Local police are warning the public about recent Amazon based scams.
Kingston Police has received reports on scammers sending emails trying to elicit them to buy Amazon gift cards for a “family member” afflicted with a serious illness. The scammer says you’ll be reimbursed, but you’ll never see that money again.
Here are two examples observed by police of how scammers will attempt to initially solicit you via email:
- “Sorry to bother you, do you order from Amazon? Thanks,”
- “So happy i got your response, I am sorry for bothering you with this mail, but i got no choice, I’ve been trying to purchase a $300 Amazon E-gift card by email from Amazon, but it says they are having issues charging my card. I contacted my bank and they told me it would take a couple of days to get it sorted. I intend to buy it for a friend of mine who’s having her birthday today, unfortunately she is down with cancer of the liver and I’d promised to get the card for her today, can you purchase it from your end for me? I’ll reimburse you once my bank sorts the issue out.. Let me know so I can send you her email address. Thanks.”
To stay safe from the scam, police recommend you do not let scammers play with your emotions, watch for grammatical errors and poorly written emails, and don’t send money or offer to send money to individuals you do not know.
Written by Emily Chatwood
