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Beware of This Phone Scam Mentioning Amazon

Author: Holly Reisem Hanna

90 Comments

Just the other day a reader asked me if I had heard of the Amazon job scam that was being promoted by phone. Having an unpublished phone number, I rarely receive any unsolicited phone calls, so I wasn’t aware of it. So, I decided to do some research and see what I could dig up on this work-at-home scam.

Beware of This Phone Scam Mentioning Amazon

First, let me say, Amazon is a legit e-commerce company that offers individuals different ways to make money from home. But, with that being said, they do not recruit people for these positions by phone.

Before you jump into the details, be sure to grab our Free Work-From-Home Starter Guide.

Legit Ways to Make Money with Amazon

First, let’s talk about some of the legit ways people can make money with Amazon. One way is through their affiliate program, where publishers and bloggers make an advertising fee off of items that are promoted and sold on their websites.

Another way in which you can make money on Amazon is through Amazon Mechanical Turk which is a platform where individuals complete short tasks for money.

You can also earn money from Amazon by using Amazon’s FBA Program. Amazon acts as a fulfillment center for your business. You sell stuff, then they pack and ship it for you. They take a 30% cut of the total sales, and the rest is your profit. There are no fees to participate in any of these programs; they are free to join.

Amazon also offers money-making opportunities via self-publishing, mobile applications, various selling platforms, and sell-back programs. They also hire people for remote customer service and delivery jobs — but never do they call potential workers for these positions.

How This Amazon Phone Scam Works

Now, since I have not received this phone call it’s difficult for me to say what exactly it is … and I’m unable to find the landing page for the promotion of this work-at-home scam. All I have to go on is testimonials from other individuals on forums and blogs. But I think this is the gist of it …

There are work-at-home ads circulating online when individuals click on the ad; they are brought to a landing page that requests their name and phone number.

The scammers then call the people with a hyped-up pitch about how much money they can make with Amazon. They then ask for your credit card number for a startup fee, and this is when they get you. Amazon has nothing to do with this fraudulent opportunity; these crooks using Amazon’s good name to promote their scam — the same sort of thing has happened with Google — you can read about it here.

What Does This Amazon Job Scam Look Like?

While I was unable to listen or view the promotion for this scam, other individuals and readers have mentioned that the caller left a voicemail and they were directed to AmazonCareers.co which was an offer for Real Profits Online.

There have been a lot of readers who have received this phone call, so be sure to read all the comments below for more details.

Also, Amazon’s legit job page is located at Amazon.jobs/en

Check out these articles for other variations and names used with this Amazon Phone Scam:

Just a heads up, there are multiple Amazon scams floating around right now. There’s the gift card scam, the phishing scams, as well as discount offer scams. So before you click on a link or give your credit card information out — do a Google search and see if it’s legit. In most cases, Amazon will NOT contact you for any of these types of opportunities.

Beware of This Phone Scam Mentioning Amazon

How Do You Protect Yourself From This Scam and Others?

First, and foremost, you should be keeping track of your job hunting activities. This post here explains how to do that. Unsolicited job offers from so-called recruiters, just don’t happen for entry-level positions. There are more than enough candidates for these roles that there’s no need for head hunters to recruit. When you keep track of what positions you apply for, you have a better idea if a call or email is legit, because you can spot the unsolicited job offers from a mile away. A little work upfront can help protect you from scams in the long run.

Here are some other red flags to be aware of on your job search:

  • Vague job descriptions
  • Lack of contact information
  • High payouts for entry-level work
  • Poor ratings on the Better Business Bureau website
  • Deceptive marketing and advertising practices
  • Boasting fake affiliations and partnerships
  • Negative reviews
  • High-pressure sales tactics
  • Too good to be true offers
  • Having to pay a fee upfront
  • Fake email addresses and websites – AmazonCareers.co
  • Giving personal information over the phone, social security number, bank account info, or credit card information

What To Do If You’ve Fallen For This Scam

If you’ve fallen for this scam, the first thing you need to do is contact or your bank or credit card company and have them stop payment. Many of these scams have recurring fees that are charged monthly, sometimes weekly. The sooner you can contact your providers the better your chances of reclaiming your money.

