Beware of Amazon Prime Membership Scam Emails

Amazon is the world’s biggest online marketplace. Hundreds of millions of people all over the world turn to Amazon when they want to buy something, whether that be a new TV, a holiday gift, or even groceries. But that popularity also makes Amazon a popular focus for scammers, who devise various tricks and schemes to fool users into giving up their data or their cash.

Fake Amazon Prime membership emails are a popular scam technique. This guide explores how they work and how to spot them.

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How Do Amazon Prime Membership Email Scams Work?

Prime membership email scams are just one of several types of Amazon email scams, and they all work in a similar way. A scammer sends an email reportedly from an Amazon representative (or another type of support worker from Amazon) and announces there is a problem with their Prime membership.

They might say that the recipient’s Prime membership is going to expire or be canceled or suspended unless the user updates their details. Often, the emails will also contain a link that purportedly is connected to Amazon’s official website. They will ask the user to click the link and enter some information to restore their membership.

However, in reality, that link doesn’t send you to Amazon, at all. Instead, it sends you to a phishing website, created and operated by scammers and designed to steal your data. Anything you type and enter into that site, like your Amazon login information or your credit card number, goes straight to the scammers. They can use that against you to steal your identity and your money.

How to Spot Amazon Prime Membership Email Scams

Sign 1. Not Sent From an Official Amazon Address

Fake Amazon emails are often crafted to look almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Scammers will even often create fake email account names for themselves that look like authentic Amazon accounts. However, if you actually look at the address the message was sent from, it usually has no link to Amazon and does not end in “@amazon.com” or any regional variation.

Sign 2. Low-Resolution Images

Take a close look at the images in the email – the Amazon logos or any other images contained in the email. You may notice that the images are a bit grainy or pixelated. This happens when scammers create their scam emails and insert low-resolution image files possibly pulled from an official Amazon site. A poor-quality logo or a logo that seems obviously pasted into the email can be a tip-off.

Sign 3. Spelling or Grammar Mistakes

There are scammers in countries all over the world, and for many, English is not their first language. But they still target English-speaking audiences in the U.S., U.K., etc. Because of this, you may find that fake Amazon Prime emails contain obvious spelling or grammar errors, or they might use phrases that seem a little unnatural, unprofessional, or not familiar in your country. Read them carefully to spot these inconsistencies.

Sign 4. Lack of Personal Information

A lot of fake Amazon emails will start with a generic introduction like “Greetings Amazon User,” or “Hello from Amazon,” instead of actually mentioning your name. However, if you look at real emails from Amazon, they’ll usually address you by name. Scammers don’t necessarily know your name, so they’ll use these generic terms instead, which is often a sign that the email is fake.

Sign 5. Suspicious Links

As mentioned earlier, links are traps to watch out for in fake Amazon Prime scam emails. If you click the link included in the mail, it will take you to the scammer’s site, where you’re at risk of giving away valuable personal data. So, be wary of any links contained in emails that claim to come from Amazon. Always hover your mouse cursor over a link and you can see where it’s sending you before you click on it.

Sign 6. Coercive or Threatening Language

Lastly, many scam emails in general, including fake Prime membership messages, will use certain terms and phrases to give the impression the situation is urgent and you need to act fast. They’ll write things like “Your account is about to be blocked,” or “You must update your details within 24 hours.” This is all done to pressure you into giving up your info quickly, rather than having time to think.

How to Protect Yourself from Prime Membership Email Scams

Read messages carefully to look for signs that they may be false.
Check the exact address the email was sent from to discern real Amazon emails from fake ones.
Log into your Amazon account to verify your Prime membership status.
Contact Amazon’s support via the official channels if you have any doubts.
Don’t click suspicious links in emails, even if they seem to be from Amazon.

Report the Scam

You can report fake Amazon email scams to Amazon itself by following the steps listed on this page. You can also:

Report to the FTC
Report to the FBI Internet Complaints Center

How to Protect Yourself More

Subscribers also get regular messages from our threat experts, with details about new scam techniques, red flags, and ways to protect yourself and loved ones both online and off.

Read more about other kinds of Amazon scams and learn how to avoid them.

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