Media contact: Janet C. Hart, APR, CFEE (704) 927-8617 office
CHARLOTTE, N.C.
-- The Better Business Bureau is alerting consumers about fake emails
purporting to be from www.Amazon.com sent
to “confirm your order.” The email looks real. It has the Amazon logo, an
order number, a price, a description of what was ordered, and even a link to
get an Amazon.com credit card.
These fake
Amazon.com emails are an example of “spoofing” which is a scam that copies a
company’s identity to confuse you into thinking that you are dealing with the
real company. Spoofing scams are intended to trick you into clicking on
the links in the email and providing personal information which can be used to
steal your identity.
“The link for
the Amazon.com credit card is especially troubling because you will be required
to give your social security number,” said BBB President Tom Bartholomy. “When
a scammer gets your social security number, they have stuck identity theft gold!”
If you shop
on Amazon.com, the BBB has these reminders:
- Amazon will not send you an email asking you
for your social security number, your credit card number, PIN number, credit
card security code, your mother's maiden name, or your Amazon.com password.
- Amazon will not
ask you to verify or confirm your order or account information.
- Amazon does not send you emails that require
you to click on links or attachments.
- If you receive
emails from Amazon about orders you did not place, please forward the e-mail to
stop-spoofing@amazon.com for
investigation.
- Poor grammar or
obvious mathematical mistakes are red flags that the email is fake.
For more
information about safe online shopping and protecting your identity, please
visit www.bbb.org.
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