Whatever is popular with the public is popular with scammers which is why it is not surprising that scammers are sending out text messages that appear to come from Amazon informing their targeted victims that there is a recall of a product that the targeted victim purchased through Amazon Prime.  The text message looks legitimate and may even appear to come from a legitimate Amazon telephone number, but it is a simple matter for a scammer to “spoof” a legitimate number to make it appear that the call is originating from Amazon while actually coming from the scammer.  The bogus text message informing you of the product recall provides a link that will take you to what appears to be the Amazon website and prompts you to provide your account information and your password.  Using AI it is simple for a scammer to create a very legitimate appearing counterfeit Amazon website.

Anyone providing their account information and password would end up having their account taken over by the scammers who would quickly run up purchases and charges to the account.

In 2024 Amazon took down more than 55,000 phony Amazon websites, but it is a never ending battle because as soon as one is taken down, scammers create a new counterfeit site.

TIPS

Rather than only use a password for your Amazon account, you should either use dual factor authentication or an Amazon Passkey for your account.  This will provide added security to your account to prevent your becoming a victim of this type of scam.  To set up dual factor authentication on your account, use this link.https://www.amazon.ca/gp/help/customer/display.html%3FnodeId%3DGE6SLZ5J9GCNRW44

Passkeys enable you to use Face ID, Touch ID, Windows Hello or a device PIN rather than a password.  In order to set this go to your Amazon account and then click on Login & security, then go to Passkeys and then click Set up.

As I always say, trust me, you can’t trust anyone so if you get a text message about a recall from Amazon, your best course of action is to either contact Amazon Customer Service at 1‑888‑280‑4331 or login to your account online or on the app and you will be able to see if there was a recall.

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