The Amazon Prime Scam Hits Central New York

Amazon could view this as a sign of success. They've become so successful, criminals are taking advantage of their power and reach, to Central New York and beyond.

But the stark reality is that scam artists have targeted Amazon Prime, and consumers should beware.

This phishing scam specifically targets customers who took advantage of Amazon's "Prime Day" in July. The mass emails arrive in your email box, look legitimate, and ask you to click on a link, go to a bogus website (that looks as if it's associated with Amazon), and write a review.

From there, the cyber crooks ask for personal information, and in some cases, may have unleashed malware and viruses on your operating system.

According to an article in Inc.com, here's the best thing to do:

If you ever receive an email allegedly from Amazon asking you to take any action, the safest way to do so is to ignore any links in the email and instead enter https://www.amazon.com in your web browser. Once you log in, you can access your orders, and communicate with customer service regarding any questions.

You can also report suspicious activity directly to Amazon's phishing report page and help them crack down on the criminals.

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