The festive season offers exciting deals, a wider range of products, and numerous shopping opportunities. However, it also sees an increase in fraudulent offers and misleading messages on various platforms. To ensure customers shop safely, Amazon advises vigilance against some malicious actors who may spoil the online shopping experience. Customers should be cautious of messages promoting a ‘special festive deal,’ requests for ‘urgent account verification,’ or suspicious links that purport to be from Amazon or other retailers. It is recommended to pause before clicking, sharing, or making any payments.
In its effort to foster customer trust and safe online shopping, Amazon India has teamed up with the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) from the Ministry of Home Affairs to promote Scam-Free September. This partnership aims to drive awareness campaigns across media and digital platforms to help customers recognize scams early and enjoy a secure festive shopping experience. Ashwini Samraj, Director of Public Relations & Communications at Amazon India, emphasizes that festivals should bring joy, not stress. She advises treating any messages that evoke urgency—such as requests to ‘act now,’ ‘pay a fee,’ or ‘confirm a strange purchase’—as red flags.
Customers should log in to the Amazon app or website to verify authenticity, utilize Amazon’s protective measures, and report any suspicious activity. In 2023, two-thirds of the scams reported by customers worldwide involved fake ‘order’ or ‘account’ issues. Impersonation scams often originate outside Amazon’s marketplace through emails, texts, messaging apps, or phone calls, where criminals misrepresent a well-known brand to create a false sense of urgency, tricking shoppers into disclosing sensitive information or making fraudulent payments. Scammers might falsely claim a customer’s account is ‘suspended,’ that an ‘order’ needs verification, or that immediate payment confirmation is required. Their aim is to compel victims into clicking harmful links, revealing credentials, or making off-platform payments.
To enhance safety, customers are advised to verify purchases in the app, check their orders directly, and only make payments through official channels. They should ignore any false sense of urgency, avoid paying with gift cards for fees or support, and reach out to Amazon directly through its official app or website if uncertain. Customers are encouraged to report suspicious messages using Amazon’s self-service tool or by emailing reportascam@amazon.com, while phishing emails can be forwarded to stop-spoofing@amazon.com. These reports assist Amazon in identifying and addressing fraudulent activities.
