How To Spot and Avoid the Amazon Scam Targeting Montanans

It’s only the beginning of the new year, and already there are scammers trying to trick us with fake schemes.

One recent scam involves fake text messages that seem to be from Amazon. These texts claim that your Amazon account has been accessed in India, and they tell you to click on a link to verify your account.

Amazon is warning people in Montana not to click on these links and never to give their personal or account information to these sneaky texts.

How the Scam Works

The scammers want to create a sense of urgency and trick you into going to a specific website or calling a certain number. If you fall for it, the scammer might try to steal your personal information to sell it to other crooks or take over your Amazon account. They could also use your details to buy gift cards, which they then sell for cash on different websites.

Identifying Fake Emails and Texts

Be wary of emails or text messages that look like they're from Amazon but could be fake. These messages might lead you to phony websites that seem like Amazon's site. Always be cautious of any links in these messages and double-check if they are real. Amazon will only send emails from addresses ending in amazon.com or amazon.in. To stay safe, never share personal or financial details, and avoid clicking on any suspicious links.

Protecting Yourself

If you get a message that seems suspicious, it’s important to be careful and make sure it’s really from Amazon before you do anything. By being cautious and knowing what to look out for, we can stop the scammers and keep our personal information and money safe. Remember that Amazon will never ask for your passwords, payment details, or banking information over the phone.

If you get a call or text from someone claiming to be from Amazon and needing this information, be extra careful not to share it. If you have already shared details with a scammer over the phone, it's best to change your Amazon password right away and notify both the authorities and Amazon.

Getting More Help

For more details and information on how you can spot and report suspicious messages from Amazon, you can check out Amazon's official help page here.