Scam Alert: Watch Out for Fake Amazon Prime Emails Claiming a Price Hike or Fee Increase

Fraudsters are targeting Amazon Prime members with emails and texts that look like they’re from Amazon, but aren’t. These “phishing” messages falsely claim that membership renewal fees have suddenly increased and are designed to trick you into clicking a link or sharing sensitive information. They may even include personal details to seem more believable, and often lead to fake Amazon login pages created by scammers.

Here’s what you need to know to stay protected:

What’s Going On?

Amazon is warning its over 200 million Prime customers about a surge in phishing attempts impersonating Amazon. These messages often:

• Claim your Prime subscription price is going up.
• Use personal details sourced from elsewhere to appear legitimate.
• Feature a prominent “cancel subscription” or “resolve issue” button that leads to a fake Amazon login page.
• Sometimes mimic account alerts or order problems, increasing urgency and prompting clicks.

Once you enter your credentials on the fake page, scammers can access your Amazon account—and potentially any other accounts that use the same login. Additional personal or payment information may also be captured.

How to Avoid Getting Scammed

Protect yourself with these simple actions:

• Don’t click on links in unexpected Amazon emails or texts. Instead, go directly to the Amazon app or website via a bookmark or search.
  
• Check your Amazon Message Center under your account—real notifications will appear there, not just in your inbox.
• Watch for pressure tactics. Scammers often create a false sense of urgency to rush decisions. Don’t click on links or respond to emails or texts that threaten consequences if you don’t act immediately—this is a common scare tactic. 
• Verify sender authenticity. In Gmail, Yahoo!, AOL, and Apple Mail, real Amazon emails now display the Amazon “smile” logo next to the sender’s name. This logo means Amazon has verified the email as legitimate. If you don’t see it — or if anything about the message feels off — treat it with caution.
  
• Enable extra login security. Turn on two-step verification or Passkey for biometric sign-in.
  
• If you clicked a suspicious link, change your Amazon password and monitor your bank and card statements right away.

How Carefull Can Help

If you suspect you’ve received a fake Amazon message, you can run it through Carefull’s ScamCheck tool — our AI analyzes the wording, sender details, and links to spot red flags that signal a scam. Beyond just checking messages, Carefull’s identity monitoring watches for unusual activity, like new accounts opened in your name or unexpected changes to your credit. That way, even if a scam slips through, Carefull can alert you early so you can act before any real damage is done. And if something does go wrong, our U.S.-based Care Team is on hand to help you resolve the issue.

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