You should report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission so that they can investigate and hopefully put a stop to these scammers’ activities. You should also contact the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your accounts; you may even want to freeze your lines of credit so that scammers can’t open up any lines of credit in your name.

Conclusion

If you’re feeling uneasy about your work-at-home job search — check out the paid membership site FlexJobs. Every single job listed on their website is hand-screened for legitimacy. So when you apply, you can rest assured that you’re not going to fall prey to a work-at-home scam. Not only does FlexJobs have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, but they also offer a money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied. You can also get up to 30% off a FlexJobs’ membership, just use the promo code WAHWOMAN at checkout here.

Have you received a phone call offering this  Amazon scam? What else have you heard about it? Drop us a note; we’d love to hear from you.

Please help us spread the word about this scam by sharing this article on your favorite social media sites – thanks.

Originally published May 14, 2014. Content updated February 23, 2019.

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About the Author

Headshot Holly Reisem Hanna

Holly Reisem Hanna

Holly Reisem Hanna is a former nurse who decided to start a blog to make money from home while caring for her daughter. Since its inception in 2009, The Work at Home Woman has helped millions of readers find legitimate work at home jobs and business ideas. Under Holly's guidance, The Work at Home Woman was named one of the best websites for your career by Forbes two years in a row. Holly graduated from the University of Texas and has been featured in Yahoo Finance, Woman’s World Magazine, CNN, and many others.

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Reader Interactions

90 Comments

  1. received an automated call today claiming to be from amazon , lady advising me that my account will be taken out of my account, i immediately terminated the call !!! number was 01825547810 , we do not have an amazon account !!!!

    Reply to this comment

    • Thanks for sharing your experience, Joe!

      I’ve been getting a lot of emails from “Amazon” saying that I need to update my credit card information, otherwise, they are going to close my account. I mark them as SPAM and then immediately delete them.

      For consumers that are questioning the validity of these messages and emails, they should go directly to the source before clicking or giving out any information.

      Reply to this comment

  3. I just received this call earlier this evening. This is what it said:
    “Hi this is Sarah calling From shipper web.org. we need people in your area to work with Amazon from home starting pay is $27.50 an hour sign up at Shopperwebs.org that’s Shopperwebs.org.”

    I received a call a couple of weeks ago that was almost identical. The website was different.

    Reply to this comment

  4. I just received the call……….I don’t answer calls from unknown numbers but she left a voice message.

    It was: Hi this is Sarah calling with amazoncareers.co, a non-profit recruitment firm. I saw your resume online and I’m calling about an online opportunity working with Amazon. You will be listing products and posting reviews online in your spare time. The hourly pay ranges from $17.00 to $32.00 per hour. We are currently hiring 23 people this month so please register today at amazoncareers.co, that’s amazoncareers.co. Thank you.

    Reply to this comment

    • amazoncareers.co directs you to a site named “real Profits Online” and they want you to purchase a kit (for a small fee):

      First, you will need to apply for “Real Profits Online ” work from home package. Why? Because “Real Profits Online ” decided to invest in United States Terrell and hire more people from this area and thus help the economy grow and recover faster. They have released a limited amount of kits, all distributed through local websites in your area, you only need to pay a small enrollment fee.

      This small fee covers the processing costs and also separates the people who are serious about working with this huge netwok through this program.

      “Anybody with basic computer skills will be able to perform these tasks” the company remarks, “We understand the psychology of working from home and we want to give our employees tasks that are simple and easy. Then, reward them generously in order to keep them motivated.”

      Is this worth quitting your job? If you’re lucky enough to receive a kit, this will simply add as much as $14,000 to your monthly income while working as much or as little as you want.

      “Real Profits Online ” work from home program only requires 1-2 hours a day of work to start, so you see just how simple it can be to earn money from home. This way our work from home employees will see the benefit and start devoting more and more time each day and their income will increase accordingly.”

      Although these positions are being filled quickly since the accouchements, quite a few openings still remain at the time of this writing.

      Reply to this comment

      • This is the one that was left on my voicemail from this phone number: 720-477-7271. At the bottom of the website pitch in small print it says they are not affiliated with Amazon. That was the tip off to me. Clicking on the Real Profits Online and seeing this site verified to me it’s a scam. Pretty good job on their pitch at the beginning; pretty slick.

