Beware of New Amazon Scam

Just like there is NO FREE Lunch, there is also NO FREE Amazon Merchandise

amazon box photo
Photo by theglobalpanorama

There is a new scam making the rounds, FREE Amazon Merchandise arriving to your doorstep (business or residential). If you find free merchandise from Amazon right on your doorstep addressed to you, you might feel like you hit the jackpot. You might be thinking, How could this be a bad thing? You are not the one who hit the jackpot. Scammers are the ones who benefit.

This scam is called brushing. This is beginning to happen all around the country. Packages of unordered merchandise from Amazon will be by your door. The package will have no return address except that of Amazon. There is no way to verify who ordered the item, and the content itself may vary and sometimes have nothing to do with you or with your interests. If that happens, it is a clear indication that scammers and hackers are targetting you and may have some of your private information.

Who is doing this, and why is this happening?

The scammer companies are usually foreign, third-party companies that are sending the items by using your address that they discovered online. Their intention is to make it appear as though you wrote an amazing review of their item which gets posted on their website or social media platforms. This scam becomes profitable when someone buys the same item based on your amazing review.

Well is FREE merchandise, how can this affect me?

hacker photoThere are things to be concerned about. The scammer has some of your personal information, such as your name, address, and possibly your phone number. This information can also be used for nefarious reasons and lead to identity theft.

If this happens to you, there are steps that you can take:

  1. Notify Amazon: Brushing and fake reviews are against Amazon’s policies, so contact Amazon Customer Service if this happens to you https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html
  2. Find out the company information and report it to the BBB if they are in the US: https://www.bbb.org/
  3. Find out if you have been hacked:
    1. https://haveibeenpwned.com/
    2. https://breachalarm.com/
  4. If you think your account has been compromised, don’t wait, change your passwords.
  5. And to improve account security, keep a close eye on credit reports and credit card bills.

Cybersecurity just like physical security is mostly about awareness and proactive action. Just like you will be careful walking in the middle of the night through a place that you do not know, you need to remember that the internet is exactly like that. You may be interested in some sites that you like to visit, and you may trust a few that you have already been there (or that you have been told that they are safe). The rest .. well the rest is “mostly safe” but you generally have no way to know, and “hoping” that nothing happens may not be the right safety policy.

About Cyseso

Cyseso is a cybersecurity and telecommunications consulting company, that helps businesses and individuals improve their online safety and security. If you have any questions about cybersecurity for your home or business, or for a FREE no-obligation consultation please contact us at any time https://www.cyseso.com/contact-us/

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