Stay aware of scams
Online shopping makes things easy and convenient. Unfortunately, cybercriminals like Amazon as much as you do. In fact, they've become quite good at creating and sending purchase confirmation emails that look as though they actually came right from this favorite online retailer.
In this scam, cybercriminals impersonate Amazon to send fake purchase confirmation emails in hopes of receiving a special gift - i.e., your credit card information. Here's how this works:
Cybercriminals send you a fake purchase confirmation email that appears to come from Amazon. In this fake email, you can review details about your phony purchase, including the payment amount and your mailing address. To view the purchase further, you can click a "View or manage order" button in the email. If you click this button, you'll be taken to Amazon's real website, however, you won't be able to find information about the purchase. So, as a last resort, you can opt to call the customer service number in the email. If you call, you'll be asked to provide your credit card number and CVV number to cancel the purchase. The kicker is you're not really canceling a purchase - you're granting cybercriminals access to your credit card.
Keep in mind the following tips:
- Watch out for fake customer service phone numbers. If you need assistance, check the vendor's website to find their customer service phone number or email address.
- Don't click links in emails you weren't expecting. If you click a malicious link, malware or other malicious software may be downloaded on your device.
- Don't share sensitive information, such as credit card numbers or social security numbers over the phone.