Scammers are using fake Apple and Amazon purchase alerts to push victims toward bogus support lines.
Why it matters: The messages mimic routine payment notices, which can make people act before they verify a charge. Busy professionals should have employees check any suspicious Apple or Amazon alerts through official account channels, not callback numbers or links in the message.
- Fast Company reported the scam on Aug. 22, 2024.
- The messages can look like an unauthorized charge or pre-authorization, often tied to a $149.99 purchase.
- Targets are pushed to call a bogus support number or share account and payment information.
- The FTC says Amazon impersonation scams can start with suspicious-charge claims and fake refund offers.
Fast Company reported that scammers are sending fake Apple and Amazon charge alerts designed to create urgency and get people to act before they verify the claim. The messages can resemble purchase notices or pre-authorizations, often tied to a $149.99 charge, and the follow-up usually points victims to a bogus support number or asks for account and payment details. Fast Company
The pattern matters because it uses a familiar business workflow - routine payment notifications - to lower suspicion. That can make the scam especially effective for users who manage cards, subscriptions or marketplace purchases across multiple accounts.
The FTC has separately warned that Amazon impersonation scams often begin with suspicious-charge messages or claims that a purchase needs to be fixed, and some versions add a fake refund offer. The agency has also published an example of an Amazon impersonation robocall using the same pressure tactic. FTC consumer alert FTC example
Apple tells users to treat suspicious messages, calls or requests for personal information as scams and to contact Apple directly through official channels. Amazon Pay says customers who see an unfamiliar charge should review their orders and contact Amazon Pay buyer support instead of responding to an unsolicited claim. Apple support Amazon Pay help
The practical takeaway is simple: do not use the phone number, link or reply path in the alert. Check the charge by logging into the relevant Apple or Amazon account yourself, then contact support through the company’s official site if anything looks off.
By the numbers
- $149.99 - the charge amount cited in the Fast Company report.
- Aug. 22, 2024 - the date Fast Company published its report.
Yes, but: The public evidence in the dossier points to an emerging phishing pattern, not a confirmed campaign tied to one actor or a universal charge amount.