Scammed by someone pretending to be Amazon? What to do next
Quick answer
If someone who said they were Amazon asked for a code, remote access, a payment or a gift card, it was a scam. Amazon says it never asks for payment by phone or email. Change your Amazon password, call your bank if money moved, and report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Reviewed by Anthon Wansland
Head of Product & Co-Founder
Serus is a privacy company with paid tools to find and remove your personal data. This page is free and based on official sources.
- Comes by
- Phone call, Text, Email, Website
- Pretends to be
- Amazon
- Last updated
How it works
Scammers contact you by phone, text, email or social media and say they're from Amazon. Amazon describes the goal as getting your Social Security number, bank details or Amazon account login.
Amazon says 28% of the impersonation scams its customers reported globally in 2025 aimed at taking over an account. A typical report: a caller says there's a problem with your account and you need to install software or read out a one-time password to fix it.
The pressure is the same every time. There's an unexpected order, a locked account or a refund you must claim, and you have to act now. The next step is the money or the access: a payment outside Amazon's app or site, gift cards, a bank transfer, or a screen-sharing session.
This page is about scammers using Amazon's name. Amazon is the impersonated company here, not the scammer.
Sources checked: aboutamazon.com, amazon.com
Last verified against the official page:
Red flags
- Someone contacts you first about an order, charge or account problem you didn't expect
- You're asked to pay by phone, email, bank transfer or gift card (Amazon says it never does this)
- You're asked to install software, share your screen or read out a one-time password
- The message pushes you to act fast or says your account will be closed
- The link or phone number comes from the message, not from Amazon's own app or site
Example message
"Amazon: we noticed a $499 charge for an order on your account. If you didn't make it, call [phone number] now to cancel it. Or visit [link] to verify your account."
What to do
- 1
If you only got the message
Don't click, call or reply. Open the Amazon app or type amazon.com yourself and check your orders and account messages. Forward the message to reportascam@amazon.com (Amazon says attaching it works best) and delete it.
- 2
If you shared your Amazon login or a code
Go to Amazon through the app or website and change your password. Use a password that you don't use anywhere else, and change it on any other site where you reused the old one.
- 3
If you gave remote access or installed software
Disconnect the device from the internet, remove the remote-access app, and run your device's built-in security scan. Change passwords from a different, clean device.
- 4
If you paid or shared bank details
Call your bank or card issuer using the number on the back of your card. Tell them it was a scam and ask about reversing the payment and replacing the card. If you paid with gift cards, contact the card company.
- 5
If you gave your Social Security number
Freeze your credit at the three credit bureaus and check your reports for accounts you don't recognize. The free steps are at identitytheft.gov.
- 6
Report it
File a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov. It helps the FTC spot the scam, even if you didn't lose money.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
Scammers pick targets using contact lists: names, phone numbers, emails and addresses that data brokers sell or that leak in breaches. Calls and texts that mention your name or an Amazon order feel real because of this. Serus finds the data brokers and people-search sites that list you and removes your info from them, and alerts you when your details show up in a breach, so fewer scammers can reach you. See our guide to data brokers.
More Amazon scams
Frequently asked
Is Amazon scamming me?
No. Scammers pretend to be Amazon. Amazon says it won't ask for payment over the phone or email, or ask you to buy gift cards.
How do I check if a message is really from Amazon?
Don't use the link or number in the message. Open the Amazon app or amazon.com yourself and look at your orders and messages. Amazon says real communications show up there.
Where do I report an Amazon scam?
Send the message to reportascam@amazon.com and report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Can I get my money back?
Call your bank or card issuer right away and ask. Payments by gift card, wire or crypto are hard to reverse, so speed matters. A refund isn't guaranteed.
Sources
- Tips to stay safe and avoid scams when shopping at Amazon · aboutamazon.com
- Report a scam - Amazon Customer Service · amazon.com
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