Scamwatch: yet another Amazon fraud!
Stay one step ahead of the fraudsters with our series of articles giving you the lowdown on the scams they use to trick people out of their hard-earned cash - and how to avoid being taken in by them.
This week, why Amazon users need to be on their guard against yet another email scam designed to trick them into handing over their card details.
How does it work?
The popular website Amazon has been hit with another email scam involving fake messages that aim to convince users they have been charged for an order they never placed.
The bogus messages, which appear to have been sent from the address "service@amazon.co.uk", look very similar to Amazon's automatic online order notification emails, and can relate to a wide variety of purchases.
Items victims report receiving emails about include vintage chandeliers, Bose stereos, iPhones, cameras and luxury watches.
Whatever the item concerned, the fraudsters behind the emails are simply trying to trick people into clicking on a help centre link and entering their card details to claim a refund.
Those who do so have their accounts plundered, with one victim from Manchester losing £750.
How can I avoid being caught out?
According to Action Fraud, the latest scam emails targeting Amazon users are "convincing", and send those who click on the help centre link to a legitimate-looking page.
However, Amazon never asks for personal information to be supplied by email. So if you receive an email that requires you to enter your card details for any reason, you can be sure it is a scam.
I've been defrauded. What should I do?
The first thing to do if you suspect you have shared your card details with fraudsters is to contact your bank and ensure your accounts are secure.
Acting fast will help to protect your money, and will improve your chances of getting a refund from your bank: the victim who lost £750 in this particular scam was refunded in full by his bank Nationwide.
You should also report the problem to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
