Skip to main content

Scammers are calling people and using the names of two companies everyone knows, Apple and Amazon, to rip people off. Here’s what you need to know about these calls.

In one version of the scam, you get a call and a recorded message that says it’s Amazon. The message says there’s something wrong with your account. It could be a suspicious purchase, a lost package, or an order they can’t fulfill.

In another twist on the scam, you get a recorded message that says there’s been suspicious activity in your Apple iCloud account. In fact, they say your account may have been breached.

In both scenarios, the scammers say you can conveniently press 1 to speak with someone (how nice of them!). Or they give you a phone number to call. Don’t do either. It’s a scam. They’re trying to steal your personal information, like your account password or your credit card number.

If you get an unexpected call or message about a problem with any of your accounts, hang up.

  • Do not press 1 to speak with customer support
  • Do not call a phone number they gave you
  • Do not give out your personal information

If you think there may actually be a problem with one of your accounts, contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real.

Read our article to learn how to block unwanted calls on a mobile phone or on your home phone. And if you do get a call you think is a scam, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.


Image
Anatomy of an imposter scam banner

Our Anatomy of an Imposter Scam blog series breaks down how to recognize, avoid, and report business and government imposter scams.

Search Terms

It is your choice whether to submit a comment. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTC’s computer user records system. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTC’s Privacy Act system notices. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy.

The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

LaVonna Wimberly
December 05, 2020
I made a complaint as soon as I realized this maybe a scam, but I did press 1 and called the number back. Did I create another problems by doing this PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!
KT
January 19, 2021

In reply to by LaVonna Wimberly

Nothing happens. They desperately try to sound helpful and professional and try to get you to log on to to something. I have nothing to do all day so I pretended to do it and his voice was almost giddy because he thought he had me. And then at the last minute I told him I knew it was a scam. He was FURIOUS.
LaVonna Wimberly
December 05, 2020
I received a call on today 12-5-2020 from someone stating their from Amazon with the same type of recording, but I did speak with someone named Mike Miller from the number 1-361-882-4662, I'm realizing now that I should never pressed 1 and called the number back today. 2nd comment
Mark the shark
December 05, 2020
I received a call today, from 1-406-785-8537, purporting to be from Amazon. A recording played stating that a charge for three hundred something dollars was charged to my VisaCard, and that I needed to take some action to avert or resume delivery. I don’t make purchases on any VisaCards. So I just hung up.
Lisa
December 05, 2020
I answered my phone and it was an Amazon recording saying my account was compromised. I pressed 1. A man with a Spanish sounding accent answered, and I could hear lots of activity around him. I hung up. Have I compromised my Amazon account?
Bubba
December 05, 2020
10 calls the last 2 days
dchristopher
December 05, 2020
I have had all of those, a couple of times I selected 1, and laid the phone down and walked away.
Patio
December 05, 2020
I received 15 calls today minutes apart from 3pm to 5pm. I did press 1 as I was unaware of this scam (apple). I could barely understand him. Dylan Thomas. Is what came up on my phone. After listening for about a minute I hung up. I gave him no info.
Janet
December 05, 2020
I have gotten these calls and I can say these people are very convincing and will even get angry and threaten you about how much you will suffer if you don't go along with their "help." Luckily, I hung up after a long while and determined I needed to hang up. Don't be fooled. These companies will never call you without your request.
Can
December 06, 2020
I started getting these last night from Apple Support. The calls kept coming on different numbers, every 5-30 minutes. It started again this morning and still happening. I have made a report on this site. Never experience anything like it before. 15 calls so far and wondering when it will end.
very frustrating
December 06, 2020
I received 42 of these calls saying my apple iCloud had been breached. They started about a half hour apart and then went to 5 mins apart. They also left 19 voicemails. I tried to block the number but it was always 1800- 795- and all 42 of the calls had different digits for the last four numbers !!!! Eventually just stopped.
Schafer
May 24, 2021

In reply to by very frustrating

Me too. This started last week and continues constantly. The number appears with my same area code and prefix and last 4 are always different so blocking doesn’t work!
Eddie
December 06, 2020
OK, so I foolishly selected "1" and (it sounded like) a real person came on to tell me about the ~$700, and that it was suspicious, did I make it. I said no I didn't, and they hung up. Question: can they get info without me telling them anything? They didn't ask for anything.... and oh, (ugh) I have done this twice... same thing, they just hang up. ??????
Anna
December 15, 2020

