People have been urged to think twice and always double check
People who shop online with Amazon have been given an alert to be aware of when answering the phone. There is a genuine trick being pulled across the country that could result in bank accounts being drained.
Whilst exact numbers are hard to pin down, Amazon has millions of customers who use its fast and efficient online shopping services. This puts a target on many Brits who need to be on their guard after consumer watchdog Which? raised the alarm about a new tactic that criminals use to exploit shoppers.
According to Which?, crooks are starting to take advantage of the ‘one-time passcode’ system to lock people out of their accounts, leaving them helpless as their bank accounts are held hostage. Specialists are already aware of tricks being used with similar platforms like Very, Klarna and more.
How does the scam work?
The scam begins with a call from a fraudster claiming to work at Amazon. The caller will most likely know your name, mobile number and email address through any data leaks that include your information.
Reports suggest that the scammer will attempt to convince the person on the other end of the phone that their account has been used to purchase lots of high-value items. The caller will then inform you that you’ll receive a text message on your mobile device from Amazon, containing a passcode.
Which? explained that, while this will be a legitimate text from Amazon, it will have been sent as a result of a scammer trying to bypass your security measures. Anyone who has been fooled during the situation designed to create panic may hand over the final piece of information that the dodgy caller needs to access your Amazon account and use the stored card details to rack up purchases in your name and drain accounts dry.
Amazon’s response to scam tactic
An Amazon spokesperson told Which?: “Scammers that attempt to impersonate Amazon put consumers at risk, and we will continue to invest in protecting consumers and educating the public on scam avoidance. We encourage consumers to report suspected scams to us so that we can protect their accounts and refer bad actors to law enforcement to help keep consumers safe.
‘We may ask you to verify your identity if you call customer service for support. Amazon will never contact you first to ask you for your password, verification passcodes or security question.”
Report scam calls received on your mobile by forwarding the number to 7726. If you lose any money to a scam, call your bank immediately using the number on the back of your bank card and report it to Report Fraud – or call the police on 101 if you’re in Scotland.
Another warning has been issued to anyone who uses WhatsApp over concerns that scammers could be ‘GhostPairing’. This latest threat was recently discovered by cybersecurity firm Avast, and it’s particularly insidious because victims may not realise they’ve been compromised for months.
