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Amazon scams: how the fake messages work

Amazon impersonation scams involve fraudulent emails, text messages, or phone calls falsely claiming to be from Amazon regarding shipping problems, account lockouts, or unauthorized purchases. Scammers typically manufacture false urgency to trick victims into clicking malicious phishing links, surrendering account credentials, or granting remote computer access. To stay safe, consumers should never click unsolicited links or call back numbers provided in messages, and should verify all order and account statuses exclusively through the official Amazon mobile app or website.

Last reviewed: August 9, 2026  ·  Drafted with AI assistance. Every figure on this page was checked against the source cited for it. Not yet reviewed by a human editor.

ScamPreventionGuide is an independent consumer-protection resource. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon. Company names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used here only to identify the companies that scammers impersonate.

01

Is the Amazon message real?

Amazon communicates strictly through official domains ending in @amazon.com (or regional country code equivalents like @amazon.co.uk). Genuine customer service or delivery notifications appear directly inside the Amazon mobile app or website under Your Orders or Messages. Amazon never initiates unsolicited phone calls demanding immediate payment, gift card purchases, bank transfers, or remote access to personal computers. Amazon does not request passwords, full credit card numbers, or sensitive login credentials via unsolicited text messages or email links.

02

Which versions are in circulation?

The versions in circulation, and what each one is after:

VersionHow it reaches youWhat it wants
Fake Delivery / Shipping IssueSMS / EmailSteal login credentials, credit card details, and personal data via phishing sites
Account Lock / Suspicious Sign-inEmailSteal Amazon account credentials and payment card information
Fraudulent Charge / Prime RenewalPhone Call / SMSTrick victim into granting remote computer access or transferring funds to "secure" accounts
Product Safety Recall NoticeEmailSteal financial account information and login credentials via malicious third-party links
Work-From-Home / Recruitment ScamSMS / Social MediaExtract personal identity details, upfront training fees, or bank account access
Fake Gift Card PromotionEmail / Social MediaSteal personal data, install malware, or sign victims up for fraudulent recurring subscription fees
03

What do the fake messages actually say?

We are not quoting example wording on this page. On 16 August 2026 we checked the quoted messages against the sources they were credited to, and the sources did not contain them — so the quotes were removed rather than reworded. We would rather show you nothing than show you an invented example of a real crime.

The exact wording changes constantly anyway. What does not change is the shape: a message you did not ask for, about a problem you cannot verify, with a link or a phone number supplied for you to use. Do not use either — reach the company the way you normally would.

04

How can you tell a real message from a fake one?

The differences you can check yourself:

  • The genuine Amazon shipping notification never includes external tracking links ending in mismatched domains; legitimate tracking links always point directly to amazon.com or official carrier domains like ups.com, fedex.com, or usps.com.
  • The genuine Amazon customer service team never calls or texts customers asking for remote computer access or software installation (such as AnyDesk or TeamViewer).
  • The genuine Amazon refund process is fully automated within your account dashboard; real representatives never ask you to pay a fee or purchase gift cards to receive a refund.
  • The genuine Amazon message center stores a permanent copy of every official customer communication; if a message claims urgency regarding an order or account issue but does not appear in your in-app Messages tab, it is fraudulent.
  • The sender address in genuine Amazon emails always originates strictly from an @amazon.com domain (or regional equivalent like @amazon.co.uk), whereas scam emails use obfuscated or lookalike domains such as amazon-security-verify.com.
05

What should you do in the first hour?

It depends on how far it got. Find your situation:

  • Disconnect the call or close the browser tab immediately. Do not interact further. Log into your genuine Amazon account directly via the official app or website at Amazon to verify your account status.
  • Immediately change your Amazon account password. If you reuse passwords across other services, update those passwords as well. Navigate to Your Account > Login & Security to check for unauthorized changes to your email address, phone number, or shipping addresses.
  • Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately using the phone number on the back of your card. Request a complete freeze or cancellation of compromised cards and dispute any unauthorized fraudulent charges. Report the financial fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at FTC Report Fraud.
  • Immediately disconnect your computer from the internet (turn off Wi-Fi or unplug the Ethernet cable). Run a full offline antivirus and anti-malware scan. If online banking or sensitive financial software was accessed on the machine, contact your financial institutions from a clean, uncompromised device.
  • Forward the complete scam email or text message details as an attachment to reportascam@amazon.com or submit a report through Amazon Report a Scam.
06

Where do you report it?

Email suspicious messages as an attachment to reportascam@amazon.com or use the online self-service tool at Amazon Report a Scam. For general security issues, emails can also be sent to verify@amazon.com.

Whatever the brand, two official channels take the report. File with the US Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and — if money was lost or a computer was accessed — with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. Reporting rarely recovers money on its own; it is what makes the next person's warning possible.

07

Sources