Did Your Amazon Account Get Hacked? Things To Do Immediately
Most shoppers love Amazon. Hard not to with the free 2-day shipping, cool Prime perks, and competitive pricing. But with Amazon’s popularity comes growing security concerns as hackers try to crack the huge database of shoppers and their linked credit cards. If for some unforeseeable reason your Amazon account gets hacked, here are the 6 things you need to do right away…
1. Immediately Change Your Amazon Password
If you think your Amazon account was hacked for ANY reason, the first thing you should do is immediately login to your account and change your password.
To make this happen just click on Accounts & Lists, followed by Your Account, then Login & Security.
Make your new password a string of random numbers and letters and not actual words.
Then write it down somewhere for safe keeping.
If you need help generating a strong password, I’m a big fan of StrongPasswordGenerator.com.
It would also be REALLY smart to change the password on the email account associated with your Amazon account.
In many cases this is how hackers gain access to your Amazon account if you’re signed up with Amazon’s 2-step verification system.
In other words, if they can get into your email account it becomes easy to also get into your Amazon account.
Important: DO NOT use the same password that you use on other popular sites like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
See Also: 6 Out-Of-The-Box Ways to Score Amazon Prime for Free or Cheap
2. Check Your Account Information
Next, click around your Amazon account carefully and make sure nothing has been altered.
Check your linked credit cards (if any), billing address, shipping address, phone number, and email address.
If any information has been changed, be sure to note the change (with a screen capture) and then correct it.
At this point you should call Amazon’s security department at (888) 282-2406 and tell them that your account has been breached.
They’ll be able to provide further assistance and help you keep an eye on your account activity in the coming days.
3. Check Purchase History (Especially Archived Orders)
Next, take a look at your Amazon order history and make sure you recognize all recent purchases.
Don’t forget to click on Archived Orders as often times hackers will “hide” fraudulent orders there.
You’ll find all of your archived orders in the “Ordering and Shopping Preferences” section of your Amazon account. See screenshot above.
See Also: Amazon Return Policy: No More Confusion, Here’s EXACTLY How It Works
4. Enable Amazon 2-Step Verification
By turning on 2-Step Authentication your Amazon account is much harder to hack into.
Essentially it requires a security code to be entered whenever you attempt to access your account from a new computer, smartphone, or tablet.
To authenticate, Amazon will simply shoot you a text message with a security code attached that you manually enter.
Very easy to do and definitely helps keep hackers out of your account.
5. Consider Un-Linking Credit Cards
Having your credit card(s) linked to your account makes ordering much easier. Believe me, I know.
But it also creates an easy way for hackers to make unauthorized purchases on those cards.
A simple workaround is to un-link all payment methods from your Amazon account.
Yes, you’ll have to enter your card info every time you make a purchase, BUT you won’t have to worry about someone hacking into your account and making a bunch of purchases.
6. Check all Credit Card Accounts
At this point it’s also smart to check all of your credit cards that are linked to your Amazon account.
Make sure none of them have any unauthorized purchases on them.
Bonus: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself From Future Attacks
1. Never Click on Phishy Emails
If you get a supposed email from Amazon about your account, but it just doesn’t look right, DO NOT click on any links within the email.
Also, check the email address of the sender. Often times these phishing emails will NOT be from an address ending with @amazon.com. Stay far away from those.
2. Don’t Access your Amazon Account Over Unsecured Network
In other words, try not to shop online when sipping a latte at Starbucks if you’re using their free WiFi.
3. Get Into Your Account if Hacker Changes Email Address
Well, in short, you CAN’T get into your Amazon account if this happens.
You’ll have to immediately call Amazon at (888) 280-4331 and they can remove the fraudulent email address and lock your account until the issue is resolved.
Ask the Reader: Has your Amazon account ever been hacked? How did the hacker get into your account and what damage was done?
By Kyle James
I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)
Well, I see that I have lots of company. I’ve had two hacks in this month of July. I have always used 2 Factor Authentication with Amazon. The fraudulent orders are always for game gift cards in which they can download the credits. After the hack in mid-July, I took my credit card off the account. The latest attack yesterday was unique. The hacker added someone else’s credit card to my account and place six orders for gift cards.
I still maintain with Amazon that THIS IS AN INSIDE JOB at Amazon. There is no way all these accounts are compromised because of the users. I encourage everyone to complain publicly to get Amazon to find the culprits.
Same thing happened go me. Someone straight logged into my account, put some new card in, ordered a bunch of stuff to an address in Tuscon, then apparently disputed the charge with the credit card issuer….
what a weird bunch of %$&#
my account is hacked right now. gotta call in the morning. UGH WHY IS SOMEONE WORKING AT CULVERS AND HACKING AMAZON ACCOUNTS?
