AMAZON Scam

Hi people, I had an unnerving situation yesterday that I want to tell you about.  Yesterday morning, early, I was on my phone and I got an email from "Amazon" thanking me for buying a play station and service agreement costing 864 and change.  I hadn't made a purchase on Amazon since July, so I was concerned.  At the bottom of the email, it said that if I didn't make the order, to call "this" number.  So, of course, I clicked the link (iike a gullible idiot).  Long story short, they had me on the phone, on my laptop and appeared to have "given" me back the 864 to my bank account so I could pay Amazon when the bill came to me.  They had me so rattled that I wasn't thinking clearly, as I look back and it didn't make sense.  On my laptop, my account "said" that they had transferred 4864 to my account by mistake and they made it seem like I made the error.  They needed the 4000 back and that I was to go to Best Buy and buy gift cards and give them the codes on the back of the card.  Like a complete idiot, I threw on some clothes and hurried down to Best Buy.  The guy wanted to stay on the phone with me the whole time.  When I got in line at Best Buy to buy the cards, I said to my phone, ok, I'm in line to buy the cards.  A guy in front of me said is Amazon trying to get you to buy cards for them and I said yes....he said hang up, it's a scam and go to you bank right away.  Oy gevalt.  I immediately looked at my bank app on my phone and that 4864 was not there so had I bought the cards, that money would have come out of my own money.  I went immediately to the bank and transferred my account to a new one.  I then when to the police station and make a fraud police report.  Apple checked my computer to make sure it wasn't compromised.  

When Amazon emails you, it will ALWAYS be from @amazon.com....nothing else, exactly as I've written.

Don't fall for another scam by these thieving bastards.  The guy in front of me in line was my guardian angel of the day.  Thank you whoever you are.


I can see how people get rattled. But this was rather obvious. Them doing it means its working.

I order from Amazon often. They will send a confirmation email but I don't remember the email ever stating "if your did not order call xxxx". 

Secondly, when I question an order, which can happen but rarely because others use the account, I log into the account to see the order details.

Third, no reputable vendor will ask for money back and tell you to use gift cards or a standalone debit card like Greendot.

The "yo, we put a few thousand into your DDA by mistake. You need to give it back as gift cards" does not make sense.


BG9 said:

I can see how people get rattled. But this was rather obvious. Them doing it means its working.

I order from Amazon often. They will send a confirmation email but I don't remember the email ever stating "if your did not order call xxxx". 

Secondly, when I question an order, which can happen but rarely because others use the account, I log into the account to see the order details.

Third, no reputable vendor will ask for money back and tell you to use gift cards or a standalone debit card like Greendot.

The "yo, we put a few thousand into your DDA by mistake. You need to give it back as gift cards" does not make sense.

 Yes, it was obvious in hindsight but it was early and I was rattled.  Yes, I'm probably flagged now as someone who ALMOST did what they wanted but now, after this, I will be smarter.  Not everyone is on the ball at 7:30AM.  This is for those people not you.


If anyone sees anything like this in the future, don't call the number they tell you to call.

Call the official customer service number for whatever retailer it is.


Oldstone thanks for sharing. I'm glad someone helped you out and you avoided getting scammed. I'm glad you were willing to share the experience. The more people talk about these things the less likely they are to happen to someone else.


Also BG9 while you have some solid advice your tone doesn't help. Telling Oldstone that the scam he almost fell for was "obvious" is putting blame on the victim.

That's going to do two things. First it will close off your intended audience's receptivity to your advice, and render your advice useless. People won't listen to someone they think is trying to make then feel worse.

Second it will make other people less willing to share their own stories. When someone shares a story about being scammed, or almost scammed, our response should be to thank them for their forthrightness. Not tell them they should have known better. It helps the scammers if their victims (or near victims) are embarrassed to talk about what happened.


BG9 said:

I can see how people get rattled. But this was rather obvious. Them doing it means its working.

I order from Amazon often. They will send a confirmation email but I don't remember the email ever stating "if your did not order call xxxx". 

Secondly, when I question an order, which can happen but rarely because others use the account, I log into the account to see the order details.

