Amazon has issued a critical warning to its 300 million customers regarding potential cyber threats. As the holiday shopping season approaches, online scammers are ramping up their attacks on unwary users. This alert emphasizes the need for vigilance in the face of evolving cybercrime tactics.
Threat Landscape During Holiday Season
The holiday shopping season, particularly with events like Black Friday, makes Amazon a prime target for cybercriminals. A recent report from FortiGuard Labs highlights this growing trend, noting that more than 18,000 holiday-themed domains were registered in the last three months, with 750 confirmed to be malicious.
Types of Cyber Threats
- Fake delivery or account issue notifications.
- Third-party ads, especially on social media, promoting suspicious deals.
- Messages from unofficial channels requesting personal or payment details.
- Unfamiliar links asking for sensitive information.
- Unsolicited tech support calls.
Reported Rise in Domain Imitation
Research indicates that over 19,000 domains mimicking major retail brands like Amazon have been created. Of these, about 2,900 domains have already been identified as malicious. Scammers often create subtle variations of legitimate domain names, making it easy for consumers to fall victim while shopping quickly.
Expert Insights on Cybersecurity
Experts warn that the sophistication of these scams is expected to increase, partly due to advancements in artificial intelligence. This technology is being used to forge legitimate-looking communications and create fake websites that can steal sensitive login data.
Recommendations for Online Safety
To safeguard against these threats, Amazon advises the following measures:
- Only use the official Amazon app or website for any transactions.
- Implement two-factor authentication for added security.
- Consider using passkeys, which offer more security compared to traditional passwords.
- Be aware that Amazon will never request payment information over phone calls or ask for account verification via email.
As the holiday season progresses, Amazon encourages customers to remain alert and follow these guidelines to protect their accounts from potential cyber threats.
