Scam Type
Tech Support Scam
Business Name Used
Amazon Imposter
Date Reported
Sep 09, 2022
Victim Postal Code
72227
Total Dollars Lost
0
Scam Description
This involves a fraudster portraying to be an Amazon Rep to steal from me. Tonight I googled “chat with Amazon rep” and the very top number of the google search result in ALL CAPS AND BOLD was “Amazon Chat – 888-765-2409” which seemed legit at the time. I had reached Amazon by google search in the past.
The call was initially seemingly normal, the woman was not of American descent, so we struggled a bit with communication. In hindsight we did struggle to make a connection in the issue which I had told her was odd since she should be able to view my Amazon account detail. I needed a refund for a digital item, and the first red flag was when the “rep” asked whether I owned/was calling from an apple or android device. We argued over the necessity of this. She later said Amazon is, ironically, experiencing a lot of fraud and is now using “anydesk” as a means to authenticate its customers. I argued we had just done the authentication process with my name, address, email address (I hate that I provided this in hindsight). They proceeded to convince me to use the app, which I regretfully did. At this point I was speaking with the “manager” who was able to remote in to my phone via the app (she comically told me my phone battery was low) which all gave me a sickening feeling. I was told in order to process a refund I had to purchase a digital $100 VISA card through my Amazon app, which I started to do, when red flags were waving. I argued that they had my account information and told the man I was recording him (if I hadn’t mentioned it, I was transferred to “billing” at this time). Scared, I immediately got out of my Amazon app and handed my husband the phone. My husband told the fake Amazon rep “this is a scam and you know it” and that’s when we hung up.
I’m very concerned about how easily they were able to fraud me, I am a naturally suspicious and anxious person to begin with. I am also not low intelligence, but this ordeal has truly made me rethink about my ability to fall prey to these insidious shenanigans.
