Getting a call about a huge charge you didn’t make is terrifying. But if you receive a voicemail claiming you bought a brand-new iPhone on Amazon—usually for $999 or more—it’s almost always fake.
The Scam in Action
My wife keeps getting these calls. They all sound the same:
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A bit of hold music
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A robotic voice saying:
“This is Amazon. This call is to authorize the payment of $999 for the recent order of an Apple iPhone on your account. Press 1 if you did not authorize this.”
There are no actual charges on Amazon or on our credit card. The calls are simply trying to scare you into reacting.
What Scammers Want
If you press “1,” you’re connected to a scammer pretending to be customer support. They’ll try to steal your information by asking for:
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Credit card numbers
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Amazon login details
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Personal data
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Remote access to your device
How to Spot the Scam
Red flags include:
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Automated voice messages
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Requests to “press 1”
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Mention of expensive iPhones
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No matching charges in your real account
Amazon and banks do not handle fraud this way.
What to Do Instead
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Hang up immediately.
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Check your actual Amazon and bank accounts yourself.
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Block the number.
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Report the call to Amazon or your carrier.
These scam calls are common, but as long as you don’t engage, you’re safe.
