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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.


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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.

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  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
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EDawg
February 09, 2021
If you press 1 nothing happens. I press one most times I get this call because I'm just sitting in front of my computer. So, they say something like "oh no, there's been a charge on your account". One time I said, no there hasn't. They argued with me and then eventually hung up. One time I said that I did do the charge. They hung up. Another call I've gotten is something about refunding my prime membership. I said I didn't need the refund. They said okay then we can give you more services. I asked what those services were. They wouldn't say. Eventually I asked them if I was wasting their time, and they said no. And I said they were wasting mine. And then they hung up. I do worry that if you push one then somehow their computer registers your number as legit and then you get more calls. But I got like 15 calls before I started pushing one so I don't really care.
v
February 09, 2021
they'll direct you to go to "amzhelp.me", it's a fake site. None of the links at the top work, except the ones they want you to click on. They will be very careful about how they direct you. They use various means to attack your computer. Red flag: if they require you to download anything, it's a fake.
Caroline
February 09, 2021
Got one of these calls today saying there was a charge from amazon.press 1 to confirm.these calls are unnerving and I can not believe Amazon can not do something to stop them.a big company like that.I closed my Amazon account.
Not the guy
February 10, 2021

In reply to by Caroline

Because it has nothing to do with them. People are just using their name. They could call and say Pizza Hut detected fraud and scam the same way... not pizza huts fault
Razamataz
February 15, 2021

