by Alvaro Puig Consumer Education Specialist, FTC
Ridgewood NJ, Scammers are calling people and using the names of two companies everyone knows, Apple and Amazon, to rip people off. Here’s what you need to know about these calls.
In one version of the scam, you get a call and a recorded message that says it’s Amazon. The message says there’s something wrong with your account. It could be a suspicious purchase, a lost package, or an order they can’t fulfill.
In another twist on the scam, you get a recorded message that says there’s been suspicious activity in your Apple iCloud account. In fact, they say your account may have been breached.
In both scenarios, the scammers say you can conveniently press 1 to speak with someone (how nice of them!). Or they give you a phone number to call. Don’t do either. It’s a scam. They’re trying to steal your personal information, like your account password or your credit card number.
If you get an unexpected call or message about a problem with any of your accounts, hang up.
Do not press 1 to speak with customer support
Do not call a phone number they gave you
Do not give out your personal information
If you think there may actually be a problem with one of your accounts, contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real.
And be careful of Phony phone calls from Social Security. It’s all a scam. If they call you just tell them OK send it in the mail.
I get about 3 Auto warranty calls a day….my car is 10 years old.
also beware. these scumbags will also ‘spoof’ caller ID.
The other I got a call asking me for my Medicare number. He was from another country and very hard to understand. He hung when I asked to speak with his supervisor.
I called the police department informed them what’s going on. Just so it is reported. Yes I was getting phone calls from India.
Reporting these calls to your local PD is both a waste of your time and the PDs. They know these calls go on. They get them, too.
Well I’m not worried about time because I have that kind of time. Now for the police department that’s too damn bad they’re being paid to work on my dime from my dime. Oh yes. So now for the scammers, Will get you.
Just hang up.
If we had an effective government they could stop these calls.
We don’t.