Online retail giant Amazon is urging users to remain vigilant of crooks posing as the website to obtain personal details.
The festive period means more shoppers will be heading online to secure their last minute Christmas gifts - but it’ll also attract scammers hoping to cash in on unsuspecting shoppers.
Because of its huge popularity, Amazon remains one of the top targets for scammers.
The website has issued an urgent warning to customers to be on high alert as the UK enters the busiest period for online shopping.
It comes as hackers have been posing as Amazon through fake correspondence in a bid to steal personal data such as user names, passwords and bank details.
Amazon says the most common scam has seen users receive fake messages informing them that they’ve ordered a product and need to confirm details before it can be shipped.
The scammers will then try to trick customers into providing their bank details, and in some cases, install software on devices to complete the order.
Shoppers are being advised to verify their orders by logging into their Amazon accounts if they feel they’ve received any unexpected messages.
The firm says only legitimate purchases will appear in their order history.
But if any further clarity is needed, the customer service team is available to assist users 24/7.
Hackers have also been setting up imitation websites which pose as tech support for devices and Amazon services.
Customers are being urged to only ever access these services through official channels, such as the iPhone/Android app, or the official Amazon.co.uk website.
If they fail to do so, they could run into the risk of their personal data being stolen, as scammers using fake websites can cleverly convince users to install malware onto their devices.
If you do have any issues with your account, the official Amazon website offers a ‘help’ section where it responds to customer queries.
Users are also being warned to look out for false urgency in any of the messages they receive.
This is because scammers typically try to create a sense of panic to persuade users to follow their instructions faster.
If you receive a message warning you to 'act now' or 'act fast' it could be a sign that you've been contacted by a scammer.
Logging in to your Amazon account to refresh your memory on past orders can help you avoid becoming a victim of fraud.