      • A call from Sara. This is the one that was left on my voicemail from this phone number: 720-477-7271. At the bottom of the website pitch in small print it says they are not affiliated with Amazon. Also wanting you to purchase the kit. That’s always a big tip it’s a scam, especially since they aren’t directly affiliated with Amazon. Also, you could share the page on Facebook, etc. I thought it would be very bad to be sharing something illegitimate. So I tested by clicking on the Facebook share and it went directly to the REal Profits Online website that looks very scammy with bright arrows & colors and very basic. Pretty good job on their pitch at the beginning; pretty slick. Disgusting manipulation as all these scams say how much time you can spend with your family while earning $14,000 a month(this particular scam). The obligatory picture of bare feet and a lounge chair on the beach.

      • I’ve received the Amazon and compute issues calls. I’m getting up to 11 PM. I’ve block them every time! Is there any other way to stop these calls.

  5. This is the message left on my voice mail today, “This is Sarah calling with AmazonProfits.org. We need people in your area to work with Amazon from home. Starting pay is $27.50 an hour. Sign up at amazonprofits.org, that’s amazonprofits.org”.
    The number on my caller ID is 1 (719) 259-5454. Colorado Springs, CO

    Reply to this comment

  6. I also received this call, several times now :(

    Hello, this is Sarah calling with Amazon Money.co a nonprofit recruitment firm. I saw your resume online and I’m calling about an online opportunity working with Amazon you’ll be listing product and posting reviews online in your spare time. I really pay ranges from $17-$32 an hour. We are currently hiring 23 people this month. So please register today Amazon Money.co.

    Reply to this comment

  7. I’ve gotten this call several times. Sounds too good to be true which it is not true. Shame people take advantage of people who are trying to find ways to make extra money. Thanks for the warning.

    Reply to this comment

  8. Received the same call last night! Automatically knew it was a scam. The caller did not describe what jobs were being offered, only the pay (which was suspect); the email address was another clue. I pray that no one got caught up in this mess!!!!!

    Reply to this comment

  9. I’ve been receiving calls over and over about this Amazon scam. The phone number is 1-951-420-6856 (my phone just says Unknown Name and that it’s a California number). It’s an automated voicemail with a womans voice. As I have visual voicemail, I’m able to read my voicemails (as well as listen to them) … this is what the automated voicemail says…
    “Hello this is Sarah calling with Amazon careers.com. A nonprofit recruitment firm. I saw your resume online and I’m calling about an online opportunity working with Amazon. You’ll be listing products and posting reviews online in your spare time. Hourly pay ranges from $17-$32 an hour. We are currently hiring 23 people this month. So please register today @ amazoncareers.co. That’s Amazon careers.co.”

    Reply to this comment

  10. i just got a phone call from +1 (403) 405-6530 Coaldale, Alberta (i live in alberta) it was a messages claiming im eligable to recive a $500 Amazon voutcher if im interested in this please press 0 or email us to unsubscribe to our call list then it cut off the phone call.

    Reply to this comment

  11. I have had lots of phone calls from things that I felt might be phone scams. I haven’t gotten the Amazon ones yet. Those l have gotten were often from the same people though the reason for the call changed. I now tell the people I don’t take phone solicitation then promptly hang up. In about a week the number of those unwanted calls drastically dropped.

    Reply to this comment

  12. Yesterday, July 18, 2018 did not answer call. Received a message. Person says, “Madge Brown here. I came across your application online (never put one out there) and want to let you know we are hiring up to 23 people in your area to work for Amazon. The position would pay up to $750 per day and it’s from the comfort of your own home. Please visit Amazon’s employment website, laptopcareers.org.” No details of job.

    Reply to this comment

    • Hi Ramona,

      Thanks for sharing this valuable information!

      For others, that might not see the red flags, I’ll point them out below:

      1. This is an unsolicited job offer. Recruiters do not headhunt for entry-level positions; they already have more than enough people submitting their applications. Unless you’re in a highly skilled profession (nursing, engineering, tech, etc.) don’t expect to receive job offers.

      2. $750 a day?! That would be $180,000 a year! Stay away from unrealistic income claims — especially for entry-level work.