I was hacked on amazon today,someone charged a large tv 72 inch plus a cabinet to go with it,I contacted amazon right away soon as I found out
My Amazon account was compromised. Right away I tried to change my password, but after 3 attempts to get an email proving it was me, and no email came, I called Customer Service. I spent 20 morning minutes before work and the person kept asking me for my 2 security phrases. I had not idea what she was talking about. Someone had placed the security phrases on my account. She said someone from research would call me in 24 hours. No one called.
Then I called again, and went through the same process, only this time I was told I would get an email showing me how to fix my account. No email came. I called back and was told someone would call in 48 hours. No one called.
I called yesterday morning and the person on the other end was very kind and compassionate. I gave her my work phone number and she said I would hear from someone right way. No one called.
The last person I talked to said my credit card and my Amazon account would be cancelled immediately so no one could use I again. It is still active.
To everything who got their accounts hacked. make sure your computer is secure first of all (ensure you don’t have any shady stuff on it which for those who ain’t sure I suggest clean installing your operating system) and make sure your email is secure and other websites by using a unique password on each website you use as this way if one is compromised, other sites you use can’t be easily compromised. I suggest using Gmail paired with a Yubikey (the most secure 2fa(two-factor authentication) available) as this way even if someone gets a hold of your username/password, they still can’t get into your Gmail account as if your email address gets hacked it can be used to reset passwords etc for other sites you use which is why it’s really important to make sure your email is secured. I would use Gmail and not places like Yahoo which can’t be trusted as you can look up the ‘Yahoo hacks’ online. even if one prefers not to use the YubiKey method, since it costs about $30-40(since you need to buy two keys to be safe in case you lose one you won’t be locked out of your account)), you need to use a secure password for your Gmail account which means get a password manager and have it generate random/unique password for all sites you use as this way all you have to do is remember the master password to the password manager and then you got access to each site’s username/password info you enter into it. note: if you use a password manager make sure you backup the password database file (to say a USB stick and some other things) in case your computer goes down you will still have backup copies of the password managers password database file as you don’t want to lose that otherwise it will be a major chore to fix.
for those who have two computers for example, say one of them is a bit older, I suggest installing Linux (which is free) on it and using it strictly for online banking or Amazon etc as this way even if your Windows computer is compromised that one will remain secure.
Join the discussion…
Sadly I have been hacked 4 times in the last 5 months. All for $100 gift card and 1 item. I changed my email address, have extremely strong passwords on both email and Amazon al done again in December 2019. The first week of January, hacked again on gmail account, which was new account, called Amazon, they did not show that I had switched my email account, luckily I had an order# to use, they were able to pull up my account. After 30 minutes of verifying who I was, account was changed back to the gmail address.
Here is the problem, I have 2 step verification, within 1 week after this incident, I longed into Amazon and guess what, 2 item in my cart for a $100 gift card and some cables, of course they could not purchase them because I had removed all payment info from the account.
This has to be someone within the Amazon employment.
Also my kids (adults) were using my account ordering with their phones with Amazon App and were never asked for a OPT code on any purchase. We tracked that for 5 purchases, no code request and when I checked the password login for Amazon stored on their phones it was at least a year old.
Amazon should be held accountable as all other large retail institutions. I am sending all my experiences to the Better Business Bureau in hopes of something happening.
Even thats not secure. They locked me.out of all administration tasks. Added about 15 user titles. Now I am in the process of having it investigated by the FBI.
My account was fraudulently accessed 8 months ago and I still cannot access it because they have locked it due to suspicious activity. I actually took all the steps above afterward, because I could still access my account via the Amazon app, but to this day I cannot sign into my account any other way. It is so incredibly frustrating when I call in over 50 times to get it unlocked, they tell me they will contact me back in 1-2 days and it never happens.
I used to love amazon. They are losing a very good customer. My account has been hacked twice this month within a week of fixing it. when I called today they sent to some guy saying my ip was hacked and that’s how theyre getting in. supposedly I have to pay hundreds of dollars to fix it?! like really?? They are the ONLY place ive been hacked.
what number did you call? All I get is automated CS and I cannot get into my account because someone changed the email associated with my name and changed the password.
