How to avoid Amazon scams this Black Friday

Protect yourself against these common online scams.
 By 
Joseph Green
 on 
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"Scam Alert" written in yellow against blue
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TL;DR: The best way to protect yourself against Amazon scams is with a powerful password manager like NordPass.


Black Friday and Cyber Monday are fast approaching, which means a lot of people will be turning their attention to the deals offered by Amazon. That means scammers will also be more focused on the site, as there will be more opportunities to steal money and information from shoppers.

If you want to protect yourself against Amazon threats this Black Friday, we have all the information you need.

Most common Amazon scams

Amazon scams involve fraudsters impersonating Amazon or its sellers to trick customers. Here are some common Amazon scams to look out for when shopping:

  • Phishing emails — A fraudulent message that appears to be from Amazon but is sent by scammers. These emails tend to ask recipients to click on links or download attachments, which can lead to the theft of personal information or login credentials.

  • Amazon seller account scams —  Scammers create fake seller accounts on Amazon to list products they don't have. Once buyers make payments, scammers disappear without sending anything.

  • Fake call scams — Scammers impersonate Amazon customer support representatives through phone calls, aiming to obtain personal information, financial details, or access to your computer. 

  • Amazon fake gift card scam — Scammers convince victims to purchase gift cards and share the card codes. 

These types of scams are common due to Amazon's popularity and how easy it is to create fake listings. 

How to avoid Amazon scams

There are many tactics you can employ to avoid Amazon scams:

  • Check the sender's email address or website URL to ensure it's actually from Amazon

  • Remain skeptical of deals that seem too good or have unusually low prices

  • Look out for misspellings, poor grammar, or generic greetings in emails or messages

  • Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources

  • Verify seller ratings, reviews, and feedback before making a purchase

  • Avoid unsolicited communication, especially phone calls requesting personal information or payments

You should also use strong, unique passwords for your Amazon account and change them regularly with a password manager.

What is the best password manager?

There are many effective password managers, but NordPass might be the best password manager for avoiding Amazon scams. NordPass can generate strong and unique passwords in just seconds, and helps you ensure all your password combinations are secure and difficult to crack.

A two-year subscription to a NordPass Family Premium Plan is on sale for £53.73, saving you 54% on list price. This plan lets you connect up to six accounts, and comes with a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Protect yourself against Amazon scams with NordPass.

Photo of Joseph Green
Joseph Green
Global Shopping Editor

Joseph Green is the Global Shopping Editor for Mashable. He covers VPNs, headphones, fitness gear, dating sites, streaming, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day.

Joseph is also Executive Editor of Mashable's sister site, AskMen.

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