Scots warned over Amazon Prime Day scams

Glasgow, Scotland – July 09, 2024:

Scottish shoppers have been urged to be on their guard against scams as Amazon Prime Day approaches.

Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the national consumer advice service consumeradvice.scot, has encouraged consumers to stay safe while shopping online and remain cautious of fake deals presented through phishing emails, texts, and calls.

With just one week to go until the shopping event, the charity warned that fraudsters are using new tactics to target Scots seeking bargains during the cost-of-living crisis.

Advice Direct Scotland has also seen a surge in reports of bogus calls where scammers pose as banks, falsely claiming consumers have encountered issues with Amazon transactions in an attempt to steal sensitive details.

Its advisers have recently handled a number of cases from across the country where people received calls from seemingly local telephone numbers claiming to be from a ‘bank security service’ or ‘Visa security’, mentioning payments related to the site.

Similar calls, warning consumers of ‘suspicious’ transactions ranging from £300 to £1,300 on other international websites, have been reported in Aberdeen, the Borders, Edinburgh, Fife, the Highlands, North Ayrshire, and West Dunbartonshire.

Advice Direct Scotland is reminding the public that genuine banks never make unsolicited calls to request your PIN, full password, or transfers to other accounts.

It is advising people to stay vigilant, and if a call appears suspicious or raises concern, to hang up and contact the bank or card issuer directly.

Amazon Prime Day begins on Tuesday, July 16, and runs until Wednesday, July 17, featuring major discounts.

Criminals often use the opportunity to lure victims with offers that appear too good to be true, aiming to steal both their money and their personal information.

Scammers commonly impersonate Amazon in emails, alerting recipients about account issues.

For example, some messages claim a temporary hold has been placed on the account, with pending orders cancelled due to incorrect billing information.

Recipients are urged to click a link to ‘verify their account’ within three days to avoid further order cancellations.

Another scam email may mention an expired payment method for Amazon Prime membership, prompting recipients to update their details via a provided link.

Additionally, scammers may create bogus websites impersonating Amazon, so shoppers should check for misspelled or slightly different domain names.

Advice Direct Scotland has issued key tips for online shoppers, including:

• Create a strong new password for your Amazon account before July 16 that cannot be guessed from personal information, such as birth dates or address locations.
• Before buying, research the online retailer to ensure that it is legitimate, and read their returns policy to make sure that you understand your rights.
• Avoid clicking on products with no reviews, and check for fake reviews. Scammers can artificially boost product ratings by posting fake positive reviews.
• Use a credit card if possible, as it may be easier to get your money back if something goes wrong. If you don’t have a credit card, online services like PayPal can protect your bank details.
• Be savvy – if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Scots have also been encouraged to avoid impulse buying and check they are getting value for money by comparing prices of items available elsewhere.

Consumers should also ensure they are aware of Amazon’s own guidance for the return of faulty goods and refunds to protect them in the event of a purchase going wrong.

Free, impartial and practical advice is available to anyone in Scotland through Advice Direct Scotland’s consumeradvice.scot service.

Consumers can seek help in a number of different ways: freephone 0808 164 6000, or online through web chat and email at www.consumeradvice.scot.

The simple ScamWatch Quick Reporting Tool is also available to report suspected scams and suspicious activity at www.scamwatch.scot.

Hazel Knowles, Senior Project Lead at Advice Direct Scotland, said:

“With the cost-of-living crisis having a worrying impact on households across Scotland, it’s understandable that people will be looking for Amazon Prime Day bargains.

“It’s important for shoppers to check who they are buying from and ensure that their purchases are safe, providing value for money. Fraudsters are always on the lookout for opportunities to deceive you.

“It’s common for many of us to feel the urge to buy something right away when we spot a discount.

“However, in situations where bargains are time-limited or there are only a few items left, shoppers may forget to pay attention to the usual warning signs, ultimately getting caught out.

“The key advice for consumers is to be savvy, slow down, and check before you buy.

“Make sure you’re on the real Amazon website as well, as there may be links that take you to a site that looks similar to Amazon but isn’t the real thing.

“Consumers who are worried or need help can contact one of our specialist advisers for free, impartial, and practical advice.

“Anyone who is caught out by a scam or spots a suspected scam should report it using our free scamwatch tool at www.scamwatch.scot.”

NOTES

consumeradvice.scot is Scotland’s national consumer service run by the charity Advice Direct Scotland. Consumers can seek help in a number of different ways: freephone 0808 164 6000; and online, web chat and email at www.consumeradvice.scot Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.