Same here! I reported a fraudulent charge for an Amazon purchase that i discovered on my cc bill and the cc company took care of it a month ago. Two and a half weeks ago my Amazon account was put on hold because they want to be paid the $1,000.00 for a laptop which was ordered from my account and sent to an address which I don’t know. the hacker also managed to divert any emails from Amazon to my deleted folder so I wouldn’t see them. I’ve called many times and keep being told they can’t unlock the account until the money is paid. My cc company won’t pay because they know it’s fraud. Amazon says it isn’t fraud because the order was made from my account using my credit card. And I can’t cancel the account or open a new one! It’s so frustrating. I have been an active Amazon Prime member for years and have given them tons of business! They won’t investigate anything event though they have the address where the laptop was delivered and I have proof my emails were diverted.
Its the Amazon affiliates doing it
My Amazon password was changed also my phone number they had on file. So, nothing works.
Yup my account was hacked and they ordered things using my credit card!! Then they deleted my account somehow and the username I have used for years was not recognized!!! When I called amazon with the supposed order number they had sent to my email they couldn’t even pull it up!!! WOW damn hackers anger me but hopefully my bank will fix these charges for me!! No more amazon for me….sad!!!
same story for me- locked out x 4 months mulitiple calls to the useless agents who ‘don’t have a phone number for the fraud section’ and supposedly send an email or fax to them and yes, no phone call occurs the next day. They ask for bank statements with everything whited out except name and last 4 digits of account. Then they email back saying that the information required was not provided. Then it all ends. I called prob 20 times in a row. Started new accounts with entirely different emails and got my mastercard and visa both replaced with new numbers…but they seem to recognize my name and address and within seconds of having my prime reset up ( after refund) the account gets closed again. Went through 4 different accounts. Here’s the funny part. i didn’t realize my Audible account was linked so had my books and credits transferred twice but much more intelligent agents at audible- but eventually that all failed. Then out of the blue, despite my amazon account being closed, my audible started working on an old email – that email still doesn’t work on my amazon prime but I can still buy books…..i have given up now and get someone else to buy my stuff. retarded.
ps meant to say that i also had the Russian hacker episode where they changed my email to a hotmail. ru and charged a small amount for which i cancelled my card and got my money back. Amazon reversed my charges…..but alas i’m being held hostage by Amazon for someone else’s security issues…
I got hacked and someone changed my email and password. They made several charges which I caught. I called the number listed for help signing into my account. Girl was very short unhelpful and told me she couldn’t give me any information on orders I had or the status. She said someone would contact me by email in 48 hours. It’s been over a week and nothing. Called a customer service number and recording said no one was available to answer calls due to corona virus thing and hung up!?! Really? Very poor service for a giant multi-billon dollar company. You’re on your own if you get hacked!
I am not sure how my Amazon account got hacked when the hacker does not seem to have access to my email. The only thing the hacker did was to delete my mobile number. But I have to say that it is because my account is inactive. The address I have in it is a very old address and I do not have credit card information. I am just curious as to how the hacker had managed to alter my mobile phone number without having access to my email.
Amazon closed my account due to unusual activities. I now can’t logon to my seller account for two days. Calling and emailing seller support as well as Amazon customer support and still have no idea how to get back to my seller account. I have to use my another buyer account to get to talk to amazon customer support. Help.
My account JUST got hacked. I caught it just in time. I received all emails from amazon saying I had unusual activity on my account. I managed to catch it early. my name was changed from Marissa to “Jorge” and my language preferences were switched from English to Spanish. I immediately hopped onto my laptop and changed my password and name back to Marissa. I learned a cool trick from my previous jobs; catch phrases with spaces are a whole lot harder for a hacker to decode! After I did this, I came to you blog and followed the rest of your steps. Thank you so so much!!!
You’re welcome!
I’m curious, what do you mean by catch phrases with spaces? I didn’t know you could have spaces in passwords.
I do this all the time. Lets say your password is Austin. You can put spaces between the letters, like “A u sti n,” it makes it more difficult for a hacker.
I was hacked. Changed the password, hacked again. Set up 2vp and changed the password, hacked again. Have been waiting for 9 days for amazons fraud team to contact me within 48 hours. Called them back, got told 48 hours again. My bank contested the charges, 9 days later still waiting for the 72 hour refund. Just changed email settings as well as changing password again. Removed every card from the account. Lets see what happens next.
im in the exact same position. Called two weeks ago to tell them my account was hacked – my card was charged for items I didn’t order. They set up an “investigation” and froze the hackers account that had my card linked to it. Was told to expect a call or email within 48hrs. Nothing. It’s now been two weeks and I had to chase amazon with a follow up call to a) ask where my refund is and b) have them somehow reassure me that this privacy breech can’t happen again. The agents were not really bothered to help. Could not help me on the spot. Forwarded me to an “investigations team” once again. Told I would receive an email (no phone calls within 48 hrs. Not holding my breath.
the refunds I am not too worried about if it happens or not. The bigger issue is that someone out there has my name, mailing address, and visa details. This is serious stuff and amazon seems to be passing me off. I would cancel my prime account right now but I need to stay a member until this (if ever) gets sorted out.
