Is that Amazon text real?

Company check · Updated October 2, 2026

Scammers love Amazon's name because almost everyone has an account and is waiting on a package. A real Amazon message and a fake one can look alike. The difference is what the message asks you to do — and Amazon publishes plain rules about that.

This page sticks to what Amazon itself says on its official pages, so you can check a message in a couple of minutes.

What the fake texts look like

Amazon says the most common scams are fake order or delivery problems, refund offers, account “issues,” fake customer service accounts and job offers. It also says phishing texts tend to spike right after Prime Day, when people are expecting delivery and refund updates. (Amazon)

The FTC describes how the “suspicious purchase” version plays out: the caller or text claims someone bought something expensive on your account — a MacBook, an iPhone, AirPods — or opened accounts in your name. When you call, a fake agent may say you're at risk of arrest, ask you to move money to “protect” it, or hand you off to a fake bank or FTC employee. (FTC)

How to check if it's really Amazon

1. Look at your orders, not the text. Open the Amazon app or type amazon.com yourself and go to Your Orders. Amazon says only legitimate purchases will appear in your order history. (Amazon) If the order in the text isn't there, it isn't real.
2. Check the Message Center. Amazon says real messages it sends appear in the Message Center under Your Account. (Amazon)
3. Forward it to Amazon's checker. In September 2026 Amazon launched verify@amazon.com, an address anyone can forward a suspicious message to — customer or not — and get a reply saying whether it really came from Amazon. You can also ask Alexa for Shopping about a message, and it answers confirmed, not from Amazon, or unable to verify. (Amazon)
4. Contact Amazon yourself. If you still aren't sure, reach Amazon Customer Service through the app or website — Amazon says never to use contact information from the message. (Amazon)

Signs it's fake

Amazon lists things it will not do. A text that does any of them isn't from Amazon:

• Asks for your password, a one-time passcode or sensitive personal information over the phone. (Amazon)
• Asks you to pay over the phone or by email, or to pay with gift cards. (Amazon)
• Asks for sensitive information outside Amazon's website or app. (Amazon)
• Asks you to click an external link or move the conversation to private messages — Amazon says its Customer Service never does this. (Amazon)

And the usual warning signs from the FTC and Amazon:

• A big purchase you didn't make, with a phone number to call about it.
• False urgency — “within 24 hours,” “your account will be locked.” Amazon specifically warns to be wary of it. (Amazon)
• Threats of arrest or talk of the FTC, police or your bank getting involved. (FTC)
• A request to keep it secret. The FTC says real companies won't tell you to keep account problems to yourself. (FTC)
• A link that isn't amazon.com — extra words, odd endings or a shortened link.

What to do

1. Don't tap the link, call the number or reply.
2. Check Your Orders in the app or on amazon.com, which you open yourself.
3. Report it to Amazon. Use Amazon's self-service reporting tool, or email reportascam@amazon.com if you're not a customer. (Amazon) Amazon says the more scams are reported, the better its tools get at catching the people behind them.
4. Report it more widely. Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Our guide on how to report a scam text covers every option.
5. Delete it.

If you already paid or clicked

• You typed your Amazon password: change it in the app or on amazon.com right away, and turn on two-step verification or a passkey, which Amazon recommends. (Amazon)
• You gave a card number: call your bank or card issuer using the number on the back of the card and ask them to block it and reverse the charge.
• You bought gift cards or sent money: contact the gift card company or your payment app or bank immediately. The FTC's guide What to do if you were scammed lists steps by payment type.
• You let someone onto your computer: disconnect it from the internet, update your security software and change your passwords from a different device. Amazon warns never to grant anyone remote access. (Amazon)
• You shared your Social Security number: go to IdentityTheft.gov, and check your credit at AnnualCreditReport.com, as the FTC suggests. (FTC)

Common questions

Does Amazon send text messages?

Amazon does send messages, so a text mentioning Amazon isn't automatically fake. Amazon says real messages also appear in the Message Center under Your Account, and any real order shows up in Your Orders. You can forward a suspicious message to verify@amazon.com to check it.

Will Amazon ever ask me to pay with gift cards?

No. Amazon says it will never ask for payment over the phone or email and tells customers never to buy gift cards as a form of payment.

How do I report a fake Amazon text?

Use Amazon's self-service scam reporting tool, or email reportascam@amazon.com if you're not a customer. Also forward the text to 7726 and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Related: the USPS “package on hold” text scam, another fake delivery message.

Sources

• Amazon — Is that message really from Amazon? Just ask Alexa for Shopping (September 2, 2026)
• Amazon — The latest scam trends from Amazon US (June 24, 2026)
• Amazon — How Amazon protects customers from scams
• FTC — Did you get a call or text about a suspicious purchase on Amazon? It's a scam
• FTC — What to do if you were scammed

Shieldr isn't affiliated with Amazon. Amazon is a trademark of Amazon.com, Inc.

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