Your focus, as an Amazon Seller, is on growing your business and providing excellent service to your customers. However, scammers and fraudsters can target you with fake messages, pretending to be Amazon or other trustworthy sources. It’s important to recognize these scams to protect your business.
4 Common Types of Scam Messages
- Phishing Emails
- These are emails that look like they’re from Amazon but are actually from scammers. They might ask you to update your account information or verify your identity.
- How to spot them: Check for poor grammar, misspellings, or unusual email addresses. Genuine emails from Amazon will come from an “@amazon.com” address.
- Fake Order Notifications
- Scammers send fake order confirmations to trick you into clicking on a malicious link.
- How to spot them: Look closely at the order details. If you don’t recognize the order, don’t click any links. Check your orders directly on the Amazon Seller Central website.
- Suspicious Account Alerts
- You might receive messages saying your account has been compromised or is at risk of suspension.
- How to spot them: Amazon will never ask for sensitive information like passwords via email. Always verify such alerts by logging into your Seller Central account.
- Payment Scams
- Scammers might pose as buyers, asking for payment outside of Amazon’s secure payment system.
- How to spot them: Legitimate transactions will always go through Amazon’s platform. Never agree to process payments outside of Amazon.
How to Protect Yourself From Scams
- Verify the Source
- Always check the sender’s email address. Official Amazon emails come from an “@amazon.com” address.
- Be cautious of emails that don’t use your full name or have a generic greeting like “Dear Seller.”
- Avoid Clicking on Links
- If you receive a suspicious email, don’t click on any links. Instead, go directly to Amazon Seller Central to check your account.
- Use Two-Factor Authentication
- Enable two-factor authentication for your Amazon account. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification.
- Keep Software Updated
- Make sure your computer’s security software is up to date. This can help protect against malicious emails and websites.
- Report Suspicious Messages
- If you receive a suspicious email, forward it to Amazon at stop-spoofing@amazon.com. Reporting scams helps Amazon take action against fraudsters.
Examples of Scam Messages
- Phishing Email Example:
- Subject: “Your Amazon Account Needs Verification”
- Body: “Dear Seller, please click here to verify your account details to avoid suspension.”
- Real Amazon emails: Will use your full name and won’t ask for sensitive information via email.
- Fake Order Notification Example:
- Subject: “Order Confirmation #12345”
- Body: “You have a new order. Click here to view details.”
- Real Amazon emails: Orders can be checked directly in your Amazon Seller Central account.
- Suspicious Account Alert Example:
- Subject: “Your Amazon Account Has Been Compromised”
- Body: “We detected unusual activity. Please click here to secure your account.”
- Real Amazon emails: Will not ask for passwords or sensitive information via email.
Always ask yourself, “Are These Emails Real?”. It never hurts to double check alerts or messages you receive on your Amazon account. Just remember to always verify messages directly through Amazon Seller Central and report any suspicious activity to Amazon.
Questions? Reach Out!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
