Amazon fraud hotline calling you? How the fake suspicious-charge call works
Quick answer
A call or recording that says Amazon spotted a suspicious charge and tells you to press 1 is a scam. Hang up. Don't press 1 or call a number they give you. Check your Amazon account yourself and report the call at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Comes by
- Phone call
- Pretends to be
- Amazon
- Last updated
How it works
The FTC describes a recorded message that claims there is a suspicious charge, a lost package or a problem with an order on your Amazon account, then tells you to press 1 to reach a representative. Some callers use a made-up dollar amount, such as a $700-plus charge, to alarm you.
Pressing 1 connects you to a person who plays a fraud investigator. They go after your account password, your card number or both. The FTC's rule of thumb: if the caller asks you to download something, it's fake.
The call is a hook. Whatever they say next is built to get you to hand over information or money.
Red flags
- An automated call about a charge you don't recognize, with a "press 1" prompt
- A caller who says they're Amazon's fraud department and wants to confirm your card or password
- A request to download an app or give someone access to your computer
- Pressure to act before you can check your account
- A number to call back that came from the caller, not from Amazon's site or app
Example message
This is Amazon. We noticed a suspicious charge of [amount] on your account. Press 1 to speak to a representative and dispute it.
What to do
- 1
Don't click, reply or call back
Hang up. Don't press 1 and don't call back the number the caller gave you. Open the Amazon app or type amazon.com yourself to see whether anything is wrong with your account.
- 2
If you clicked or typed in details, act on those accounts
Change your Amazon password, and the password of any account that shares it. Turn on two-step verification. If someone had remote access to your computer, update your passwords from a different device.
- 3
If you paid or shared card details, call your card issuer
Use the number on the back of your card, not one from the message. Say it was fraud and ask them to block the card and reverse the charge.
- 4
Delete it and report it
Report the message at the official channels below, then delete it. Reports help investigators spot patterns.
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
These calls go out in bulk, but callers who know your name and city sound more convincing. Scammers often pick targets using names, phone numbers and emails pulled from people-search sites and old breaches. Serus finds the data brokers that list you and removes you from them, and it alerts you when your email shows up in a breach, so fewer scammers can reach you. Our guide to what to do after a data breach covers the steps if your details leaked.
More Amazon scams
Frequently asked
Does Amazon call about suspicious charges?
The FTC's advice is to hang up and contact the company through a phone number or website you know is real, not one the caller gives you.
What happens if I press 1?
You reach a live scammer who tries to get your password or card number. Pressing 1 also tells them your number is active.
I gave them my card number. What now?
Call your card issuer using the number on the card, ask them to block it and reverse any charges, and change your Amazon password.
The call showed Amazon on caller ID. Is it real?
Caller ID can be faked. Check your Amazon account directly.
Sources
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll re-check it.