Third, no reputable vendor will ask for money back and tell you to use gift cards or a standalone debit card like Greendot.

The "yo, we put a few thousand into your DDA by mistake. You need to give it back as gift cards" does not make sense.

Blaming the potential victim seems hard-hearted and callous.  Not everyone is at the same level with regard to technology and sniffing-out-potential scams.  IMHO, blaming victims/potential-victims will likely dissuade future victims/potential-victims from sharing their experiences.  In general, more discussion should be the goal (blaming victims/potential-victims is contrary to the goal).

PS Hindsight is 20/20.


i got a scam from 'UPS MY CHOICE' the other day.  claimed i was getting a package from Amazon that day.  I wasn't expecting a package, but checked my amazon account...nothing.....  manually typed the 'tracking number' into the UPS site...it was invalid...another clue is that the email did not mention me by name (legit UPS my choice does)....

the site was otherwise very real looking, even including real UPS links on the bottom (the link to track was the fake)


The tip off should have been the fact that you managed to get "Amazon" customer service on the phone with you.  Everybody knows that talking to a human at Amazon is impossible.


Klinker said:

The tip off should have been the fact that you managed to get "Amazon" customer service on the phone with you.  Everybody knows that talking to a human at Amazon is impossible.

 Not true, I called Amazon later in the day to report the potential fraud and they gave me tips and information to share with them.


mrincredible said:

Oldstone thanks for sharing. I'm glad someone helped you out and you avoided getting scammed. I'm glad you were willing to share the experience. The more people talk about these things the less likely they are to happen to someone else.

 Thank you, Mr. I.


Klinker said:

The tip off should have been the fact that you managed to get "Amazon" customer service on the phone with you.  Everybody knows that talking to a human at Amazon is impossible.

 Not my experience.  I call Amazon about once a month to resolve wacky situations.


Oldstone said:

Klinker said:

The tip off should have been the fact that you managed to get "Amazon" customer service on the phone with you.  Everybody knows that talking to a human at Amazon is impossible.

 Not true, I called Amazon later in the day to report the potential fraud and they gave me tips and information to share with them.

Hmmm... the times may be a changing.  I gave up on trying to call Amazon years ago because I never got anything other than a bot.


A tip for these sorts of things is that you can hold your cursor over the purported email address and you will see the actual email address which, generally speaking, looks nothing like an Amazon email.


Klinker said:

A tip for these sorts of things is that you can hold your cursor over the purported email address and you will see the actual email address which, generally speaking, looks nothing like an Amazon email.

 True.


mrincredible said:

Also BG9 while you have some solid advice your tone doesn't help. Telling Oldstone that the scam he almost fell for was "obvious" is putting blame on the victim.

So it seems my advice would have been good if instead wrote "I can see how people get rattled.Them doing it means its working." leaving out "But this was rather obvious."

See the difference? Yet, you and seven likes others got upset by "But this was rather obvious." Even though the fact is, it is rather obvious. Sorry, truth is uncomfortable. Do we need safe spaces here?

I didn't blame him. I said you can get rattled. Is it hard to understand that getting rattled can easily cause the obvious to be overlooked? Not all is black and white.


I recently got a pop up window scam that I nearly fell for. The text in the window told me that my anti-virus/firewall software had expired and that I had to renew immediately.  When I clicked on the window, it asked for my product number (which I did not have) and my credit card information so the software could be extended for another year.  I did not follow through because I knew that the software company already had my credit card number and had me on an automatic renewal plan.  Also, the graphics on their order form looked out of focus as if it was a poor copy of the original.  I can see how someone else might easily fall for this scam.  


I'm not kidding, I was contacted by email and text today by a company "connected" to Whole Foods saying that I had applied to be a store evaluator.  I texted back saying I didn't do such a thing.  They said yes, I did it on a link on my phone.  They are sending me a package that I would receive on Monday with a cashier's check.  I immediately googled and it was another scam.  I called Whole Foods and they said no, they don't do that.  Now I have to go to the police station again.  What the hell is going on in this world.


likely, once the scammers get you once, they probably sell your info to other scammers or do a 2nd scam on you themselves.

