Amazon rewards text scam: how to spot the fake prize or refund text
Quick answer
A text that says Amazon owes you a reward, prize or refund and asks you to click a link is a scam. Amazon says it won't text you to ask for personal information, payment details, gift card codes or to call a number. Don't click. Forward it to 7726 and report it to Amazon.
- Pretends to be
- Amazon
- Last updated
How it works
Scammers pretend to be Amazon. The text offers a reward, a prize or a "refund" for a purchase, and a link to claim it. The FTC has warned about texts offering refunds for Amazon purchases, including ones tied to a supposed product recall. Amazon says it doesn't send text messages about recalls.
The link goes to a fake page that asks for your Amazon login, card number or other personal details. Some versions ask you to call a number, where a caller asks for banking details or access to your device.
Amazon's guidance says it will never ask you by text to provide personal information, payment details or gift card codes, or to call a phone number.
Red flags
- A text about a reward, prize or refund you didn't expect
- A link to "claim" it, or a number to call
- A request for card details, your Amazon login or gift card codes
- A message about a product recall (Amazon says it doesn't text about recalls)
- Urgency: claim it today or lose it
- A sender that isn't an Amazon address or short code you recognise
Example message
Amazon: you've been selected for a $[amount] rewards credit. Claim it before it expires: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.
What to do
- 1
Don't click or call
Open the Amazon website or app yourself, not a link in the text, and check your account messages and orders there.
- 2
Report it to Amazon
Use the Report a Scam page. If you don't have an account, email reportascam@amazon.com and attach the suspicious message.
- 3
Report the text
Forward it to 7726 (SPAM) or use your phone's report junk option, then delete it. Also report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- 4
If you entered your login
Change your Amazon password and any account that reused it, and turn on two-step verification. Check your recent orders and saved payment methods.
- 5
If you shared card details
Call your bank or card issuer on the number on your card, tell them it was fraud and ask for a new card.
- 6
If you gave someone access to your device
Disconnect it from the internet, remove any remote access app and change passwords from another device.
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
Scammers rarely guess. Names, phone numbers, email addresses and home addresses are sold by data brokers, listed on people-search sites such as Spokeo, and leaked in breaches, which is how a message can reach you with your name already on it. Serus finds the brokers that list you and removes your listings, and alerts you when your details turn up in a breach, so fewer scammers can build a convincing message about you. If you've already shared details, our guide on what to do after a data breach covers the next steps.
More Amazon scams
Frequently asked
Does Amazon text about rewards or refunds?
Amazon says it won't text you to ask for personal information, payment details or gift card codes, or to call a number. Check your account on the Amazon site or app instead.
Does Amazon text about product recalls?
Amazon says it doesn't send text messages about recalls, so a recall refund text is a red flag.
Where do I report a fake Amazon text?
Report it to Amazon through its Report a Scam page, forward it to 7726 and report it to the FTC.
Is Amazon the scammer?
No. Scammers pretend to be Amazon. Amazon is the company being impersonated.
Sources
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