In reply to by Caroline

Why close your amazon acct as they6 have no control over these robo callers.
Don't use you …
February 10, 2021
Just had automated phone call 12.15 pm saying: An order for £1000 has been made from my account, press 1 to find out details, and if it’s a scam.
Boise ID
February 10, 2021
I have had about five over the last few months. The first handful were talking about an Iphone and the number was based out of San Francisco copying there number, the last few have been calling about 5am and they mimic the amazon customer service number. I let them know i didnt have a phone and they hung up on me.
Don't use your…
February 10, 2021
I just got an Amazon call, and it came though as one of my friends/Phone contacts. I answered and got the same recording, press 1, etc. I just hung up.
Ifyoulikepinacolada
February 10, 2021
Can somone please answer the question!? What happens if you do click 1 or 2? I did and nothing came next so I hung up, changed my Amazon password and came here.
pj
February 10, 2021
I started saving their numbers in my contacts under the name "scam", so that when that same number calls again, I can pick up & hang up! I'm sick of the scam calls, and especially sick of them taking up space on my answering machine with their lying messages!
RJ
February 10, 2021
I received a all this afternoon which came up as Amazon Customer Service. I have the Amazon number saved as I had an issue once they needed to take care of. A recording noted that someone is trying to purchase an iPhone on me Amazon account and to press 1 for a customer service rep. Since the call came up as Amazon I pressed one. All I could hear was a call center all calling people about the accounts. There was no live person on the other end. Amazon puts no tel # on their website that I can find. Is the following number I got from Google for Amazon Customer Service correct? #highlyconcerned
FakeRock
February 10, 2021
The state an IP address from (OHIO) was used in a different state to access you amazon account and you have been hacked. When you hit 1, a man came on the phone stating he works for Amazon, provides his name, and states you are on a recorded line, and authorized by the FTC. Sounds legit, it's not. He then asks you to go to the App Store and install a help desk supporting application, (peer to peer) and then states they will show you the Amazon charge that is made by the "hacker" who placed a charge in your Amazon account, once you install application, he states they will connect you to their secure server. They do not want you to go to your Amazon account to verify the charge, " as this would alert the hacker" they state. The scary issue - you can hear many voices 20-30 voices in the background doing the same thing to potential customers. Based on the background noise, this is not simply an individual, but a massive fraud program. I asked for a phone number to call them back they give you a fake phone number. Also, the phone number that comes into your phone is NOT register in your incoming call list.
jim
February 10, 2021
robo call from (513) 931-05090 out of Cincinnati OH saying it was Amazon and there was a suspicious order for an iPhone and I would charged. said to Press 1 if this order is correct or Press 0 if it is not correct. I didn't press anything and just hung up.
one me
February 10, 2021
I just got a call today from amazon that someone ordered an iphone under my account. I pressed 1, to speak to a rep and a woman from India told me I needed to open an app and some other steps, then she said I had to do this right way, lol. I knew then it had to be a scam so I told her no and hung up.
Feb 11 2021
February 11, 2021
Said 400 dollars has been ordered from my Amazon account at 7am. Nothing is exactly 400. Also, called on landlines phone we never use. Also, re eived Apple call but have no Apple devices.
MAW
February 11, 2021
Call from 858-947-0023 claiming to be from Amazon - calling about a gift-card order. Why does the FTC not FORCE the telephone companies to discontinue ALL phone numbers that they KNOW are trying to SCAM people --- especially senior citizens ??????
notme
February 11, 2021
I get these often, like 2 or 3 times a week, it is always some Amazon purchase, and I never answer the phone. I just log to my amazon account and check if any strange order.. which there never is, and I even checked my credit card for purchases.. I just ignore them now.
WmLong76
February 11, 2021
This morning (Thu 11-Feb-2021) I got a recorded message urging me to phone "Amazon Customer Support" at 775-319-4462 "right away" in order to avoid a "charge to cancel this gift card order." My VOIP phone message system did not capture the first few seconds of the message.
Linda
February 11, 2021
My 18 yr old fell for this yesterday, responded to a recorded call from Amazon (not) about her account being hacked. She thought she was doing the adult thing by following through and handling it on her own before she came to her parents. She is now out $3000.
Sarahtheo
February 12, 2021
I’ve been getting calls from so called Amazon for a week now. Always from a different number. Driving me insane!
Bonnie
February 12, 2021
My 87 year old mother gets the Amazon scam call several times a week. Thank goodness she knows to hang up on all unsolicited calls.
Whisper
February 13, 2021
I'm getting about 10 calls a day from the "your apple iCloud account" scammers. Very bothersome!
Fraudfinder
February 13, 2021
I just started getting calls about a charge in Dayton, Ohio on Amazon , they are coming from two local numbers 231-894-4636, 231-2818 and a third 231-894-1161 . They all came in 5 minutes apart.
leroy
February 15, 2021
I received 4 calls from a company claiming to be Apple support and messages to call them back. This happened between Feb 13 - 14 2021. Today I received a call from with a recorded message calming to be Amazon and told me that someone had purchased an iPhone using my account and press 1 to connect to an agent. I checked my account and no iPhone had been ordered.
Jeffy
February 15, 2021