I had a friend who has an iMac.  She got a pop up about a virus on her Windows software....and fell for it...it never dawned on her she doesn't have  windows.  Luckily someone got a hold of her just before she gave out her credit card info.


Sorry, Oldstone, that the scammers got to you.  We're swimming in an ocean of them, and it's easy to get caught in a net.  You might want to let Amazon know this happened:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201909130

Just the other day, I had to send out a phishing report to another vendor.  It seems to happen at least once a month.  


Oldstone said:

I'm not kidding, I was contacted by email and text today by a company "connected" to Whole Foods saying that I had applied to be a store evaluator.  I texted back saying I didn't do such a thing.  They said yes, I did it on a link on my phone.  They are sending me a package that I would receive on Monday with a cashier's check.  I immediately googled and it was another scam.  I called Whole Foods and they said no, they don't do that.  Now I have to go to the police station again.  What the hell is going on in this world.

Hell is right. Email phishing scams, identity thefts, spoofed phone call scams, etc.

You may have the unpleasant task of having to change your email address and possibly your phone number.

I have many email addresses under one account, aliases. One for banking and finance, another for reputable shopping retailers and utilities (Amazon, cable), third for forums and web support sites, fourth for family, fifth for friends and last for one time retail purchases that I change often. I have not gotten a scam email in the last 5 years. I do at times get unsolicited adverts or advice on the forum and one time retail emails, which I then change. Family is told never, ever give out my email address. Friends, please don't pass it along.

I've set my cell phone so only my address book contacts get through. I do not give my cell phone to repair people. I go for a car repair and they want my number to tell me its done or there's an issue will get my home number or if not home I will call them. Anyone else gets my home phone which is not answered when unrecognized.

If a text message originator is unknown don't text the little ***** back. By replying they know they reached a "hot" number to resell.

We hope spoofed phone issues will be resolved when caller id authentication (STIR/SHAKEN) goes live.


I have rarely had a problem with Amazon.  I wish I could say the same about our own Post Office.   An order

purchased from Amazon and made in Europe traveled thousands of miles to Maplewood.  It then got bottle necked for three weeks at our own Post Office.............on top of which Amazon does not issue refunds on mdse coming from out of the country.  The whole thing was like a skit from Abbot and Costello.

Anyway problem was resolved in the most mundane manner.

For the few and minor problems I have had with Amazon,   I have always called 866-216-1672.

Unlike Mick Jagger I always get satisfaction.


This is a good source of information: https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/guide-to-preventing-fraud.html

Note, too, that sometimes what may appear to be a fraud is actually an indicant of identify theft. A close relative of mine received a notification relating to an account with Home Depot. However, she did not have such an account nor had she ever applied for one. Turns out, someone had attempted to create an account using identify information stolen from her. Luckily, she nipped the problem in the bud and subsequently established a credit freeze with the three credit agencies. (And, sidenote: on the early morning that she went to the local police station to report the incident, the officer told her that she was already the third person that day to report identify theft.)


BG9 said:

I'm not kidding, I was contacted by email and text today by a company "connected" to Whole Foods saying that I had applied to be a store evaluator.  I texted back saying I didn't do such a thing.  They said yes, I did it on a link on my phone.  They are sending me a package that I would receive on Monday with a cashier's check.  I immediately googled and it was another scam.  I called Whole Foods a

I've set my cell phone so only my address book contacts get through. I do not give my cell phone to repair people. I go for a car repair and they want my number to tell me its done or there's an issue will get my home number or if not home I will call them. Anyone else gets my home phone which is not answered when unrecognized.

If a text message originator is unknown don't text the little ***** back. By replying they know they reached a "hot" number to resell.

We hope spoofed phone issues will be resolved when caller id authentication (STIR/SHAKEN) goes live.

 This is really helpful (not) for new businesses legitimately trying to contact you. For example, as you might remember, I work in a not-for-profit support agency that works with families who live in the community. They originally contact a national, government phone-bank for information and registration, and their basic information comes through a central portal to the most appropriate agency.

These families don't know the numbers of the workers who will phone to assist them. Often, for worker protection, the agency keeps numbers private.

