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Better Business Bureau warns of online scams ahead of Amazon Prime Day 2020

Posted at 6:00 AM, Oct 13, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-13 06:00:43-04

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning online shoppers about hackers potentially getting inside Amazon accounts during Amazon Prime Day 2020.

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Some information from the BBB warns that scammers are posing as Amazon employees to get shopper’s personal information.

The scam involves messages from someone saying that there’s a problem with their Amazon account and will ask for a credit card or Amazon account information.

The BBB says some will go as far as asking for remote access to your computer.

The scammers are also using phone numbers of actual businesses and organizations to disguise their calls to trick you.

“The increase in hacking activity and malfeasance online has increase 300-400%,” says Jon Wolfe, Axiom Cyber Solutions. “They’re incredible legitimate-looking, they’re very smart, they’re very adept and only a trained eye is really going to know the difference.”

To avoid this, the BBB says to ignore any unsolicited calls asking for personal details.

Amazon will not ask for critical personal information or ask you to send money via transferring apps like CashApp or Venmo.

“Getting ahold of that information is more valuable than stealing a package off your front porch because they get to reuse your information over and over again,” says Wolfe.

If you receive a questionable call or email from someone impersonating an Amazon employee, contact their customer support.

You can also file a report on the BBB’s Scam Tracker.