April 22, 2021
Kellie M. Spawton
Scammers are always looking for new ways to steal your money and information. At OceanFirst, we want to keep you safe and informed. One of the latest scams that many people are falling victim to is the Amazon/Apple scam.
With this scam, you receive a call, and it’s a recorded message from Amazon, saying there is a problem with your account – a suspicious purchase, a lost package, or an order that cannot be fulfilled. Or you get a call with a recorded message from Apple, saying there is a problem with your iCloud – or worse yet, your account has been breached.
With either scenario, the message allows you to press 1 to speak to a representative or provides a callback number. Don’t do either one. These scammers are trying to steal your personal information and/or your money.
If you receive an unexpected call about a problem with any of your accounts:
If someone tells you to purchase gift cards or send money so they can resolve your problem, DON’T. They are scamming you.
If someone tells you not to tell the bank about this problem or to lie about why you are withdrawing or sending money, that is a sure sign of a scam. They tell you this because they know we will recognize the fraud and stop it.
Neither Apple nor Amazon will call you about problems with your accounts.
If you receive an unexpected call like this, hang up. If you think there may be an actual problem with one of these companies, go to the website for that company and use the support function, or call the known support phone number.
If you received a call like this, and gave out information or money, you’re not alone. You can call our Customer Care Center at 888-623-2698 to speak to a representative and we can take steps to help you prevent further fraud.
To learn more about these scams, and how to block unwanted callers, please visit the Federal Trade Commission website at www.ftc.gov