In recent years, the rise of digital communication has brought with it a corresponding increase in the risk of cybercrime. One of the most prevalent types of cybercrime is impersonation scams, whereby criminals impersonate reputable companies in an attempt to gain access to sensitive personal information. Amazon, the multinational technology company, has warned its customers in the UK about the growing threat of these types of scams and has provided guidance on how to identify and avoid them.
Understanding the Impersonation Scam
An impersonation scam is a type of phishing attack in which an attacker poses as a legitimate entity, such as Amazon, in order to trick victims into divulging sensitive information or clicking on malicious links. This can be accomplished through a variety of channels, including email, phone calls, and text messages. These types of scams have become increasingly sophisticated, with fraudsters going to great lengths to make their communications look authentic.
Amazon’s Response to Impersonation Scams
Amazon is taking the threat of impersonation scams seriously and has implemented several measures to combat them. The company has reported hundreds of suspected scammers to police forces around the world and has taken down over 10,000 dodgy phone numbers and 20,000 phishing websites. Additionally, Amazon has offered its customers advice on how to spot and avoid these scams, emphasizing that it will never ask for personal information over email, phone, or text.
How to Spot an Amazon Impersonation Email
One of the primary channels that fraudsters use to perpetrate impersonation scams is email. Amazon has provided guidance to its customers on how to identify a fraudulent email. Firstly, customers should be suspicious if Amazon is asking for personal information or payment details when it is not linked to any order or service they have subscribed to. Secondly, customers should check the email header for the real sender address and domain. Amazon’s emails will always come from an address that ends in @amazon.co.uk, while fraudulent emails may look authentic but can never duplicate the email domain.
How to Spot an Amazon Impersonation Call
Customers should also be cautious when receiving phone calls claiming to be from Amazon. The company has identified three red flags that customers should be aware of when receiving a suspicious call. Firstly, Amazon will never ask for payment over the phone. Secondly, the company will never ask customers to make a payment outside of its website. Finally, Amazon will never ask customers for remote access to their device.
How to Spot an Amazon Impersonation Text
Another channel that fraudsters use to perpetrate impersonation scams is text messaging, also known as “smishing”. Amazon has warned that smishing scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers often inserting fraudulent messages into a thread of legitimate messages. To avoid falling victim to these types of scams, customers should be aware of fraudulent messages reporting a problem with their account, requesting sensitive information such as passwords, or claiming a refund. Amazon has reaffirmed that it will never ask customers for their password or personal information by text message, nor will it ask customers to make a payment outside of its website via bank transfer or credit card details.
How to Report an Amazon Impersonation Scam
If a customer suspects that they have been targeted by an Amazon impersonation scam, they can report it directly to the retailer via its online reporting service. Customers can also report scam calls and texts by texting the word “call” followed by the scam number to 7726. In the case of scam emails, they should be forwarded to report@phishing.gov.uk or reported to email providers through their designated channels. It is important for customers to report these scams, as it can help prevent other individuals from falling victim to the same scheme.
What to Do If You Fall Victim to an Amazon Impersonation Scam
In the unfortunate event that a customer falls victim to an Amazon impersonation scam, there are steps that they can take to minimize the damage. Firstly, they should contact their bank immediately to report the fraud and prevent further unauthorized transactions. Secondly, they should report the scam to Action Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040 in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. In Scotland, customers can report the scam to the police on 101.
Conclusion
The threat of impersonation scams is a growing concern for businesses and individuals alike. As companies like Amazon continue to offer their services online, it is important for customers to remain vigilant and protect themselves from these types of scams. By following the guidance provided by Amazon and reporting any suspicious activity, customers can help prevent fraudsters from succeeding in their attempts to steal personal information.
