Scarborough pensioner 'plagued' by Amazon Prime scammers: 'Phone calls are nearly every day'

The woman, who is in her 70s and had been self-isolating since before the coronavirus lockdown, keeps getting calls from people purporting to be from the internet giant.

Each time, it’s an automated call telling her that she has been charged for an Amazon Prime subscription.

To cancel it, she needs to ‘press one’ but if she does, she is directed to a fraudster posing as an Amazon representative.

The scam - which has been reported to be operating across the country - then sees victims asked to download an application to their machine.

The technology allows the tricksters to gain access to computers and see personal and financial details, as well as logins and passwords.

The Scarborough woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, has tried to block the number but says they will just call back on a different one - always a 01233 code, which is for Ashford in Kent.

She says it has been a woman’s voice each time.

"I have been getting these phone calls nearly every day and I wanted to warn others,” she said.

“I'm not sure if they are targeting older people but I think it's a cruel thing to do and could catch anyone out, especially when people are stressed and anxious during lockdown."

On its website, Amazon says: “We take phishing and spoofing attempts on our customers very seriously.

“If you receive a suspicious phone call, email or text message claiming to be from Amazon asking for payment, personal information or offering a refund you do not expect please do not share any personal information and disconnect any phone call immediately.

“Amazon will never ask you for remote access to your device.

“You can report suspicious spam in the UK to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk“Amazon will never ask for your personal information, or ask you to make a payment outside of our website.”

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