Amazon “Empty Box” Scam

Customers have been scammed by receiving an empty box from third-party sellers.

Who Is It Targeting: Amazon customers

What Is It: A bait-and-switch scam in which your order is never fulfilled

What Are They After: It’s important to note that Amazon is not at work in this scam, and that they do not condone it. Some news outlets are reporting an “empty box” scam in which a third-party seller accepts payment for your order and ships you an empty box. Under Amazon’s terms of use, if you accept the package then the seller may or may not be held accountable for the missing items.

How Can You Avoid It:

• Check out a seller’s ratings before you place an order.
• Be watchful of sellers who have not been working through Amazon for very long, or who have lengthy lists of items for sale that seemingly have nothing to do with each other.
• Report any issues to Amazon customer service immediately.

If you think you may be a victim of identity theft, contact the Identity Theft Resource Center for toll-free, no-cost assistance at (888) 400-5530. Find more information about current scams and alerts here.