Is a phone call about a problem with my Amazon account a scam?
Almost certainly yes. Amazon does not make unsolicited calls about account issues. These calls are impersonation scams designed to steal your credentials or payment details.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Explanation
Amazon impersonation calls typically warn that your account has been compromised, that an unauthorised purchase was made, or that a Prime membership is about to renew unexpectedly. The caller asks you to press a number, visit a URL, or call back a provided number. They then attempt to capture your Amazon login, payment card details, or remote access to your device. Amazon communicates account issues through your account dashboard and by email to your registered address. If you receive an unexpected call claiming to be Amazon, hang up and check your account directly at amazon.com.
The scripts are designed to convert alarm into obedience. An automated voice announces a large purchase — a phone, a laptop, an order shipping to another city — and offers to connect you to 'security' if the order was not yours. Because you did not make the purchase, connecting feels like the responsible thing to do, and from there a calm 'agent' walks you through steps that end with a compromised account, a card number read aloud, or remote access software on your device. Some versions escalate further, transferring you to a fake bank or government investigator once the story needs more authority.
The strongest defence is refusing the channel, not debating the content. Any unexpected call about an Amazon problem gets hung up on — not argued with, not tested with questions — and the claim gets checked in the one place it can be verified: your account's order history and message centre. Nothing legitimate is ever lost by hanging up and checking directly; everything the scammer needs depends on keeping you on the line.
Common red flags
- Unsolicited call claiming to be from Amazon about a problem
- Automated voice followed by a number to press
- Caller asks for your Amazon password or payment details
- Request to install an app or allow remote access to your device
What to do now
- Hang up and do not call back the number provided
- Log into your Amazon account directly to check for any real issues
- Change your Amazon password if you shared any credentials
- Report the call to Amazon's customer service and your national fraud authority
Frequently asked questions
Does Amazon ever call customers?
Amazon may call you if you have requested a callback through your account. They will never make an unsolicited outbound call to warn you about security issues or prompt action.
The caller described a specific order that wasn't mine — why?
The 'unauthorised order' is invented precisely so you will engage to dispute it. Naming a specific expensive item makes the story feel real, but the details are the same in thousands of identical calls.
I allowed the caller remote access to my device — what should I do?
Disconnect the device from the internet, uninstall any software they had you install, run a security scan, and change your Amazon, email, and banking passwords from a different device. Contact your bank if it was accessed during the session.