Beware: Amazon Scam Warning for Indiana Residents

Amazon has issued a warning to customers throughout Indiana about a new scam that you need to look out for.

There is always someone out there trying to trick you into giving them some money. These scammers have gotten very creative throughout the years. There are countless ways in which people can scam you out of money. It's hard not only to keep up with them, but it has also gotten even harder to decipher what is legitimate and what is a scam. That's certainly the case with the most recent scam that is circulating.

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Amazon Prime Scam Warning

There are over 200 million Amazon Prime subscribers in the world. Earlier this month, Amazon sent a message to subscribers warning that scammers are targeting Prime members with fake emails claiming to be from Amazon, stating that their Prime subscription fee is about to increase, according to an article from Yahoo!.

In the email scam, it claims that your Prime subscription will automatically renew at a higher price.  The email might actually include some of your personal information obtained by other sources, making the email look legitimate. In the email, there's a ‘cancel subscription’ button that takes users to a fake Amazon page that then harvests their email and password. That's where the scammers get you!

Once you log on to this fake Amazon page, the scammer will have access to your actual Amazon account, as well asl the information that you have on there. They can also log in to any other online account that uses the same credentials. The fake Amazon page might also want you to enter your payment information and other personal details that will go directly to scammers for them to use.

What Should Users Who Receive This Email Do?

According to Yahoo!, Amazon is working to combat these phishing email scams, as well as other types of scams. In the meantime, Amazon urges Indiana customers to take the following precautions to protect themselves against these criminals:

• If you receive an email like this, don’t click on any links.
• You can check if a message is from Amazon by going to the Message Center under Your Account. Legitimate messages from Amazon will be listed.
• Report the scam to Amazon itself, whether you’ve fallen for it or not.
• Set up two-step verification for your Amazon account.

Amazon offers in-depth tips on how to stay safe from Amazon impersonation scams, with tips here. So, be aware, be cautious, and be suspicious when you see emails like this pop up in your inbox. Not just from Amazon, but from any other service that you might be using.

How to Avoid Getting Scammed

So, how do you make sure you are avoiding being scammed? The Office of the Indiana Attorney General offers these few tips:

• If you think a text might be a scam, contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real.

• Blocking or using restricted phone settings is an easy way to stop spam text messages.

• Don’t share any personal information over text. This is not a secure method of communication, and legitimate services won't ask for personal information through text messages.

• Put a freeze on your credit to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name in the event of a breach.

• Don't respond to spam texts. This allows scammers to know your account is active.

• Report text scams. Forward them to 7726 (SPAM). This helps your wireless provider spot and block similar messages.

If you believe you have been the victim of a scam, file a complaint at www.indianaconsumer.com with Attorney General Rokita’s office.