In reply to by Eddie

I have the same question. Why not press 1 if you don't give them any info, and just want to mess with them?
Not,this,time
December 07, 2020
So I actually pushed 1 and the guy keep trying to get me to go to my computer because he needed my ip address. That's when I knew it was a scam. I just told him I am hanging up and calling Amazon to verify. He hung up before I could. Phone number came up as 424 area code.
NaNa
December 08, 2020
My calls state that it is Amazon verifying a charge of $799 on my account for an iPhone. Then says I can press "1" to speak to Customer support.
Don't use your…
December 08, 2020
I had an email today about a purchase to my account and if I didn't place it to call a number. I called. After all the things she said and she freaked me out my account was hacked. Said I should not use my phone for 2 hours. I hung up thinking about how strange it was. So I changed passwords again. I am thinking the scam was the email.
P-Town Cubs Fan
December 08, 2020
I have had 8 calls related to this today. This is flat-out harassment and it should be illegal.
FromAnonymous
December 08, 2020
We keep getting the Apple scam calling every single day up to 20 to 50 times a day! They call from a different number each time so blocking does absolutely nothing! We were so fed up we did push 1 to talk to them and my husband told him that they needed to stop harassing us and the guy hung up!!! These scammers are so disgusting!
Vicki
December 09, 2020
Got a call from 1-801-845-7577 stating something was wrong with my Amazon account and not to place any more orders. Didn't return the call, assumed scam.
amazonscam
December 09, 2020
my grandma just got one of these calls on her landline and did press 1 not knowing, do they now have access to information?
AG65
December 09, 2020
Today, I did receive a call from AMAZON. Same response - dial 1 and talk with an AMAZON rep. Male individual with an Indian accent 12/9/2010 @ 11:23 am. A charge of 1,499 for an I Phone to my account. I told him he is a scammer. This guy hung up on me. I did not provide any data to my account
ShellyMae
December 09, 2020
Just received a call from Amazon. Said they were trying to veryify a purchase on my Amazon account. An iPhone xr for $ 748 98 they wanted me to talk to their security team and get information. I asked a couple questions and he got very upset he started saying in an loud voice. Why won't you cooperate with me. I finally told him I'd call Amazon myself
Gail
December 10, 2020
I got a call yesterday and pressed 1 but that rang no answer so I hung up. I got another call today and pressed 1. But the lady asked me to go to my computer. I simply said I couldn't do that and that I'd call Amazon . The calls were coming from a local number. Big red flags. I usually tell callers like this that I don't have a compter.
Pat
December 10, 2020
I've received 9 cell phone calls since yesterday morning about a $729. suspicious charge. Like others have stated, leaves voice mail, press # 1, etc, caller # always starts off with my area code and prefix, evidently, a ruse to appear as an acquaintance or familiar person. It's pointless, but I block them. Answered this a.m. out of curiosity, foreign accent, he wanted me to log into a site that would link me to Amazon cyber security, (think that's what he said), so I hung up.
Pat
December 10, 2020
I've received 9 cell phone calls since yesterday morning about a $729. suspicious charge. Like others have stated, leaves voice mail, press # 1, etc, caller # always starts off with my area code and prefix, evidently, a ruse to appear as an acquaintance or familiar person. It's pointless, but I block them. Answered this a.m. out of curiosity, foreign accent, he wanted me to log into a site that would link me to Amazon cyber security, (think that's what he said), so I hung up.
WaltD
December 10, 2020
Received call today. Someone has ordered an Iphone valued at $795. If you didn't place this order press 1 to speak to customer service to cancel order. Screen showed "Amazon Customer Service" and the phone number listed as 1 (888) 280-4331. Looked official. Sounded questionable.
ak
December 11, 2020
received two calls today regarding suspicious activity on my amazon account -
CT customer
December 11, 2020
I just got one. They skimmed a local number on caller ID.
Called today
December 12, 2020
I got a call today saying there's a problem with my Amazon account. It was a recording. I hung up however on my caller i.d. it says Tom Foley 203 371 4132
sydney120498
December 13, 2020
Past 2 days I have been getting an outrageous amount of calls. These are coming about 15 minutes apart, all day. Can't block different "local" number each time. Supposedly from Amazon. I did double check my account. At one point I did answer. They have a heck of an operation going. The background noise during the call was unbelievable. I did call Amazon but,... There is no stopping these calls and it's really getting to me. Somebody help !
Anna
December 15, 2020

