Amazon Prime warning: Dangerous scam circulates ahead of Black Friday - stay alert

Amazon is used by millions of people across the UK, and particularly amid the second lockdown, it is likely to be a key source for the sourcing of items. But as the festive season approaches, scammers are looking to target unsuspecting customers in a new way. The latest scam involves receiving a phone call or email, which informs a person they have been charged a sum out of their Amazon Prime account.

Responding to concerns, Amazon Help said online: “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. If you’ve received any suspicious contact, you can report it to us.”

Several people appear to have already come into contact with the dangerous scam, and have urged people to take caution.

One wrote: “My 70 year old sister has had two calls from ‘Amazon Prime’. She was’t sure if she’d taken it out or not, but luckily didn’t give them any info.

“Now she’s so nervous, she says she won’t order anything from Amazon ever again.”

Another said: “Watch out for a serious scam happening at the moment, folks.

For those who believe they may have come into contact with a scam, or unfortunately been a victim, it is important to act fast.

Firstly, for those who have fallen prey to scammers, reaching out to one’s bank as soon as possible is key.

This is because the bank or building society may be able to stop a payment before it is too late. 

All those who see or experience a scam are also encouraged to report the matter to Action Fraud.

The national fraud and cyber crime reporting service are likely to be able to take action from that point onwards.