Someone did this to me. Started a month ago. I froze everything. But nothing taken out of my actual money. Someone keeps putting visas in my name like giftcards since nothing is showing on my credit report. And buying crap. Its been a month and still is happening. They flagged my account so if they buy it won’t ship. But month later still no answered how I’m locked out of my account but they are still getting in and doing this. Scares the shit out of me. Amazon is not safe. I let my prime default too. I domt feel comfortable using it anymore since its still going on.
My amazon account has been hacked twice recently and the person has tried to buy PlayStation gift cards I contacted amazon support and they refunded it but said it was a one time thing. But it has happened a second time and the same thing was purchased so I don’t know how to get it refunded this time.
Same thing happened to me, got hacked and they bought playstation gift cards but I am unable to contact amazon. I seem to only get in contact over the phone with hackers trying to further steal my information. And now my account is disabled
Amazon is the one doing the hacking! I closed 2 accounts and within hours was told theres $4000.00 on my account. The only charge was another 14 to Amazon for my subscription. They repeatedly hang up when i call them about the subscription fee. Bozo is the richest man because he’s a demon. Take down everything thats associated with them. I got rid of the whole card. Its useless.
I was hacked 10 days ago by a chinese name and device email. I contacted amazon support and they say they would investigate it. These things are happening too easy and I don’t get why switching emails is even a thing for amazon without a proper authentication from the original email! The hackers can keep switching fake emails and then we lose track of the culprit. My email and the chinese email are nonexistent to login and I am worried because my debit card is linked and they know my address.
I have a series of fraudulent purchases on my account with new passwords and two step verification. Very systematic, every two weeks, random purchases. Obviously an inside job! I didn’t get a text and these orders were placed. So frustrating. Amazon is taking a long time to follow up.
My wife and I are dealing with this now. Our account is supposed to be frozen yet someone purchased 5 items in a 30-minute period the other day. New CCs made in my wife’s name but not seen on her credit report. We’ve been going through this for 3 weeks and it’s still not resolved. The assholes are even leaving product reviews with poor grammar, which is really pissing me off.
I have been dealing with my account being hacked since April. I have changed passwords multiple times, imposed 2 step verification, and even changed the associated email and they got in anyway. The passwords I chose were so jumbled with symbols, etc that I couldn’t have remembered it if my life depended on it. My last effort was to disable the fire stick because I read they could go through there. They still got in. Luckily they didn’t buy anything. Once I caught on I put a card with no charging power on the account and finally I removed the card completely. I kept finding items in my shopping cart and the bullseye at the top was changed to a destination of New York instead of Maryland. I had a discharged bankruptcy in January so luckily the scammers couldn’t open an Amazon card in my name even if they wanted to. I don’t need these shitheads screwing things up for me when things are finally better. I called Amazon and told them to close the account. It’s locked while they “investigate”. I won’t do business with Amazon again. It’s not worth it. If this keeps happening to so many people then they definitely have security issues and/or it’s an inside job. And I have had fake reviews posted too. I figured it was a ploy to scam more so I ignored them.
my amazn prime been hacked but5 1st it was my emai and some banks make it short amazon sends 2nd step verification to email witch hacker has and got me deleted from amazon and all my dstuff connected to it like alexa, and prime movies, and house hold smart gadgets and etc… espically threw corona virus whenwe use these the most! im telling them but no answer,.. what to do! ghey showe no compassion or have nay heart =[!!! =[ im in hell right now what do i do
!!?!!? just amazon issue here….
ive chnaged passwoods, amd stuff to provided email if anyone woild contact me please…
My old account that was supposedly closed in 2018 because of being hacked was recently hacked again there placing orders with what I think are stolen credit cards they never changed the email address so I got notified of the first order. I have been trying to get amazon to REALLY close the account ever since but the hacker has ordered more items with new credit cards! I’ve changed the password the email and it hasn’t worked i just added two step authentication today let’s hope it keeps them out until the account is closed.
My amazon account was also hacked and I see things added to my account that I did not add ,I got emails from whom ever i don’t know saying something about my gift card balance,how did they know this.I think those Mexican workers doing this and I ordered lots of things that went some where else I put $500.00 in my own gift balance so I can spend and I sent my mother a fruit basket that she never got and I never got my money back… I am a lot soul in the high wind,…