Fraud alert that intercepts AMAZON ACCOUNTS

BOB SKIDMORE CORRESPONDENT (Please note that Google’s BlogSpot, the provider we use to publish this monthly column, has changed the allowable format style. So, if the column’s format looks a bit strange it’s due to Google and BlogSpot, not THE GADGETEER.) © 2026 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED I am a frequent on-line shopper, especially for obtaining items for evaluation for this column. My favorite site is perhaps, AMAZON. They are honest, reliable, trustworthy and helpful. They always strive to provide customer satisfaction! Recently, I received an email with the official Amazon logo indicating that the products I ordered in April 2026 had been identified as potentially containing materials that do not meet their strict environmental and safety standards. It went on to say that these materials may pose potential health risks with prolonged exposure, or use. I should note that that the letter never named the specific products they referred to. It went on to say that a full refund would be issued to my account in the form of gift cards and the items did not need to be returned. I contacted Amazon and was told that they never sent me such an email and to disregard anything it says. A few days later I received several emails from Amazon saying that a refund had been issued for several items that I said I did not receive. I immediately notified Amazon about this series of emails and told them that I did indeed receive all the items in question. Once again, I was informed that they did not send me these emails and would correct any refunds issued. Since this episode I have spoken with several people who also indicated they too received a similar email notice. I later noticed that three items had been purchased using the credits on my account and were in the process of being delivered to an out-of-state address unknown to me. Once again, I notified Amazon and indicated that these items were not ordered by me. They immediately suspended delivery so the hacker who then never received delivery. Obviously, Amazon has a shipping address that the hacker provided. Amazon and I then worked on changing my password for my account which became a real challenge, but after several attempts we succeeded. Evidently the hacker tested this process and then proceeded to place orders using the refund monies posted. Fortunately, I managed to respond to Amazon in a timely manner so the hacker was stopped in his tracks and did not receive any items they had ordered. I do not know if Amazon has apprehended this person yet, but would certainly hope so since they do have the out-of-state shipping address. Amazon is an honest vendor and I’ve been a loyal customer for many years. This illegal action is not a reflection on Amazon at all! A few days later the hacker tried one more time. This time he somehow signed into my account and changed my password again in hopes I could no longer get into my account. I immediately communicated with Amazon and with their assistance once again reset a new password and then activated two-step verification. Two-step verification requires the person signing in to an account to receive a special one time passcode consisting of a series of numbers that are only valid for a few minutes. It’s sent as a text message to a cell phone number that is on file in your account information with Amazon. This features prevents anyone else from accessing your account and stops them immediately. It requires the texted number Amazon sent to your cellphone to be entered in prior to you having access to signing in to your account with your password. Once accurately completed you’re able to proceed in a normal manner on their site. I post these scenarios in hopes it will make readers alert and aware to this new illegal scheme. The hacker hopes that you are not aware of what they’re doing and thus allows them to receive merchandise that they’ve never paid for and ultimately take control of your account. BE AWARE! Always check your emails and accounts with Internet vendors on a regular basis and report any fraudulent activities to the vendor immediately! Enlist in two-step verification! I use two-step verification for numerous other accounts I have that are accessible on line. Let’s stop such fraudulent activity in its tracks, add two-step verification to all your on-line accounts when available! In conclusion it’s important that you notify the Amazon Fraud Department and report any and all false emails allegedly sent by them to you. You can do this easily by calling them at 888.280.4331, a USA number. When the automated operator answers your call, you need to repeatedly state after each question asked that you want to speak to an “agent in the fraud department”. Eventually the automated system will connect you directly with someone in this department and you can then explain your situation. By the way, you can see the true sender of any email by simply placing the cursor over the sender’s email address at the top of the email and hold down the clicker. This will now reveal the true email address of the sender. When you release the clicker, it will then return to the original address which in all probability is the fake one. If there is no different address shown then naturally the original address is indeed the actual one that the email originated from. Graphic credits: Print Shop Bob Skidmore is a freelance writer, who may be contacted at bskidmore@mac.com, or followed at twitter.com/bskidmore for the latest gadget industry news. He does not represent, or endorse any of the products he reviews and his opinions are solely his points of view and not those of the manufacturer, or any legal resource. The manufacturer generally supplies products and press releases at no cost for the articles and no other compensation is received. THE GADGETEER is highly selective as to products he feels worthy of review so as not to waste the reader’s time, thus the reason for many superior ratings. ## Check out Bob’s Twitter page for up to the minute gadget news. Available at: bob-the-gadgeteer.bsky.social & https://twitter.com/bskidmore