AVON and Somerset police are warning people to be on their guard against a telephone scam, which involves a fraudster claiming to be an official from Amazon. 

The bogus official called the victims on their landline and said they were from Amazon and querying either an issue with a payment or a problem with the victim’s Prime membership. 

Three incidents have been reported in the Avon and Somerset force area – two of the victims have lost a combined total of almost £15,000. 

During the call, a pre-recorded message invites the victim to press 1 on their phone to link to an operator. A long conversation follows in which the victim is asked to re-connect to the caller via a computer or mobile device and then allow Amazon to link to their account. 

While they continue to talk to the victim, they ask them to log on to their online banking via the remote device to check whether a refund has been made to their bank. 

The caller talks to the victim, distracting them from looking at their device, while money is quickly transferred from their bank, or even an application for a loan made while the banking session is open. 

Amazon will never call and ask for personal information, including bank PiN numbers and passwords. 

Any attempts for permission to remotely access your computer or phone should be a red flag warning. 

If suspicious or uncomfortable about a call, finish it immediately and call the company that claimed to be making it, using its official number and try to use a different phone to ensure the phone line has not been held by the scammer. 

If any link to your device has been added by the scammer – such as TeamViewer – have it professionally removed and keep the device disconnected from the internet.