Amazon Order Confirmation for Something You Didn't Buy — Scam Email Explained
You just received a confirmation email for an Amazon order you never placed — maybe an expensive laptop or a gift card. Scammers send these to scare you into clicking a fake cancellation link. Don't click it.
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How This Scam Works
High Risk — Fake Order Confirmation
Amazon does not send order confirmations with cancellation links via email. If you didn't place an order, don't click any links — go directly to amazon.com and check your order history.
You receive an email that appears to be from Amazon confirming an order you never placed — often for an expensive item like a laptop, gaming console, or large gift card purchase. The email looks legitimate, using Amazon's branding and a realistic order format. It includes a "Cancel Order" or "Report Unauthorized Purchase" button.
Clicking that button takes you to a fake website that mimics Amazon's login page. Once you enter your credentials, the scammers have access to your real Amazon account and any payment methods saved there. Some versions also ask for your full credit card details to "verify your identity."
According to the FTC, online shopping scams — including fake order confirmations — were the second most reported fraud category in 2023, with consumers reporting losses exceeding $392 million.
Red Flags
- Order confirmation for an item you did not purchase
- Sender address is not @amazon.com (look for misspellings like @amazn-support.com)
- The 'Cancel Order' link goes to a non-Amazon website
- Email asks you to call a phone number to dispute the charge
- Order number doesn't match anything in your Amazon account
The most telling sign is the call-to-action itself. Real Amazon order emails link to your order details within amazon.com. Scam emails either link to fake domains or provide a phone number to call — both designed to steal your information.
What You Should Do
What To Do
- Do not click any links or call any numbers in the email
- Open a new browser tab and go directly to amazon.com
- Log in and check Your Orders — if the order isn't there, the email is fake
- Report the email to Amazon through their official help page at amazon.com
- Delete the email from your inbox
How to Verify Legitimately
Log in to your Amazon account directly by typing amazon.com into your browser. Navigate to Your Orders. If the order referenced in the email does not appear there, the email is fraudulent. Amazon also provides an official Message Center within your account where you can view all legitimate Amazon communications.
Sources
- FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2023 — Online shopping fraud reports
- Amazon Help: Identifying a scam