June 13, 2024, 12:36 pm | Read time: 7 minutes
Fraudsters repeatedly attempt to access users’ personal data. Fake emails from Amazon are often used for this purpose. We reveal which scams in the name of the online retailer are currently causing trouble.
Amazon is one of the most popular online shops in Germany. It’s no surprise that fraudsters like to use the name Amazon for their schemes. Not only the retailer itself but also consumer protection agencies regularly warn about emails that can be dangerous for customers. TECHBOOK reveals which alleged Amazon emails customers should currently be wary of.
Overview
Alleged Email from Amazon Regarding Suspended Prime Account
The consumer protection agency regularly informs about new fraud attempts in its phishing radar. Currently, suspicious emails from Amazon are circulating again, this time with the subject line “Payment Issue Related to Your Amazon Prime Membership.”
Similar to previous instances, the criminals claim there was a payment issue with the Prime membership, which is why it had to be temporarily terminated. They then refer to the option to subscribe to a new membership directly from the message by clicking the corresponding button. Users should never click this button, as it leads to a fraudulent site.
If you receive an email from Amazon but are unsure if it’s a phishing attempt, you can quickly find out: In the current case, there is no personal greeting or farewell. Furthermore, it doesn’t feature the German Amazon logo but a British one (recognizable by “co.uk”). Additionally, a French sentence, “Une question?” has sneaked into the end of the message.
Criminals repeatedly try to deceive unsuspecting individuals with fake emails to obtain sensitive data. Below, we inform you about older scams that you might still encounter. We also provide general security tips.
Fraudulent Emails Due to Alleged Account Suspension
The consumer protection agency is currently receiving increased reports of fake emails targeting Amazon customers. The subject line is alarming: “Your Amazon Account is Under Review!” it says. The email states that a payment could not be deducted from the Amazon account. For this reason, you should check the stored payment method. According to the email, customers “can only access your account or place orders once we have confirmed your information.”
Below the text is a button labeled “Check Now.” Clicking it does not start the alleged verification process but allows the fraudsters to capture other personal data.
The email’s design and the familiar Amazon font are meant to suggest authenticity. However, the phishing email in Amazon’s name lacks a correct personal greeting, which is suspicious. If you are still unsure, contact Amazon directly and verify the email’s claims. Do not click the button or any other link sent unsolicited via email.
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Alleged Restriction of Amazon Prime
Another phishing email is causing trouble, pretending that recipients will lose their Prime privileges if they don’t update their payment information.
The email is titled “Current Info: Activity Access Information.” It informs Amazon users that there are issues with the stored credit card, which is why Amazon couldn’t charge an outstanding invoice amount and taxes. Amazon Prime membership benefits have been postponed until the card information is updated. If users don’t update their payment information within the next six days, Amazon will cancel the Prime membership, it further states.
All of this is, of course, complete nonsense. The fraudsters follow a classic pattern by pressuring users with restrictions and a tight timeframe. The link inserted in the email does not lead to the Amazon user account but to a fake website. Any data entered here immediately falls into the hands of the fraudsters.
The best course of action is to ignore this phishing email in Amazon’s name and move it to the spam folder. Under no circumstances should you enter your payment information anywhere.
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Amazon Warns of Fraudulent Emails
To verify a purchase, recipients are asked in another allegedly Amazon-originated email to confirm or cancel it. Usually, a link is attached, allowing users to enter their data. But they should never click it, as it doesn’t lead to Amazon but to a fake website where fraudsters can capture data or even install malware on PCs and laptops.
A similar approach is found in emails urging recipients to update their payment information. As Amazon writes, fraudsters ask users to pay an outstanding invoice for a product or service they never ordered. They threaten to collect the due amount if the customer doesn’t provide their payment or account information. All this is meant to create pressure and prompt the recipient of the phishing email in Amazon’s name to act quickly.
In both cases, the rule is: Stay calm! Amazon will never send emails about an order that customers don’t expect. Nor will payment information ever be requested via email or phone. For questions, the online retailer refers to its user account, where customers can find all relevant information about open orders or invoices. Only proper purchases are displayed in the order history. Customer service is also available around the clock.
Warning of Alleged Account Validation
The consumer protection agency is currently warning again about a scam that is not entirely new but is appearing in various forms. According to this, Amazon customers are increasingly being informed that an “unauthorized party” allegedly accessed their account. For protection, the account has been locked on the platform, and all orders have been canceled. To regain access, the customer must now validate all account data again. These phishing emails come from fraudsters who add pressure by threatening permanent account deletion after 24 hours.
Those who look closely will notice several spelling errors. Such a threat of deletion if a deadline is not met is also often a sign of a fraud attempt. You should never click the corresponding button in the message but move the message to the spam folder and possibly report it to the consumer protection agency.
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Recognizing Fake Emails and Responding Correctly
In recent days and weeks, consumer protection has repeatedly raised the alarm about fake Amazon emails. The online retailer is also aware of the problem. On its website, Amazon provides its customers with tips on recognizing phishing and protecting themselves from this and future fraud attempts. You should always pay attention to the following points:
Pay Attention to the Greeting
Customers are always addressed by name in (real) emails from Amazon Prime. In the fake ones currently circulating, it just says “Hello” – often and in this case a sign of phishing.
Amazon Never Requests Data via Email
“Amazon will never ask you to submit personal data via email,” it says on the shipping company’s website. Any urgency notes should not be believed, and open questions should be clarified directly on Amazon.
Always Check the Sender Address
Amazon also advises never opening links provided in emails of questionable origin. Real Amazon email addresses always end with @amazon.de.
Check on Amazon if in Doubt
If there is ever doubt about whether a request for orders or payment information might be genuine, users should not click links in emails but rather check on Amazon. Both in the app and on the website, they can see if there are currently any open questions from Amazon. In the user account, they can also check the status of a purchase and view payment information and data on existing subscriptions.