UK Amazon Prime Users Warned of Costly Phone Scam
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If a call comes in about Amazon Prime membership renewal, watch out: It’s probably not real.
British consumers are being warned of a phone scam wherein criminals impersonate Amazon customer service representatives — with the end goal of draining call recipients’ accounts.
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The scam begins with a call saying the recipient’s Amazon Prime membership has been renewed and that 39 pounds have been taken from their bank account. To cancel the charge, call recipients are told to press “1” on their keypad. But hitting the button could cost a lot more than 39 pounds, as it connects to a premium rate number, where a scam artist will try and gather sensitive financial information.
One elderly woman was reportedly scammed out of 25,000 pounds last month, per the Guardian. However, some consumers took to social media to warn others they’d received a call from an Amazon imposter — or to confirm the call indeed was illegitimate.
“@AmazonHelp My house just got a prerecorded phone call supposedly from Amazon Prime claiming they were going to deduct £39 from my account. I’m 99% sure it’s a scam but is there anyone available to check my account? I can’t give much detail because a family member answered.,” @SMthegamer1 tweeted.
@AmazonHelp My house just got a prerecorded phone call supposedly from Amazon Prime claiming they were going to deduct £39 from my account.
I'm 99% sure it's a scam but is there anyone available to check my account?
I can't give much detail because a family member answered.— Shawn Matthews (@SMthegamer1) October 18, 2019
“@amazon just to let you know I received a scam call in the uk from phone number 01258682248 claiming to be amazon prime,” read another post.
@amazon just to let you know I received a scam call in the uk from phone number 01258682248 claiming to be amazon prime
— mark dugmore (@sirdug) October 21, 2019
@Pcnotchtree tweeted out the advice: “If you receive an automated phone call purporting to be from Amazon Prime offering renewal for £39.99, hang up immediately, do not press any buttons. It is of course a scam.”
If you receive an automated phone call purporting to be from Amazon Prime offering renewal for £39.99, hang up immediately, do not press any buttons. It is of course a scam.
— Patrick C Notchtree (@pcnotchtree) October 18, 2019
On the Amazon.co.uk site, the company explains that “e-mails/calls from Amazon will never ask you for personal information.”
“If you receive a suspicious phone call claiming to be from Amazon and asking for payment or offering a refund you do not expect, please do not share any personal information, and disconnect immediately,” the e-tailer advises on its site.
FN has reached out to Amazon for further comment.
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