08/17/2025

Scammy texts offering “refunds” for Amazon purchases

FTC

Scammers are pretending to be Amazon again. This time, they’re sending texts claiming there’s a problem with something you bought. They offer a refund if you click a link — but it’s a scam. Here’s how the scam works so you can avoid it.

You get an unexpected text that looks like it’s from Amazon. It claims the company did a “routine quality inspection” and an item you recently bought doesn’t meet Amazon’s standards or has been recalled. The text offers you a full refund and says you don’t need to return the item — as long as you click a link to request your money back. But there is no refund. Instead, it’s a phishing scam to steal your money or personal information.

To avoid a scam like this:

• Don’t click links in unexpected texts — and don’t respond to them. If you think the message could be legit, contact the company using a phone number, email, or website you know is real — not the info from the text.