10 April 2023 , 11:51
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Amazon customers have been warned to keep an eye out for internet scammers after thousands of dodgy websites and phone numbers were taken down by the company.
The mega company revealed it removed more than 20,000 phishing websites and 10,000 phone numbers which were being used by scammers to impersonate the online site.
The online retailer has now issued a warning to people to beware, as well as offering guidance to those who use the service, the ECHO reports.
In an email, the company told people to be hesitant when installing any new apps or software as Amazon will never ask you to download anything in order to get a refund from them.
The online retail giant removed 20,000 websites and 10,000 phone numbers used by scammers (PA)Amazon has also advised people to not pay over the phone or provide their payment information, including gift cards.
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People are also urged to verify their orders directly with Amazon, with the company not calling, texting or emailing people about unexpected orders.
Scammers are known to be pushy and create a sense of urgency, but Amazon has told customers they will never pressure them to act immediately.
Anyone who is wary of communication they believe to be a scam should contact the company directly, as well as check the website's security and privacy page for advice.
In an email, Amazon told people to be hesitant when installing any new apps or software (Michael Sohn/AP/REX/Shutterstock)This comes after it was reported scammers are impersonating the online retailer to gain access to customers' devices and steal personal information such as bank details, according to consumer rights website Which?. To carry out the scam, fraudsters are said to be calling customers out of the blue.
Fraudsters start the scam by ringing from an unrecognised number. When a person answers, the scammer will tell them their Amazon Prime subscription is going up in price or is about to expire.
On its website, Which? said: "Amazon confirmed to Which? that it will never ask customers to provide remote access to their devices or make any payments outside of its website."