Strange emails / internet fraud - anyone else getting them?

Got a couple emails today saying I had subscribed to different newsletters and lists....

I NEVER subscribed to them, but apparently someone is using my email address to spam me.

I'm wondering if anyone else has gotten anything like this? I have a yahoo email account and noticed LIW was asking about yahoo last week.

these are suspicious because they are lists you actually have to subscribe to, and I never did (and they all happened today).

I also got an email today from amazon saying I changed my email address, which isn't true. So I'm concerned that someone has my info...and I can't access my amazon account anymore (since I don't know the password they changed it to)

Lisa I would try to call amazon as soon as possible...I know I have stored CC information on my account...

Lisa - not to alarm you, but my brothers girlfriend was a victim of Identity theft and these are the sort of things that happened to her....(with the amazon acct. thing, not the spam)

I would call or write to the credit reporting agencies (all 3, b/c some of them update every month, some only every 6 months) and make SURE you don't have any credit cards out in you name that you didn't authorize.

I think the Credit Reporting Agencies are:

Experian
Equifax
Trans Union

(I think...)

Good Luck with this....and make sure to check it out ASAP.

I've contacted amazon (they have yet to get back to me) but I cancelled my credit card and confirmed that there were no authorized charges.

I'll contact the credit agencies today.

I also contacted the email provider that the changed email came from, but they've been no help.

Now I'm looking for some internet fraud reporting agency.

I hope its just a joke...and nothing too serious...

do you have a check card from your bank...make sure that is safe...b/c they will not reimburse you with money into your banking account

I put out a fraud alert with all the credit agencies and filed a complaint with the IFCC.

I'm hoping the amazon thing is the extent of it, but I'd rather be overly cautious.

I just wish amazon would get back to me

3 emails and 2 phone calls later, I'm still waiting to hear back from Amazon. They said one to two days! I'm apalled at their lack of response on this. I don't understand how they could not act more quickly on an issue of personal security.

thanks for checking in.

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do you have a check card from your bank...make sure that is safe...b/c they will not reimburse you with money into your banking account

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I had my identity stolen a couple of months before our wedding and they had my CC/Debit card number and they stole $5000 out of my account. You do get the money back it took over a year. I believe they got my CC/Debit card number from a resturant. Don't ever use a credit card where they walk away from you like that. I put fraud alerts on all the Credit Reports (this is a real pain when you want to apply for a CC in a store or by mail). It is not easy to get the Fraud alert off one keeps it on for seven years!! I reported it to the police in Suffolk but since the first charge was done in Queens they made me go all the way there to file a report. They told me straight out right....'We don't bother trying to find these people it is to difficult'!!
These people went on a wonderful 5 day trip to Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire etc... in 5 days $5000 was spent. I just happened to be looking at my bank account online and saw all those charges. Thank goodness because if I waited...all my money for the wedding would have been gone!!!

I think if you use the bank card as a master card/visa you can get your money back. But as an debit card you can't.

Lisa - I hope you hear something from Amazon soon! It's frustrating and I think irresponsible of them to not respond more quickly in a case like this.

but they need the pin to use it as a debit card...


thanks!!


lisa...i hope you hear back from them soon!

well we're up to 4 emails and 3 phone calls, and still no response from them at all. They wouldn't even let me speak to a supervisor.

My emails are getting more and more hostile

(the account is frozen so the 'thief' doesn't have access to it)

Amazon.com freaks me out..
Its connected to SOOOOOOO many accounts.
Toys R Us
Target
all sorts of stuff.

I registered at Target and was shocked when it asked for my Amazon info. Same when I bought a present for a friend's baby shower (baby R us) and it said 'do you have an amazon acct' all my info was there. It was freaky.

They are WAY too connected.

well I'm glad that at least the account is frozen...


I experienced a glitch with amazon and haven't used them since...

I checked off my address...but when they send me the email cofirming they had my moms work address (I had sent her something another time) --but then it was actually sent to a really old address I had and it was eventualy returned to them

it was very strange...

FINALLY! a response (or is it a lecture? or amazon shifting blame...hmm...):

Greetings from Amazon.com.

Please take the time to read this message - it contains important information about your Amazon.com account.

Thank you for contacting us with your concerns regarding your account. After careful review, we believe your account has been accessed and used without your permission. This means that some
unauthorized person has used your email address and Amazon.com password to make purchases using your account - but *not* your credit card. Please note, your Amazon.com account information was
*not* compromised at our site and was *not* accessed improperly as a result of your shopping with us. Somehow, someone obtained your email address and password combination elsewhere and used it here.

We have closed your account effective immediately because of this unauthorized account activity.

It is important to know that Amazon.com accounts can only be accessed by those who know the email address and password
combination used at our site as they are the keys to your account. As mentioned above, it appears someone obtained your email address and password combination elsewhere and used it Amazon.com.

While it is not clear how or where this happened, we do know that many times email address and password combinations are obtained by scam artists who send unsolicited email to unsuspecting users asking
them to 'update' their account information. The email usually contains a link to a website that is controlled by the scam artist asking the user to submit personal information including email address, password, credit card number, etc. Once the information is obtained the scam artist can then gain access to numerous online accounts since most Internet users use the same user name, email address, and password at multiple sites.

In the future, you can protect your Amazon.com password and account by following some of these safety tips:

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1. Choose a good password: Use at least 8 characters and a combination of letters and numbers. Do not use single dictionary words, your name or other personal info that can be easily obtained, or a password that contains part of your email address.

2. Password protection: Avoid using the same password at multiple sites or for your email account. Do not share your password with others. NOTE: Amazon.com employees will never ask for your password.

3. Account protection: Be cautious of unsolicited emails that appear to come from reputable online shops or services that ask you to submit personal information such as credit card number, email address, and password, by clicking on a link and 'signing in'. Before submitting these type of personal details, be sure you are signing into the online shop's genuine site by looking at the Address/Location area of your browser.

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Please note, although someone did have access to your Amazon.com account, they would not have been able to view your full credit card numbers as they are never displayed on our site. However, it is possible your credit card numbers may have been compromised at the time your email address and password were obtained (again, not at
Amazon.com). Therefore, we suggest you carefully review recent credit card statements to check for any unusual activity or misuse.

Please know you will need to open a new account when you place future orders with us. We strongly suggest that you follow the
safety tips listed above for increased password and account
protection.

Please accept our most sincere apologies for any resulting inconveniences, and feel free to contact us if you have any further questions or concerns by writing to [email protected].

and my response back to them:

Thank you for your response.

This entire incident was quite disturbing, and the lack of help or response from Amazon was disappointing.

I would encourage a change in your practices regarding changes to email addresses or personal information. Generally when I make changes on secure sites, I not only get an email confirmation (which you provided) but I also get a way of disputing the change if needed. Amazon provided me with no such means.

This hassle took 4 days, 4 emails and 3 phone calls to get resolved. That is simply unacceptable. As a long time loyal customer, I am disgusted at what I had to go through with Amazon over the last few days.

While the incident may not have been the fault of Amazon, it is certainly your responsibility to get it resolved in a timely manner.