I have received 23 calls from the amazon scam today alone
ChargerDon't u…
February 16, 2021
I received a fake call today saying my Amazon account had been charged 1500.00. The recording said to press option 1 on the phone to talk to alive agent. It’s a scam. I don’t even have an Amazon account. They just keep calling back. I guess they think I am stupid. Ibjust take down the number and report it to the federal trade commission .
NerdyMomof3
February 16, 2021
I have gotten no less than 5 calls in a span of 30 minutes today, all different local area numbers all saying the same thing. That it is Molly from Amazon and that someone is trying to charge my Amazon account out of Dayton OH.
Redpoppy
February 16, 2021
A robot call from 1-206-424-9970. Its an Amazon scam call with an I Phone twist.
jm
February 16, 2021
I received the call today, that my Apple iCloud was breached. They want you to open your and they will fix it for you. SCAMM DONT fall for it.
Mjb
February 16, 2021
Received the Amazon scam call today. I got curious and spoke with them. He wanted to add something to my desktop computer and wanted me to click on it. I told him this is out of the ordinary and hung up. Can they access your computer when they gave you on the phone?
John in NC
February 16, 2021
Got the Amazon call for suspicious activity. When I confirmed I didn’t make the two purchases, they confirmed that it was a suspicious IP address. They then wanted me to download load an app “Anydesk” to allow them access to my phone so they could erase the IP address. Really? Hang up. If you are concerned, call Amazon directly for verification.
Don't use your…
February 17, 2021
Your site is not relevant to UK
wd
February 17, 2021
I got one of these calls today for my Amazon account. I didn't press 1 but I did hang up. I blocked the number. Unfortunately blocking the number doesn't work because they will use a different number next time.
L. D.
February 17, 2021
There is now a third version of the scam: have just gotten a call (February 17, 2021) from 314-916-5629 saying that I made a purchase using my Visa card in the amount of $ 149.88 (I do not even have such a card and have never brought anything on Amazon.com), but if I haven't made the purchase, I can call 314-916-5629 (where I would presumably have to reveal personal details -- which is what they are really looking for).
haleyvanb
February 17, 2021
Got this call a few minutes ago and didn't follow through with the prompts. 708-673-2533 was the number that called me
DPilot
February 17, 2021
Received 3 calls claiming to be Amazon today on my cell phone, all three from different phone numbers Blocking the calls won’t work. In addition, Amazon won’t process an order without a valid credit card or payment method. So no response if the transaction appears suspicious should result in cancellation of the order since Amazon would be liable for the fraudulent charges.
Tired of Scammers
February 18, 2021
I received one of these Amazon scam calls at home for $500. About 3 hours later at work we got one for $750.00. Don't talk to them and hang up. Immediately check your Amazon account and your credit card account online for peace of mind. Thank you for the posts as we need to help each other out.
beaglechic14
February 18, 2021
I've been called with Amazon one twice this week
Bobbi
February 19, 2021
I got similar call...recorded...regarding problem on Amazon account. Don't have one. Never have. I just hung up.
sikascams
February 19, 2021
They just asked me to go to helpme.net and download software, probably to remote to my desktop. I told them that I was busy, but would call back Amazon fraud support immediately.
BarbJ84
February 19, 2021
I have received no less than a call a minute for the last hour from these people on my landline. I don't even have an apple phone! They call from a different number every time so it is impossible to block them all!! I finally just shut the ringer off. Its a sad shame that I end up missing calls I do want because no one can find a way to stop this!!!
IrishLaborer
February 19, 2021
Just got a call from this scam number .... obviously scam is still being perpetrated!
Cleo
February 21, 2021
I just received a call from Amazon about a purchase of $400. I didn't make a purchase and they wanted me to call them to discuss. I looked up and found this information and didn't make any phone call.
Shug
February 22, 2021
Just had a call from 07683162772. Automated said “Thank you for placing an order with Amazon. Your card has been debited with £399. Hung up.
AggravatedConsumer
February 22, 2021
On Sunday 02/21/21, I received 32+ phone calls from (315)232-8257, some of them only 6 minutes apart, over a period of 12 hours. The calls began at approximately 10:00am and ended at 6:30pm Central Standard Time (CST). It was the Apple version of the message.
DoeS
February 22, 2021
I just got this call and didn’t press 1. It was a recorded call and said “This is Amazon calling you about a suspicious $700 purchase on your account in Dayton, Ohio. Press 1 to speak to a customer service representative.” I hung up.
ally
February 22, 2021
I called Amazon support (the number I found on google). The person said that there has been unusual activity in my account and it was blocked and in order to unblock it I have to download QuickSupport and then CashApp and send money. I tried but it didn't work ad they told me to try through Zelle. It worked with Zelle and send $1000. I'm so upset I wanna cry... How could I be so stupid and naive... Now there's nothing can be done...
ROBIN
February 26, 2021

In reply to by ally

Oh no! Did you call your bank or credit card to stop/cancel the payment? That's probably your best bet. Good luck!
Old Yellow
February 23, 2021
They are creative enough to use a name of a city close to where I live and use a local number. My calls are about Amazon account. Didn't listen to more than 5 seconds. Block the number each time but they use another one. The recording is very bad quality.
NJ
February 24, 2021
I pressed 1 the first time, and now I get dozens of calls a day.