Martin Lewis has issued a stark warning that scam artists can target "anyone" after revealing he himself narrowly avoided falling victim to fraudsters impersonating Amazon. The founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, a prominent figure in the fight against online scams, shared his experience on X on Thursday, July 16, stating that scams "can happen to anyone!" and noting: "I nearly got caught by one yesterday."
How the scam unfolded
Lewis explained that he was at a studio preparing to record a podcast when he received a WhatsApp call from a number purporting to be Amazon. Rushed and with his mind "elsewhere," he answered. The caller claimed there had been suspected fraud involving an order for a new iPhone and asked Lewis to cancel it by responding with a six-digit code sent to his phone.
Despite the pressure, Lewis said his instincts eventually kicked in: "I was feeling rushed and pressured, as the team needed to record, but finally enough of my brain turned onto the call and alarm bells started." He asked to verify the call's legitimacy, but the caller became pushy, threatening to let the iPhone shipment proceed if Lewis did not comply. This raised red flags, as Lewis questioned why a scammer would risk sending a high-value item if the customer denied ordering it.
Recognising the scam
While still on the call, Lewis searched the telephone number and confirmed it was a known "Amazon scam number." He warned that responding with the code would have allowed the fraudster to request further details, initiating a "data mine." Although he avoided falling for the scheme, Lewis acknowledged that by answering the call, he inadvertently confirmed his number was active, which could lead to further scam attempts.
The real lesson
Lewis emphasised that the incident underscores how "sophisticated and plausible" such scams have become. "Even though I'm obviously hyper-alert to scams as my face is in half of them, catch someone at the wrong time, when they're not paying attention, and anyone can be caught out!" he wrote. He urged the public to always verify unexpected calls, especially those requesting personal information or codes.
Amazon's advice
Amazon advises customers who receive suspicious communications claiming to be from the company to verify them before taking action. The retail giant recommends forwarding questionable emails or messages to verify@amazon.com or reporting them via its website. Those without an Amazon account who receive such communications should report them to reportascam@amazon.com. Amazon regularly monitors and publishes emerging scam trends to help customers stay vigilant against evolving fraud tactics.
