If you get a text claiming an Amazon product you purchased is recalled, take heed − it may be a scam.
Text messages that claim a product you bought has been flagged as having unspecified quality or safety concerns have been circulating, urging you to visit a link to sign into your account to arrange for a refund. Instead of leading to an authentic Amazon website, however, you would fall victim to a phishing scam if you attempt to log in.
“We’ve been made aware of fraudulent text messages claiming to be from Amazon’s “Safety Team.” These texts state that a product you purchased is being recalled and ask you to click a suspicious link for a refund,” the North Bergen Police Department wrote on social media last month.
Some red flags include that the text comes from a random phone number, oftentimes with a different country code than the United States, which is 1, that there are no specifics about the item recalled and that the link included, oftened a shortened link, is not Amazon.
One such text received Oct. 22 reads:
“We are writing to inform you that a product you purchased has been recalled due to identified quality and safety concerns. For your protection, we strongly advise discontinuing use of the item immediately. Please contact us to arrange a full refund at your earliest convenience.To review the status of your orders, go to “Your Orders” in your Amazon account.Order Number: 113-1221681-2531451.use the following safe link to sign in to your account:(link redacted)Customer safety remains our utmost priority. For comprehensive information and step-by-step guidance, please visit our official recall portal. We sincerely regret any inconvenience or disappointment this situation may cause.Thank you for your trust in Amazon.(To access the link, reply Y to reopen this message or manually copy the URL into your browser)”
According to Amazon, you should be mindful if:
Amazon says to report suspicious phone calls or SMS/text messages to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
The North Bergen Police Department adds that if you have a question about whether the recall is legitimate, sign into your Amazon account via your usual method and check your orders.
Ilana Keller is an award-winning journalist and lifelong New Jersey resident who loves Broadway and really bad puns. Reach out: [email protected]

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