For three weeks I've been trying to phone the daughter of a client who attended my Centre once, to find out if I'm holding a place for her, or not; am I meant to be arranging transport for her or not; what foods am I meant to be providing for her, etc. The new client is Deaf and doesn't use a phone (she isn't an English speaker, I don't speak her language), so I need her daughter. I've rung during business hours, in the morning, early evening and on the weekend. Can't leave a message, can't get through; her isolated mother suffers and our service gets a bad rep.


joanne said:

 This is really helpful (not) for new businesses legitimately trying to contact you. For example, as you might remember, I work in a not-for-profit support agency that works with families who live in the community. They originally contact a national, government phone-bank for information and registration, and their basic information comes through a central portal to the most appropriate agency.

These families don't know the numbers of the workers who will phone to assist them. Often, for worker protection, the agency keeps numbers private.

For three weeks I've been trying to phone the daughter of a client who attended my Centre once, to find out if I'm holding a place for her, or not; am I meant to be arranging transport for her or not; what foods am I meant to be providing for her, etc. The new client is Deaf and doesn't use a phone (she isn't an English speaker, I don't speak her language), so I need her daughter. I've rung during business hours, in the morning, early evening and on the weekend. Can't leave a message, can't get through; her isolated mother suffers and our service gets a bad rep.

 Postal card?


Sadly, daughter lives interstate and I don’t have her address, just phone contact. I’m not sure my client is functionally literate in English (I didn’t do intake). When we said goodbye that first time, client was meant to return the following Monday by her own transport and no-one has had the courtesy to contact me or the assessment officer since (they must have some details, since I was notified in advance she was coming).

Edited to add: this is not an isolated instance. If the hospital/outpatients/medical imaging contacts you, it’s always No Caller ID. If most pharmacies contact you, it’s No Caller ID. If the after-hours home-visiting doctor rings to confirm the address and time of arrival, it’s No Caller ID. If an accountants’ contractor calls you, and she’s a sole worker from a home office, it’s No Caller ID...


joanne said:

 This is really helpful (not) for new businesses legitimately trying to contact you. For example, as you might remember, I work in a not-for-profit support agency that works with families who live in the community. They originally contact a national, government phone-bank for information and registration, and their basic information comes through a central portal to the most appropriate agency.

These families don't know the numbers of the workers who will phone to assist them. Often, for worker protection, the agency keeps numbers private.

For three weeks I've been trying to phone the daughter of a client who attended my Centre once, to find out if I'm holding a place for her, or not; am I meant to be arranging transport for her or not; what foods am I meant to be providing for her, etc. The new client is Deaf and doesn't use a phone (she isn't an English speaker, I don't speak her language), so I need her daughter. I've rung during business hours, in the morning, early evening and on the weekend. Can't leave a message, can't get through; her isolated mother suffers and our service gets a bad rep.

can't you find anyone to translate?  When I get calls form docs/pharmacies, the number shows up on caller ID. I have my phone set to only ring for approved numbers, other calls will come through, but don't ring and can leave messages.  Blocked numbers will still show in the call log and somehow even showed in messages (I have a stalker who called about 123 times in an hour....when voice mail picked up, it showed numerous 3 second messages from the time it took the call to disconnect).


I'm very concerned about my MIL, who is in her 90s. She uses the internet.


cheese you didn't read the part that says I can't leave messages to explain why I'm ringing. I also can't text to the phone number I have. My client doesn't use electronic communication devices (long story, I won't breach confidentiality), so this makes my initial contact with family members very difficult. I can't even set up an appointment for phone contact because I can't contact her first. 

This isn't the only family I have difficulty contacting. And it's worse when you're working with memory loss, or anxiety/depression and similar issues. 

(Re the language issue: I can communicate in 12 languages, the issue here is whether this client will hear me then communicate back when we're using a phone. If we're together, some of the others talk with her and me so we understand each other then. Have I mentioned most of my clients are over age 85-96yrs?)

I'm sorry for derailing the thread.


Is it possible to request a wellness check as a means of contacting your client?  If you can't reach the client for this length of time, you have reason for concern.  Another possibility would be to reach out to a member of her language community who might be able to help your organization reach out to the client or her family member and translate if needed.


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