Amazon is getting ready for Prime Day, and you can bet scammers are, too.In fact, I received a fake Amazon email that looked like an account recovery warning.
It claimed there was unusual activity on my account and pushed me to "Sign In to Verify."That kind of message can make anyone uneasy.It certainly did for me.
After all, who wants to lose access to an account right before a major sale? Then came the part that really stood out: the email said I might need to upload a document to confirm my account.That was the giveaway.A real deal can save you money.
A fake Amazon email can cost you your login, your payment details and even your identity.Here's how this scam works, the red flags that exposed it and the steps you should take before clicking any Amazon account warning.Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportA fake Amazon account recovery email is targeting shoppers ahead of Prime Day, using urgency and document requests to steal sensitive information.(Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)The timing made this phishing email more convincing.
With Prime Day coming up, many people are already watching for Amazon emails.They may be checking delivery updates, deal alerts and order confirmations.
That creates the perfect opening for a fake account warning.The email used the same tricks you see in many phishing scams.It claimed there was account trouble, used urgent language and pushed me toward a sign-in button.
That is exactly what scammers want.Screenshot of scam fake Amazon email (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)They want you to react before you inspect the message.They want you to sign in before you think through the request.
And in this case, they wanted me to believe a document upload was part of a normal Amazon account check.This fake Amazon email had several warning signs.First, it landed in my junk folder.
That alone does not prove fraud, but it should make you cautious.Second, the subject line sounded awkward.It said, "Account Recovery: Sign-...