Authorities in Florida are warning residents about a scam targeting Amazon customers amid the busy holiday shopping season.
Ocoee police issued a scam alert on its social media pages notifying consumers to be wary of phone calls from someone alleging to be from Amazon and asking about hundreds of dollars in charges.
Unfortunately, these scams are nothing new. However, consumers are more at risk during the holiday season when there is generally a surge in online spending. This year, with more consumers shopping online, there are even more opportunities for cybercriminals.
Con artists have recently been using the names of big-name companies, including Apple and Amazon, as their biggest weapon to trick consumers, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
The scammers are not limiting their calls to FL residents, they are nationwide.
In one scam, consumers will get a pre-recorded message pretending to be Amazon. The message will generally say that there is something wrong with their account, whether it’s a suspicious purchase, a lost package or an order they can’t fulfill, the FTC said.
Similarly, another scam will send a pre-recorded message to consumers that their Apple iCloud account may have been breached. In both cases, scammers ask consumers to press “1” to speak with someone or they will instruct a consumer to call a specific number, the agency said.
“They’re trying to steal your personal information, like your account password or your credit card number, ” the FTC warned.
? ? SCAM ALERT
If someone calls you from “Amazon” about $800 in charges and to press 1 if you did not make the purchase, DO NOT DO IT! Scammers are trying to get you personal information. https://t.co/rICuwJuiPr
— Ocoee Police (@OcoeePD) December 7, 2020