ALERT TO OUR MEMBERS: AMAZON PHONE SCAM

Phishing schemes and cyber attacks are reaching scary levels of sophistication. Most recently a ruse involving fraudulent Amazon phone calls has become widespread, with many of our own WyHy members becoming targets. As WyHy members’ security is our priority, we’ve provided details on the new phishing attack below to keep you informed and your accounts safe.

The Scam

Members have reported receiving a phone call from someone posing as Amazon customer service. The fraudulent call informs the person of recent issues on their account, such as suspicious Amazon charges or outstanding account balances. The person is then instructed to provide financial details such as bank account information and credit card numbers as well as remote access to their computer in order to resolve the alleged account issues.

Spot the Scam and Take Action

The sophistication of this scam has made it easy for people to mistake the fraudulent call for a legitimate request from Amazon, but the company has stated that they never call someone regarding payment outside of their website.

Amazon warns customers to never give out personal, private information to an unexpected caller. If you have legitimate concerns about your account, always contact the company directly through a trusted contact, such as through the customer portal within your account.

If you receive a call from someone claiming to be with Amazon, hang up immediately and do not call back. Furthermore, never allow unknown parties to remotely access your computer. If you are concerned about any charges made to your debit or credit card, always contact your credit card company directly.

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a method used by cyber scammers to trick people into handing over highly personal and confidential information such as passwords, social security numbers, credit card information, and more. The schemes are often attempted through emails, as well as text messages and phone calls, with the attacker posing as a legitimate company, brand, or person.

Spot the Warning Signs

As phishing scams continue to become more sophisticated, it’s important to stay cautious and alert for the protection of your personal assets. Be mindful of the following notorious scam signs to avoid being reeled in:

• Unprofessional Presentation - Some scam emails will look noticeably suspicious, so pay close attention to formatting -- from the subject line to the actual email content. Scam emails are sometimes riddled with spelling or grammatical errors, have extra spacing or odd punctuation placements, and might also use generic greeting terms like Sir, Madame, or Account Holder.
• Urgency or Emergency - Scammers want you to act immediately and without thinking. They often use clever language that prompts an urgent call to action, such as a request to update your banking information to avoid having your credit cards suspended. If you receive an email containing emergency requests or alerts for identity verification, do not respond.
• Suspicious Links - Phishing emails and text messages usually contain fraudulent links or attachments, and clicking on them makes your computer vulnerable to cyber hacking. Scammers will attempt to remotely access your private information such as bank accounts or credit card numbers.
• Unknown Email Addresses - Always double-check the sender’s email address. While many times a phishing scheme will come from a suspicious or unrecognized email address, sophisticated scammers can also compromise the address of a person or business you do know.

Stay Secure Checklist

• Always double-check the sender’s email address or phone number
• Never respond to emails, text messages, or phone calls from suspicious or unknown senders
• Never share your online banking password with anyone, and be sure to change it periodically
• Don’t sign on to your account from a link in a suspicious message. Access a company’s website by using a reputable search engine or typing the entire URL into your browser, or use the WyHy Mobile app

Keeping your accounts and information safe is critically important to us. If you ever receive an unexpected or unusual request for information from WyHy, do not respond. Instead, call the number on the back of your debit or credit card to verify the authenticity of the request.