We at B&J Bookkeeping & Taxes have previously written on how to avoid the PayPal scam. In keeping with that tradition, we offer this bookkeeping tip on how scammers use Amazon to get your money.
1. What is the Amazon Scam?
Nowadays, everyone has an Amazon account and most likely places orders, returns, items for sale, and more on a regular basis. As a result, you get lots of emails from them probably on a daily basis. These are legitimate emails that can give you information on everything from when your order is going to arrive to password breaches. Scammers know this and are hoping you won’t notice when they try to use this knowledge to con you.
2. The Amazon Order Confirmation Scam
These unexpected calls, emails, or texts will warn you of an unauthorized purchase and ask you to act urgently or you will be charged for the phony purchase. Once in contact, they will try to convince you to “confirm” your payment information in order to cancel the purchase. They may also ask you to install software to your device or purchase a gift card instead. It is all a scam to get your bank or credit card information, to install a virus on your device, and/or to buy a gift card that will never work.
How to Avoid the Amazon Order Confirmation Scam
Do not respond to these types of correspondence. Just go to your Amazon account via the app or directly on their site. You can view all of your orders there and confirm which are legitimate.
3. The Amazon Tech Support Scam
It isn’t that hard to create a website. And it is doubly easy to create one that says something like “Official Site of Amazon Tech Support.” Scammers create these fake sites claiming to provide tech support for all your Amazon devices and even any item purchased from Amazon. You go onto the site and are put in touch directly with scammers who will ask you to do the same items as above: give payment info, download software, buy gift cards, etc.
How to Avoid the Amazon Tech Support Scam
Go to a legitimate Amazon website which will contain some form of ”amazon.com.” Currently, the best site to go to for help on your Amazon purchases is the official Amazon customer support site.
3. The Amazon Gift Card Scam
Did you win an Amazon or other gift card in a sweepstakes you never entered? It’s a scam. In fact, we at B&J Bookkeeping & Taxes win all sorts of sweepstakes we’ve never entered including:
- Ninja Blender, Kitchen System, or Air Fryer.
- All sorts of stuff from “Kohl’s.”
- Scammers claiming to be with Lowe’s, Home Depot, and/or Dewalt.
- Gift cards of all kinds.
- The Nigerian Lottery (on several occasions).
How to Avoid the Amazon Gift Card Scam
We have clients who do regularly enter contests, sweeps, etc. We advise them to use a single email for these types of entries. This way, any “wins” sent to their work, personal, or other email can be immediately spotted for the scams they are. Remember that any legitimate win email will be from the provider of the sweepstakes. You may contact them directly to confirm, as they are used to winners being suspect of a scam. They will not ask for your sensitive information. Usually, they just need an address to mail your prize.
More Houston Bookkeeper Tips to Help You Avoid Scams
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