A Joshua Tree man is out nearly $1,500 after falling for a popular Amazon phone scam. According to Sheriff’s reports, the man received a call from a scammer claiming to be from Amazon who told the victim that they needed access to his bank account. The victim provided all of his banking information to the scammer, who transferred $1,495 from the victim’s account before the victim realized what had happened. Reporter Cassidy Taylor has these tips to avoid falling victim to this type of scam…
This popular scam usually starts with a recorded call from a popular large retailer such as Amazon or Apple claiming there is a suspicious purchase on your account. The recording either gives you the option of pressing 1 to talk to an operator or provides a number to call to speak to a representative and clear up the supposed issue. The goal of the scam is to panic victims with fake fraudulent charge claims to get them to provide personal information such as emails, passwords, and bank account information. If you receive a call from a major retailer such as Amazon or Apple claiming fraudulent account activity, hang up immediately and contact the business directly for verification. Never give away personal information over the phone. If you feel you’ve been a victim of this scam, contact local law enforcement.