      3. Verify the website. Obviously, this is not Amazon’s website.

      Reply to this comment

    • Almost exactly the same call we got on Monday. 23 people, up to $750 a day. Go to Laptopcareers.org (um if it is Amazon wouldn’t they use Amazon for their hiring purposes.)

      Rachel

      Reply to this comment

      • I have received phone calls ( hiring 23 in your area, $750 a day) also text messages that have a very realistic Amazon web page background. Starts off that it’s free but at the end to verify that you’re serious there will be a $49.00 fee. Not my 1st rodeo on scam work from home offers. Although I have to admit I have taken the bait once or twice.

  13. I got a voice mail saying they were from Amazon & I could earn $6000 a month.The number that called me was 484-218-7217. The begining if the voice mail was cut off so. I didn’t hear a name.but the man gave me a web address of Amazonjobs.org. I have wasted my time to see what the web address goes to or asks.

    Reply to this comment

  14. Hey I got a call and I don’t know if it was real or not. The number was from San Francisco, CA and the number was +1 (415) 767-5091. They transferred me over to a recording of a guy talking then i went back to the associate who wanted money upfront. They talked about making a website for me and I get 40% of the profits as long as I advertise. Is this real?

    Reply to this comment

    • Hi Dyln, Watch out for unsolicited opportunities that someone is excited to offer you (but you didn’t request). Many rip-offs, scams, and work-at-home schemes come unsolicited. Before the scammer tells you about an offer you can’t pass up, ask yourself, “Did I ask for this information?” If not, it’s more than likely a scam!

      Reply to this comment

  15. What it means if they ask you for your zip code to supposedly find an amazon job close to you then say they will send you emails but they never ask for my email so I know its fake but the zip code thing I’m am at I’ll wondering about. there number
    1-972-362-6484

    Reply to this comment

  16. I too have been contacted by these scammers and they asked the same questions as above mentioned. I hung up on them when they were transferring me to higher ups and then they had the nerve to call back. I want them to lose my number….please!!!

    Reply to this comment

  17. I’m new to the work from home world and I have been trying to find out whether or not the ads on the sides of your page are legitimate or not? i have heard mixed results so I never click on them in fear of them being scammers.

    Reply to this comment

  18. They just called me. # 7024107513. Lady’s name is Leslie. She said she would play an audio for me then transfer me to a senior rep. She asked me if I had internet access, if I am the primary decision maker when it comes to my income, and if I have $200-$300 to spare if I were interested. I said yes to all and then hung up during the audio

    Reply to this comment

  19. Oh, and she left me her number on my voicemail too: 1-888-959-9262. It was weird because a completely different number showed up on my called ID with a 262 area code. I thought at first maybe it was legit because I live in Milwaukee and 262 is a nearby area code. Also, I have applied to Amazon. Somehow these scammers got my information unfortunately.

    Reply to this comment

  20. 405~454~6459 Just received a call from a lady saying she worked with Amazon and that it was a work from home job that I wont have to talk to the customers or deal with any of the product then she said she had to ask me a few questions starting with if I had a credit or debit card I told her yes then she asked what I did for a living I said Im a stay at home mom she then asked if I needed my husband to make decisions I said we make decisions together and she hung up on me. I tried to call back to see if I could milk anymore information out of her and she didnt answer. This is definitely a scam!

    Reply to this comment

    • I just received a call from a woman saying her name is Tracy Wilson, from Amazon. She asked me the same questions that you were asked. After she said I would have to pay around $250 for a starter pack, I hung up. This definitely is a scam!

      Reply to this comment

  21. I didn’t have the funds to start up either, then click… no one there. Call came from Parksburg, PA 610-857-3530.
    Are there any legit work from home opportunity’s, cause I’ve been looking? According to the list of things to watch for they all fall short.

    Reply to this comment

  23. i received the same call. They want 20-30 mins. of your time. I am at work so they’ve asked me to call them back. It’s the number mentioned above so guess I won’t be calling. 702-410-7513

    Reply to this comment

  25. I keep getting calls from (281) 209-xxxx (for weeks now at least). Seems they keep rotating through anything in this range. Finally, today, I answered and they asked for my name and I asked who was calling. They said Amazon. I asked why they use numbers that don’t work. They replied so no one gets charged for the call. I told them it was wrong and I hung up.

    Reply to this comment

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