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Amazon urges shoppers to stay alert as sophisticated impersonation scams target millions during the peak holiday season
E-commerce giant urges its 300M+ customers to stay vigilant as scammers intensify impersonation schemes during peak shopping season
As the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear, Amazon has issued a major warning to its more than 300 million customers worldwide about a surge in cyberattacks targeting shoppers. The alert comes as the FBI reports nearly $300 million in losses this year alone from “account takeover fraud,” a fast-growing scam in which criminals seize control of victims’ online accounts to drain funds or make unauthorized purchases.
In a statement highlighted by Forbes, Amazon emphasized that cybercriminals are aggressively impersonating company representatives to steal personal, financial, and account information. Fraudsters are using increasingly convincing messages related to fake delivery issues, suspicious account activity, and phony customer support outreach to trick users into giving up sensitive data.
According to the FBI, more than 5,100 complaints have been filed since January about such fraud, resulting in over $262 million in losses. While the agency did not name specific companies targeted, Amazon’s massive customer base makes it a frequent focus for impersonation schemes.
Amazon outlined several red flags consumers should watch for:
The company stressed that all customer interactions should take place only through the official Amazon website or mobile app, not through external links or ads.
To help customers secure their accounts, Amazon recommended enabling two-factor authentication and using a passkey sign-in, both of which significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
The company also noted that scams continue to evolve. In July, Amazon warned users about fraudsters who create urgency—often pressuring victims to purchase gift cards or “verify” payment information.
In 2023 alone, Amazon took down more than 55,000 phishing websites and 12,000 phone numbers used in impersonation schemes—illustrating the scale of the global battle against digital fraud.
The FBI urged consumers to:
With online shopping expected to hit record levels this season, both Amazon and federal authorities are pleading with customers to stay alert.
Cybercriminals are counting on distraction and urgency. Vigilance, they say, is the strongest defense.
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