Amazon ‘Quality Inspection’ Scam Discovered in Louisiana and Texas

(KMDL-FM) Customers of the giant online retailer Amazon love the convenience that the company offers them. They can order products and not have to get out into traffic in Lafayette, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Houston, Beaumont, or Tyler just to get items they need but don't need right now.

Of course, with that convenience, there is a price that must be paid. In the case of Amazon, it is usually included in the price of shipping. However, there are some expenses now associated with doing business with Amazon that a lot of us can't afford and, to be honest, do not want to mess with.

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Such is the case of the current Amazon online scam that several customers in Louisiana and Texas have reported. The scam in its design is quite clever. It also has the "look and feel" of something that Amazon would do.

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How Does The "Routine Quality Inspection Scam" Work?

The scam involves a text from what appears to be a legit Amazon number asking the customer to participate in a "quality control program". The text tells the unsuspecting consumer that "there was an issue with a recent purchase". The issue means the product is being recalled.

The twist is this: the text does not tell you, nor does it want you to return the item. They want you to keep the item and fill out a form to get a complete refund. Needless to say, this appeals to almost everyone's sense of greed and entitlement. You get to keep the item, and they want to give you your money back? Who wouldn't want that? The short answer should be you.

The link that takes you to the refund form is not connected to Amazon. It's connected to the scammers' base of operations. And by filling out the form, you've just given the bad guys "the keys to your Amazon kingdom and beyond". So, don't do that.

What Should I Do If I Have An Issue with An Amazon Product I Ordered?

If you have an issue with an Amazon product, go directly through the company website; don't trust a text or email you can't verify. You have the power, use it. The Federal Trade Commission offers these helpful hints to help avoid getting scammed.

*Don’t click links in unexpected texts and don’t respond to them.
*If you think the message might be real and want to find out, find the company’s phone number, email, or website independently of what you saw in the text.
*Check your Amazon account to see if there is a problem or recall. Do that by logging in through the Amazon website or app, not the link in the text.

If you get a lot of unwanted texts, you can forward those to 7726 (SPAM) or use the "report as junk" feature on your telephone. Authorities encourage you to delete any unwanted text from your phone as soon as you have made these reports. And if you'd like to receive fewer spam texts, you can find out how to do that here.