to get refunds without returning the products.
Customers paid fraudsters between 20% and 30% of the product’s price in cryptocurrency.
Gift Card Scam
In a gift card scam, a fraudster pretends to be a trusted source, like an Amazon representative, and claims there’s an urgent issue that can be solved by buying gift cards. They pressure the victim to quickly purchase Amazon gift cards and share the card numbers and PINs.
The scam works by creating a false sense of urgency, one of the most common ways scammers exploit fear and desire to make people act without thinking.
Example
An elderly person in Plymouth lost £3,400 this way. The scammers convinced them to buy gift cards and read out the codes over the phone, draining the balance instantly.
Phone Calls
Phone scams related to Amazon have jumped by 71%. These calls can feel very real, especially if you’re already worried about a charge or delivery.
Scammers are especially active during holidays, when shopping spikes. It’s important to take steps to avoid credit card fraud during high-risk times like these.
Always remember that Amazon will never ask for personal details or payments over the phone. When in doubt, do a reverse phone number lookup to verify the call.
Example
A woman from Knoxville, Tennessee, saw a double charge on her credit card for an Amazon order. While trying to reach Amazon’s customer service, she ended up speaking to scammers pretending to be Amazon staff.
They tricked her into moving her life savings to a fake “secure” account, leading to a big loss.
Steps to Take If You’ve Been Scammed
One major red flag is when the seller asks you to pay through Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, or crypto—payment methods that are harder to trace and recover. It’s a strong reminder to keep mobile payment apps secure and guard against unauthorized access.
If you suspect that you’ve fallen victim to a scam:
Report to Amazon
Promptly report the incident through Amazon’s official channels, either via email or the helpline, and provide a detailed explanation.
Reset Your Login Credentials
It is advisable to reset your login details immediately, as you may have unintentionally compromised your information by visiting a suspicious website, clicking on a fraudulent link, scanning a questionable QR code on a package, or opening a malicious email attachment.
Report your Bank
Notify your bank or credit card company to monitor or block any unauthorized transactions. In addition, consider freezing your cards to prevent further fraudulent activity.
It’s important to take action quickly and use Social Catfish’s tools, designed to protect you online, especially when your information may already be exposed.
Your Defense Against Amazon Scams
Even after you’ve reported the scam and changed your passwords, it’s normal to still have questions like who really contacted you or if your information is still being used somewhere.
That’s where Search Specialists from places like Social Catfish can help. We work with people who’ve been scammed to figure out who was really behind it. Our team can help check if the person you talked to was real and if your info is being used in other places online.
This is what Coleen Howard, one of our customers, has to say about it:
“socialcatfish.com. This is the 2nd time that I’ve used their services and am very pleased. This time, I was able to search for 3 men who I’ve been chatting with on social media and found that all 3 were using photos of other men to scam me. I did a follow up with Erin, who was very helpful.”
