Amazon Issues Scam Alert to 220 Million Prime Customers Amid Surge in Attacks
- tech360.tv
- Jul 19
- 2 min read
Amazon has warned all 220 million Prime members of a surge in scam attempts targeting their accounts, including phishing emails and fraudulent phone calls.
The alert follows a spike in attacks where scammers impersonate Amazon, claiming subscription rates are increasing and prompting users to click a fake cancellation link. These links are designed to steal login credentials.
Pieter Arntz, malware intelligence researcher at Malwarebytes, highlighted the threat in a July 16 update, noting that scammers are actively impersonating Amazon in Prime membership scams.
Amazon first issued the warning on July 4, stating it had seen an increase in reports of fake emails related to Prime subscriptions. The company said these emails may include personal information obtained from other sources to appear more convincing.
In addition to email scams, phone-based fraud is also on the rise. Some calls falsely claim that expensive items, such as an iPhone 13, have been purchased using the victim’s account.
Security researchers have also reported the creation of more than 120,000 fake Amazon domains and web pages in the lead-up to Prime Day, likely intended to support these scams.
To help customers protect themselves, Amazon has issued several recommendations:
- Verify Prime membership by using the Amazon mobile app or visiting amazon.co.uk and selecting "Prime" from the main menu
- Always access Amazon directly through the app or by typing the URL into a browser
- Check the Message Center under “Your Account” to confirm if a message is genuinely from Amazon
- Enable two-step verification through the Login & Security settings
Amazon also provides additional guidance online about recognising and reporting scams.
Amazon warns 220 million Prime users of phishing and phone scams
Fake emails claim subscription rate hikes to steal login credentials
Over 120,000 fake Amazon domains created ahead of Prime Day
Source: FORBES
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