By SCAM ALERT: Don’t become a victim of Amazon telephone fraud.
The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau has circulated information about the scam to forces all over the country.
Since September, some 200 victims have lost a total of more than £400,000.
In its fraud alert, a spokesman for the City of London Police – the national policing lead for fraud – said: “Criminals are targeting members of the public stating that the recipient has been charged for an Amazon Prime subscription. The callers use this lure as a way to gain access to the recipient’s online banking account.
“If you have been a victim of fraud or cyber crime, report it at Actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.”
SYP Fraud Protect Officer Andy Foster said: “We need the public’s help to raise awareness of scams like these.
“Unfortunately, fraud costs the general public billions of pounds every year and the best thing we can do is make sure everybody is aware of how to protect themselves from fraudsters to prevent it from happening to them.
“Speak to your friends and family about this scam and help us to spread the word. Fraud can have a profound impact on an individual’s wellbeing – no to mention the financial setback – so the more we can make communities aware of it, the better.”
This particular scam works by the victim receiving an automated call stating they’ve been charged for an Amazon Prime subscription. They’re asked to press 1 to cancel the charge, which connects them directly to a fraudster.
The fraudster, posing as an Amazon customer services representative, then tells the victim the Prime subscription was purchased fraudulently and they need remote access to the victim’s computer to fix a security flaw that will prevent it from happening again.
The victim is asked to download an application called Team Viewer, which grants the fraudster remote access to the victim’s computer. The victim is then asked to log in to their online banking account whilst the criminals are able to monitor everything via Team Viewer.
Tips to avoid becoming a victim of this scam:
1) Personal information: Always question uninvited approaches in case it’s a scam. Instead, contact the company directly using a known email address or phone number.
2) Stay in control: Have the confidence to refuse unusual requests for personal or financial information. It’s easy to feel embarrassed when faced with unexpected or complex conversations. But it’s OK to stop the discussion if you do not feel in control of it.
3) Remote access: Never install any software or visit a website as a result of a cold call. Unsolicited requests for remote access to your computer should always raise a red flag.
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