Essex Trading Standards warns of Amazon impersonation scam

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 15:52 · Archive

Fraudsters stole £86,837 from Essex residents in nine days by impersonating Amazon.

Essex Trading Standards has warned residents of an emerging Amazon impersonation scam after fraudsters stole £86,837 from victims between 5 and 14 October. During the nine-day period, Report Fraud received 110 reports in which Amazon impersonation was identified, averaging more than £9,600 stolen per day.

People aged between 50 and 79 were most affected, accounting for 60 per cent of the reports. The scam typically begins when a fraudster contacts a victim out of the blue while claiming to represent Amazon and tells them suspicious activity has taken place on their account.

Victims may be told that unauthorised items have been added to their Amazon basket with unfamiliar delivery addresses, or that criminals are attempting to buy goods using the victim's bank details. Fraudsters claim they can stop the transactions and secure the account if the victim follows their instructions.

These instructions can include asking victims to share their screen and download money-transfer apps, handing over identity documents such as a passport or driving licence for supposed 'verification', or downloading remote-access software which allows the criminal to take control of their device. In other cases, victims have reportedly been told gift cards have been added to their Amazon basket without permission before being tricked into authorising payments to accounts controlled by the criminals.

Essex Trading Standards has shared the alert from Report Fraud to warn residents of the emerging threat.

How it is being reported

• Urgent warning for Essex residents as over £86k stolen in scamEssex residents warned of Amazon impersonation scam after £86,837 was stolen from victims across Essex in nine days, with Report Fraud receiving 110 reports.Colchester Gazette · 2 Nov, 15:30
• Urgent warning for Essex residents as over £86k stolen in scamEssex residents warned of Amazon impersonation scam after £86,837 was stolen from victims across Essex in nine days, with Report Fraud receiving 110 reports.Brentwood Guardian · 2 Nov, 15:30
• Urgent warning for Essex residents as over £86k stolen in scamEssex residents warned of Amazon impersonation scam after £86,837 was stolen from victims across Essex in nine days, with Report Fraud receiving 110 reports.Echo (Basildon) · 2 Nov, 15:30

In this story: Essex Trading Standards · Report Fraud · Amazon · Essex

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