Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Olivia Williams

Scam warning to anyone with Amazon Prime

A warning has been issued regarding an Amazon Prime scam targeting customers.

It has been reported scammers are impersonating the online retailer to gain access to customer's devices and steal personal information such as bank details, according to consumer rights website Which?. To carry out the scam, fraudsters are said to be calling customers out of the blue.

Fraudsters start the scam by ringing from an unrecognised number. When a person answers, the scammer will tell them their Amazon Prime subscription is going up in price or is about to expire.

READ MORE: Thomas Cashman murder trial resumes as man accused of shooting schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel

After hearing this news, a customer might tell the scammer they want to cancel their subscription. If they do this, the person will be put through to another fraudster.

The victim will then be told to download a remote access software on their device. According to Which?, this is typically an app called AnyDesk, which is a genuine programme, however scammers sometimes use this software as a way of exploiting people.

After a customer has downloaded the program, the fraudster has access to the device. This allows them to steal personal information on the device and install malware software, risking the person losing money and personal details.

On its website, Which? said: "Amazon confirmed to Which? that it will never ask customers to provide remote access to their devices or make any payments outside of its website."

If the customers device has been accessed by the scammer via the remote access software, the remote session should be ended as soon as possible by pressing a button which states "disconnect session", or something similar. Another option is to turn off the device and wi-fi to stop the fraudster in their tracks.

When the device is switched back on, the software can be removed by looking in the recent downloads folder. The victim should also contact their bank right away as this might have been accessed by the fraudster.

Get all the latest Eurovision 2023 news straight to your inbox

READ NEXT:

Thomas Cashman murder trial resumes as man accused of shooting schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel

Updates as brothers and schoolboy who beat security guard to death are sentenced

Lorraine Kelly replaced by Dr Hilary as she begs for help over her health

Lost Liverpool nightclub where 'nobody really cared'

Aldi's 'practical' £5 storage boxes shoppers say are 'good value for money'

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.