December 6, 2017—The Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Nebraska, South Dakota, the Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa is warning people about email scams making the rounds as people are expecting their online holiday deliveries. The email appears to be from Amazon and looks legitimate. It has the official Amazon logo at the top and uses its brand colors. “When it comes to ecommerce, Amazon.com is one of the most trusted and established brands (and a BBB Accredited Business). That’s why scammers love to impersonate it,” explained BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty.

BBB recently received an email from “Amazon” stating, “Someone from Dayton, Ohio has tried to reset your passwords, and if you have not requested these codes, call this number: 1-800-801-5811.” A code was provided, and BBB was asked to give that code with its email address for verification when calling. “The scammer is trying to make you respond and get you to reset your Amazon password so they can use it to purchase things using your Amazon account,” stated Hegarty. “These kinds of scams tend to go around this time of year because there’s so much communication in the marketplace, and scammers are betting on the fact that you’re going to reply to it and believe it’s true.”

Another scam using the Amazon name also comes in the form of an email. You receive a seemingly legitimate email from “Amazon” saying they couldn’t confirm the address you have on file and asks you to verify your account information by clicking a link.  Don’t do it! This message is fake and just an attempt to gain access to your personal information. The link does not lead to Amazon.com, but rather to a third-party website that could be carrying malware.

Here is some advice on how to avoid falling victim:

Check the sender’s email address. You can often see that the email isn’t even from someone with an Amazon domain.
Don’t click on links in unsolicited emails.  Links can download malware onto your computer and even lead to identity theft. Beware of unsolicited emails in general. Even if they look official, they could be fake.
Never share your personal information with someone who has contacted you unsolicited. Personal information can include your date of birth, credit card or banking information, address or your Social Security number.
Check BBB Tips: Many email scams use similar techniques. Be sure to review the tips found on BBB.org/phishingscam
Report all emails and other scams to BBB’s Scam Tracker at bbb.org/scamtracker/us.