<https://www.rte.ie/author/666389-will-goodbody/> By Will Goodbody
Business Editor
Internet users here have been warned to be on the look-out for a new phone
scam during which fraudsters pretend to be from Amazon or Amazon Prime.
According to FraudSMART, some consumers are getting calls telling them that
they have been charged for an Amazon Prime subscription or that they are
eligible for a refund for an unauthorised transaction on their Amazon
account.
"The fraudster then advises the victim that their subscription was purchased
fraudulently and that remote access to their computer is required to provide
a refund to prevent this from reoccurring," said Olivia Buckley, head of the
Banking and Payments Federation Ireland FraudSMART programme.
"They are asked to download software and give remote access to their
accounts, enabling the fraudster to gain access to the customer's online
banking and making a payment to the fraudsters account."
Ms Buckley said consumers should be very wary of unsolicited calls where the
caller asks for personal details, financial information or remote access to
a computer.
In such circumstances, the advice is to hang up and then make contact
independently with the company on a phone number or email address you know
is genuine.
Often fraudsters using this tactic will offer a contact phone number, but
this could be fake.
Ms Buckley also said landline users should be sure they hear a dial tone
before they make that call because both people must put their phones down in
order for a landline call to be terminated.
"We take phishing and spoofing attempts on our customers seriously, and will
never call a customer for payment outside of our website," Amazon said in a
statement to RTÉ News.
"If a customer has concerns or receives a call they believe is not from
Amazon, they can check the Amazon.co.uk help pages for guidance using the
following link
https://amzn.to/2OgGP4U
Website:
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2020/0131/1112182-internet-users-warned-abo
ut-phone-scam/
