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Don’t Fall for the Grinchy Amazon Email Scam Targeting Holiday Shoppers

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As Christmas quickly approaches, many people are excitedly awaiting their online holiday deliveries and gifts for loved ones. Unfortunately, this festive season is also prime time for many scammers to take advantage of people’s anticipation for their packages. That’s why the Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Nebraska, South Dakota, the Kansas Plains, and Southwest Iowa is warning online shoppers about new Amazon email scams making the rounds on the internet.

One email appears to be a legitimate message from Amazon, with the official website logo at the top and everything. The BBB received a message that reads, “Someone from Dayton, Ohio has tried to reset your passwords, and if you have not requested these codes, call this number: 1-800-801-5811.” The email also included a code and a request to provide that code along with an email address when the recipient calls the listed number.

“The scammer is trying to make you respond and get you to reset your Amazon password so they can use it to purchase things using your Amazon account,” says BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty. “These kinds of scams tend to go around this time of year because there’s so much communication in the marketplace, and scammers are betting on the fact that you’re going to reply to it and believe it’s true.”

Another Amazon email scam on the rise includes a realistic-looking message that informs customers the address they have on file is not confirmed and requests shoppers verify that information by sending a link. Similar to the other scam, it’s actually just a ploy to get access to your personal information.

Sadly, scammers trying to impersonate staff members at Amazon is not uncommon.

“When it comes to ecommerce, Amazon.com is one of the most trusted and established brands (and a BBB Accredited Business). That’s why scammers love to impersonate it,” Hegarty says.

Don’t fall for it, Amazon shoppers! Keep your eyes peeled for these emails, and if they happen to fall into your inbox, report them to BBB scam tracker ASAP.

How to Identify Amazon Scam Emails

1. Look closely at the sender’s email address. The message may say that it’s from “Amazon.com,” but if the actual address says something wildly different, it’s a bad sign.

2. Beware of links in unsolicited emails. These links can be extremely harmful to your computer and can even lead to identity theft in some cases.

3. Watch out for any message that requests personal information. It’s a major red flag if an unsolicited email requests your date of birth, credit card or banking information, address, or your Social Security number.

4. Familiarize yourself with more BBB tips to spot other scams. The BBB website offers loads of helpful advice on how to keep yourself safe from scammers. Take advantage of it!

h/t Aberdeen News

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