Amazon order confirmation scam email - how to stay safe

Rights, Scams and Politics

Updated on 06 January 2017 | 5 Comments

Action Fraud is warning of a 'convincing looking' order confirmation email claiming to be from Amazon. Don't click on the link - it's a scam!

Another Amazon scam email is doing the rounds, and it looks like a genuine order confirmation.

Action Fraud warns that the Amazon notification is actually a ruse to steal your bank details, but the messages come from service@amazon.co.uk which seems more legitimate than many other scam email addresses.

One of the scam emails reported to Action Fraud claimed that the victim ordered a vintage chandelier (as shown below). Others include Bose stereos, iPhones, cameras and luxury watches.

Image credit: Action Fraud

The email says that if you haven’t authorised the transaction you can click on a help centre link to get a full refund. The link leads to a perfectly authentic-looking website which asks for your name, address and bank card details.

A man lost £750 after entering his Nationwide bank details. Luckily, he notified the bank soon afterwards and it cancelled the card and refunded him in full.

How to spot an Amazon scam email

Amazon says that it will never ask you to enter financial information by email. If you’re at all suspicious about an email that claims to be from Amazon, watch out for:

  • Links to websites that look like Amazon.co.uk, but aren't Amazon.co.uk
  • Attachments or prompts to install software on your computer
  • Typos or grammatical errors
  • Forged (or spoofed) email addresses to make it look like the email is coming from Amazon.co.uk.

Report any dodgy messages to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or by using the online reporting tool.

Check your credit report for anything unusual

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