The busy holiday season is here, and while this season may look different due to the pandemic, online shopping is at an all-time high. The increase in online shopping means cyber criminals are busier than ever.
There is a popular scam making its way across the country right now where scammers, purportedly from Amazon or Apple, call or email people conning them out of money or their banking credentials. Below are common variations of this scam and ways you can avoid being a victim.
Phone Scam Variations
- You receive a call and a recorded message says it’s Amazon. The message says there’s something wrong with your account. It could be a suspicious purchase, a lost package, or an order they can’t fulfill.
- In another twist on this scam, you get a recorded message that says there’s been suspicious activity in your Apple iCloud account or your account has been breached.
If you get an unexpected call or message about a problem with any of your accounts, hang up.
- Do not press 1 to speak with customer support.
- Do not call a phone number they gave you.
- Do not give out your personal information.
If you think there may actually be a problem with one of your accounts, contact the company directly using a phone number or website you have verified.
Email Scam
You receive an email that appears to be from Amazon notifying you of a problem with your account. The scammer asks for your Amazon login information with the goal of accessing your account. The scammer will then order items and gain personal information.
If you receive an email asking you to click on a link or enter login information, do not take the bait.
- Do not click on links provided in emails. Instead, open a new web browser window to visit a verified site.
- Do not enter personal information, including username and password.
- Do not call phone numbers given in the email. Look for a phone number on the verified website.
To learn more about cyber security and best practices, visit our Safety & Security page. If you feel you may be a victim of a cyber scam, contact our Customer Service team at (916) 567-2899 or (800) 564-7144 or by email at [email protected].
