When was the last time that you received an email from Amazon warning you about fraud?
Scouring my inbox, I can see an alarming number of delivery notifications for books and films — but not a single fraud alert.
Yet, as we have revealed, scammers are clearly targeting Amazon on an industrial scale.
As the largest online retailer in the world, it’s inevitable that fraudsters will flock to the site to try to take advantage of its customers.
No change: Almost exactly one year ago, we exposed how shoppers who fell victim to fraud were routinely fobbed off by the retail giant
But why isn’t Amazon doing more to protect our accounts and help those affected?
Almost exactly one year ago, we exposed how shoppers who fell victim to fraud were routinely fobbed off by the retail giant.
Customers lost thousands of pounds after being charged for orders they had not made. But, when they complained, their pleas for help were ignored.
Well, as we reveal, Amazon has done little to tackle the problem. Fraud victims are still being given the runaround, with emails and calls repeatedly ignored. Even worse, the retailer now seems to be actively thwarting banks’ attempts to refund customers.
In the cases of Darren Brown and Andrew MacTaggart, Amazon tried to claw back the money refunded by their banks. Meanwhile, Mark Chatfield can’t get a refund after being locked out of his account and the retailer refuses to tell him what was ordered.
You tell us this stonewalling tactic is one of your biggest frustrations. And we sympathise.
Even when our reporter tried to intervene on your behalf, the firm still refused to tell us anything. Amazon blames this type of fraud on phishing emails, which trick customers into handing over their account information.
And because we store our card details on the site, it means once the crooks are in, they can just start spending.
It is hoped that new rules will give online shoppers more protection, as they will be required to enter a special code sent to their mobile phone before payments go through — but these won’t be in force for another 18 months and, even then, they aren’t foolproof.
Amazon is home to some of the best tech minds in the world, so if anyone can stop the scammers, it’s them. In the meantime, the least the firm can do is stop being so arrogant and start treating victims fairly.
One Money Mail reader gave his bank details to someone claiming to work for Openreach (stock image)
Scammers’ trap
On the subject of fraud, have you ever wondered how scammers seem to know when someone is expecting a call from their broadband provider?
Take Money Mail reader Ernest, 86, from near Dumfries. He reported a problem with his internet speed to TalkTalk on September 9.
On September 16, someone claiming to work for Openreach called to say the issue had been passed to them to resolve.
After a 30-minute conversation, the caller offered to pay Ernest £300 for being a loyal customer.
Ernest says: ‘I was getting tired, so, like an old fool, I gave him my bank details. As soon as I hung up, I realised I’d done something stupid and called my bank, which was able to stop any payments.
‘I know I have been naïve, but they knew so much about me that I let my guard down.’
Are these crooks just calling so many people they are eventually bound to hit the jackpot? Or do they have someone on the inside?
Write to me if you’ve ever fallen victim to this type of fraud.
People power
Brilliant news that Barclays has reversed its decision to ban cash withdrawals from post offices.
Money Mail readers should give themselves an enormous pat on the back, as it is in no small part due to your passionate protests.
I have it on good authority the bank’s offices were inundated with your letters, urging chief executive Jes Staley to reconsider.
This is the second time Barclays has been forced to U-turn on a controversial plan that would severely hinder people’s access to cash.
In the early Noughties, it toyed with the idea of charging customers of other banks to make cash withdrawals from its ATMs before caving to a deluge of criticism.
We can only hope the next time Barclays tries to put profits before customers’ needs, it thinks again.
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