URGENT UPDATE: A new and dangerous phishing scam is targeting Amazon shoppers with deceptive text messages promising refunds on recent purchases. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a stern warning about this evolving scheme, which could compromise your personal and financial information.
In these scam messages, which appear to be from Amazon, recipients are falsely informed of a product recall or quality issue that entitles them to a full refund. The FTC confirms these messages instruct customers to click a link to claim the money. However, instead of facilitating refunds, the link directs users to a phishing site designed to steal sensitive data.
Officials are urging the public to remain vigilant and avoid interacting with any suspicious texts or clicking embedded links. The FTC emphasizes,
“If you think a message might be real, don’t trust the contact info in the text. Go directly to the company’s official website or app to check your account.”
To combat this alarming trend, the FTC advises consumers to report any scam texts by forwarding them to 7726 (SPAM) or utilizing a phone’s “report junk” option. After reporting, users should delete the message immediately to prevent any potential security risks.
Shoppers worried about their recent Amazon purchases are strongly encouraged to log in directly to their accounts, bypassing any links provided in the scam messages. This proactive measure can help verify any product issues without falling victim to the scam.
As this situation develops, consumers are reminded to stay informed and share this alert with friends and family to ensure they too can avoid falling prey to this costly deception.
