Amazon Prime scam targets Mississauga and Brampton residents

A scam text purporting to be from Amazon Prime is making the rounds in Mississauga and Brampton.

The text message says the customer’s last payment to Amazon Prime failed. It prompts the customer to visit a website to update their account information.

But this is a phishing scam. Criminals use tactics to trick you into giving your personal information or clicking on links, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

The scammer will try to get banking information or other personal information. The website may even look like it is Amazon. Legitimate Amazon websites have a dot before “amazon.ca” such as http://”something”.amazon.ca, Amazon notes on their website.

Clicking on the link could also infect your device with a virus or malware.

Amazon says they will never send you an unsolicited message asking for sensitive personal information like your social security number, tax ID, bank account number, credit card information, ID questions like your mother’s maiden name or your password.

“Amazon will never ask you to make a payment outside of our website and will never ask you for remote access to your device,” they write on their website.

If you receive a request to update payment information, go to your account on the Amazon website, Amazon suggests.

“If you’re not prompted to update your payment method on that screen, the message isn’t from Amazon.”

Also, watch for prompts to install software on your device, and messages with spelling or grammar errors — these are sure signs of a scam.

Amazon suggests reporting any suspicious or fraudulent correspondence on its website.

Also, see more information about phishing scams on the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website.