How to Spot Amazon Phishing Emails & Texts

"Your order has been cancelled." "Unusual sign-in activity detected." These messages trigger immediate panic — and that's exactly what scammers want. Amazon phishing is now the most impersonated brand in phishing attacks worldwide, accounting for over 34% of all retail-related scams in 2025.

How Amazon Phishing Scams Work

Common Attack Methods

Method	What It Looks Like	Risk Level
Order confirmation scam	"Your order for $899 has shipped" (order you never placed)	Very High
Account suspension	"Your account has been locked due to suspicious activity"	Very High
Payment failure	"Your payment method was declined. Update now."	High
Prize/refund scam	"You're eligible for an Amazon refund of $50"	High
Delivery notification	"Your package couldn't be delivered. Confirm address."	Medium

Real-World Examples

• Email mimicking Amazon's exact design with a "Verify Your Account" button leading to a credential-harvesting page
• SMS claiming "Your Amazon Prime membership is expiring" with a shortened URL to a fake login page
• Phone calls from "Amazon Security" claiming unauthorized purchases and requesting remote access to your computer

5 Ways to Identify a Phishing Email

1. Check the Sender Address Carefully

Legitimate Amazon emails come from @amazon.com. Watch out for lookalikes like @amazon-support.com, @amazn.com, or @amazon.com.verify-account.xyz. The display name may say "Amazon" but the actual email address tells the truth.

2. Hover Before You Click

On desktop, hover over any link to preview the URL. On mobile, long-press the link. Legitimate links go to amazon.com. If you see amazon-verify.xyz or amzn-secure.click, it's a scam.

3. Watch for Urgency Tactics

"Act within 24 hours or your account will be permanently deleted" is a classic pressure tactic. Amazon doesn't threaten customers with account deletion via email.

4. Amazon Never Asks for Sensitive Info via Email

Credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, passwords, or one-time codes — Amazon will never request these through email, text, or phone. Any message asking for this information is fraudulent.

5. Check Grammar (But Don't Rely on It Alone)

Typos and awkward phrasing used to be telltale signs. With AI-generated phishing emails becoming more sophisticated, this alone isn't a reliable indicator anymore. Always verify through official channels.

Essential Security Settings

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Go to Amazon > Account > Login & Security > Two-Step Verification. This adds a second layer of protection even if your password is compromised.

Set Up Login Notifications

Enable email notifications for sign-in attempts so you're alerted immediately if someone tries to access your account from an unfamiliar device.

Use Unique Passwords

Use a different password for every shopping account. When one retailer gets breached, attackers try those credentials on Amazon, Walmart, and every other major site. If you need to share account credentials securely with a family member, tools like LOCK.PUB let you send passwords through encrypted, self-destructing links rather than plain text in iMessage or Messenger.

Review Connected Apps

Periodically check which third-party apps have access to your Amazon account and revoke any you don't recognize.

What to Do If You've Been Phished

Situation	Immediate Action
Clicked a phishing link	Close the page immediately if you haven't entered info
Entered your password	Change your Amazon password immediately + enable 2FA
Entered payment info	Contact your bank/card issuer to freeze the card
Installed suspicious software	Run antivirus scan + change all passwords
Lost money	File a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov

Reporting Channels

• Amazon: Forward phishing emails to stop-spoofing@amazon.com
• FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov
• FBI IC3: ic3.gov (for significant financial losses)

Sharing Shopping Links Safely

When sharing deal links or discount codes with friends and family, consider security too. Instead of pasting sensitive promo codes or referral links directly in group chats, you can use LOCK.PUB to create password-protected links that only intended recipients can access.

Phishing attacks exploit emotion, not technology. The golden rule: if a message makes you feel panicked, slow down. Open the Amazon app directly, check your orders, and verify any claims through official channels.

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Need to share sensitive links securely? Create password-protected links for free at LOCK.PUB.