Is Amazon fraud still on the rise? Well, the issue of scamming pops out often from various forums, and in case you have had any such experience recently, then it is not unusual. With thousands of merchants created daily on AMZ and a few barriers to entry, it’s no surprise that there’s a great risk for seller scams. A recent Marketplace Pulse study noted that 100 new counterfeit profiles are made daily. And during pick times and the holiday season, such numbers become even higher.
It’s important to take the necessary actions on how to report Amazon phishing. However, the best news is that you may avoid getting scammed.
Table of Contents
How Can Amazon Sellers Protect Themselves?
Luckily, there are many reliable methods for confirming if a phone call or email really comes from the marketplace. As soon as you learn them, you will be able to tell authentic texts from phishing ones.
Know what AMZ will and will not ask
The platform has specific rules about what it will and will not ask you. If a phone call or email claiming to be from AMZ asks for some details like your password, it is not actually from the marketplace.
On its Seller Central help webpage, AMZ is clear about what the reps ask for — and what they will not. Here is a list of details that the platform will never ask you to share. Thus, if someone is asking for these details, they are not from AMZ:
- Profile password
- Bank account number and/or PIN
- Credit card number and or/ security code
- Your “security question” answers (for example, pet names, mother’s maiden name, your city of birth, etc.)
It includes prompting you to “update” your profile info, a typical trick of fraudsters.
Check the address of the email
One of the most working ways to distinguish a fake AMZ profile from a real one is to see its email address. Authentic emails from the marketplace always contain “@amazon.com.” So when the sender’s address states “amazon-seller-issues@hotmail.com” or “@billing-amazon.com,” it is definitely fake.
But it is not always that easy. Fraudsters can list the AMZ official email as their username, so verify the source email address indicated between the <arrows>. For instance, it’s is an address a proven scammer used: seller-support@amazon.com
Their username or email ID could be a real AMZ email. However, the email address between the arrows indicates that it is fake. So stay alert and always check twice.
Verify included links
Likewise, you can distinguish authentic AMZ sites from fake ones. Through messages, fraudsters often attempt to make you visit their fake pages, for example, ones similar to Amazon Seller Services. As you can verify the email address, you should also check all links.
Amazon websites always include “.amazon.com” or “sellercentral.amazon.com.” Furthermore, scammers can try to trick you with links ending in “security-amazon.com” or “amazon.com.biz.” Never fall for it. The period right before “amazon.com” is required.
Finally, avoid clicking on any URLs in a potential phishing email. It is better to copy the site address or hover over it rather than visit it.
Do NOT follow unsubscribe links
Unfortunately, even the unsubscribe tools of scam messages can be traps. Would a fraudster really respect your wish for privacy?
AMZ warns that numerous spammers utilize the unsubscribe features to create a list of working and valid emails. Unsubscribing confirms that your email address is active, opening the door for more scams in the future.
Report AMZ Phishing
The platform gets hurt by plenty of phishing scams, too, so it is committed to eliminating them. According to the marketplace’s customer support page, you are invited to report any fraudulent messages.
We recommend sending such emails in the following format so that they grab the attention of AMZ representatives and help them take action promptly:
- Send your email to seller-performance@amazon.com.
- In the subject line, indicate Possible fraudulent merchant/buyer or Fraudulent activity.
- In your message, write: I doubt or suspect that these users are engaging in some fraudulent activities. I ask you to investigate the issue as soon as possible.
- Include the seller/buyer’s name. Don’t repeat it twice.
- Don’t use terms like “fake” or “counterfeit.”
Now you are aware of how to report scams on Amazon. Always keep such tips in mind and stay safe. Happy selling!