In reply to by sydney120498

Me too - over 15 calls so far today. Jerks.
Oliver
December 15, 2020

In reply to by sydney120498

Same with me and it's exhausting! I block all of them and the numbers keep changing which I'm here with you today! What a shame! We seriously need a resolution to this madness!!
XJ
December 14, 2020
i'm on the phone with sb after I pressed 1 following the instruction of a phone call from amazon reminding me there's a purchase of over 300 hundred. I pressed one to cancel the purchase, and was directed to amazonfindorder.us. The guy had asked me to click support on that website, which ends at teamviewer, which i believe must be some weird software. I told the guy that i prefer to call amazon by myself since i did not see any order like that at my account, while he said he would hold the phone waiting for my call through to amazon. I am saying that i will cancel remove all my credit card at my account first before i made the call, and he ended from his side now. guys, do you think it is a fraud call? the number is 423 382 9403.
user200234
December 14, 2020
Why are individuals allowed to spoof other people's real phone numbers? What is the government doing to prevent it?
Rose
December 15, 2020
It happened to me they stole almost 2000.00 from me. Bank is working with me to get it back . my credit cards and Amazon the same. They are still calling me. I don't answer them.
AnnoyedinPA
December 15, 2020
I've been getting them from "Apple Support" every 15 minutes on my work cell phone! I did press 1 to be connected so I could ask them to stop calling. The person who answered asked how they could help, so I replied "You called me, shouldn't you know?" They hung up on me.
Oliver
December 15, 2020
This just started happening to me this week. I'll receive a series of calls throughout the day from numbers that have the same area code, the first 3 digits are the same and the remainder of the numbers change. They're imposters and scammers and the recording says: This is Molly, We've received a dispute about your Amazon account in Ohio. Press 1 to speak with a representative. This is unbelievable!
Crmyanks
December 15, 2020
Just got a call. Hung up.
Ashley
December 15, 2020
The Apple iCloud scam has called me at least 17 times today and I had to report it to the FCC plus the local police. My dad literally had to pull the phone off of the wall to stop them from happening. It feels like it's never ending, honestly.
irritated in seattle
December 16, 2020
been dealing with these calls for 2 days (now) every 5-10 mins or so (filling the answering machine)...even had to take the line out of the wall AND that did NO GOOD! dont know if its even worth having a phone anymore, it seems they will give a phone line to anybody these days.
G. Chen
December 16, 2020
From last evening to this morning, I received 11 calls, using the amazon name says have $729 incoming charge on my account... and all using different local phone number so that it is not easy to block it. Why it can not be stop and punished?
Lindsay K
December 17, 2020
I just got the Amazon call yesterday. It sounds SO real! I hung up as soon as they wanted me to log into a website that I believe would have taken over my computer. Be careful! They make it sound urgent and like a tremendous deal to get you to stop thinking and just do it. Scary.
Miller17?
December 17, 2020
Had three calls today saying they wanted £79.99 for amazon prime two recorded messages and one from a very nasty person Phone numbers 07878293944 07523967314 02089775569 Getting a bit to much they should be prosecuted
slhsc
December 17, 2020
Received ANOTHER call this morning from "Amazon" stating the $375.00 gift card purchased via my Amazon account will be applied to my credit card". I DO NOT HAVE AN AMAZON ACCOUNT! Information: Call came in with caller ID "MMC". Phone number 347-933-2879. WHEN ARE THESE ATTEMPTS AT ID THEFT GOING TO STOP AND WHO IS MONITORING THIS COMMENT BOARD? I have posted responses to every single alert I have received as my husband and I are under siege from scammers, phishers, and ID thieves all across the board with every single "alert" you send! My comments which I believe are helpful to the community should be posted! Thank you.
golfnut
December 18, 2020
got the call from Amazon.... bogus...319- 362-8650 DO NOT FALL FOR THIS..DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY INFORMATION
Eric
December 18, 2020
I just received a call with "no caller ID" from these scammers. While talking to them I googled "amazon security call regarding iphone purchase" and it quickly became apparent that this was a known scam. I told the men (two men with Indian accents) that I am reading about this scam on the internet. They hung up. Thank you for getting the word out!
rickdees
December 18, 2020
Rec'd recorded message, supposedly from Amazon re a I-phone 11, cost $1349, asking for callback. I did not call back after reading these messages re this 'scam'. I never answer any calls from any numbers that I personally do not know. Number they gave was 403 541 01419. Yes, number has extra digit, hmmmm.
bwrentham
December 19, 2020
I received a call claiming to be from Amazon fraud department about a charge to my account from a device in Ohio—not where I live. I asked for his supervisor’s number. I later called the number and it was the person I had just spoken too. Only thing I can add to other comments is that I was told that the possibly fraudulent purchase wouldn’t show up in my account history because the “fraud” included erasing the charge from the history. Very clever!
Beckyann77
December 21, 2020
In July, 2020, I lost a good bit of money to an Amazon scammer who called himself "Kevin." First, when I filled out the bogus refund report, I presumably typed in an extra digit. Poor little "Kevin" wailed that he could lose his job over this, so I agreed to send him the money via gift cards (not realizing at the time that this was a scam). This wasn't enough. Next, I had to wire several thousand dollars to the "Amazon headquarters" in Thailand. Fortunately, I finally woke up and , realizing this was a scam, refused to give him any more. I was so ashamed of my trust and my actions, but as the police officer to whom I made my report said, "You aren't the first [victim of this scam] and you won't be the last." Please don't be ashamed if you made a similar mistake; it will make you more wary in the future. Let's put these scammers where they belong: in the slammer!