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- Amazon confirmed that it had identified “a malicious actor impersonating Amazon who sent messages claiming that recently purchased items required immediate returns.”
- Some of the fake scam texts simply state that the order you placed is being recalled for a “security review.”
This is fast-moving text that some consumers may easily jump to. Who wouldn’t get a little excited if they suddenly found a message claiming to be from Amazon or another retailer and hinting that the baby sleepsuit they just purchased would be recalled due to quality and safety issues?
Scammers who have flooded our cell phones with fake text messages about parking tickets, toll booths, and job opportunities are now texting us about recall notices. Simply click on this link to review the recall instructions and request a refund.
Except that’s exactly the wrong thing to do.
The message usually doesn’t mention the sleepsuit or sweater you just bought. However, they may provide order numbers and other information to make the text seem fairly believable.
If you have not yet received a message regarding the product recall, please wait. This scam recall statement is likely to become a high-profile one in 2026, according to warnings from consumer watchdog groups that have already noticed an increase in complaints about these scams.
“They’re tapping into all the key DNA of any scam,” said Amy Nofziger, senior director of victim support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network.
“They’re taking advantage of a heightened emotional state. They’re taking advantage of a sense of urgency. It happens out of the blue, and it causes fear and things like that,” Nofziger said.
Some texts may say things like the sweater you’re wearing is flammable, she said. Others, however, are less specific, only indicating that those ordered in December will be recalled for a “safety review.” AARP issued a warning about recall scams in a social media post, noting that “recall scams are on the rise.”
Consumer Reports also warned in March of a spike in phishing scams that begin with fake texts about fake recall notices.
The AARP Fraud Alert on Recall Scams notes that fake text messages may include: “To stay safe and receive a full refund without delay, please sign in to your account from the official website and confirm your order below.”
Of course, the links provided in the fake text do not connect to the official website. It connects you with scammers.
Consumers are shopping online all the time, and now they’re probably splurging a little with their tax refund cash. Online retailers like Amazon also just held big spring sales. Scammers know when is the best time to impersonate famous names.
“They’re using big box stores like Amazon, Costco and Walmart,” Nofziger said. “So who hasn’t bought something from these big companies in the last two months?”
She warns that if you click on the link, the scammer will ask for your bank account and credit card information. Consumers probably think this is a way to get their money back, but it’s actually a way for scammers to steal their banking information and money.
If you receive a text like this out of the blue, never click on the link.
What Amazon says about recall scams
Amazon asked online customers in October, “Have you received an emergency message about a recall for a product you ordered from Amazon?”
Amazon acknowledged at the time that it was seeing an increase in “malicious actors impersonating Amazon by sending messages claiming that recent purchases require immediate returns due to ‘safety concerns.'”
According to Amazon’s warning, the scammers promise a full refund, but then direct unsuspecting consumers to unofficial websites and messaging channels where the criminals attempt to collect personal information. Fake product recall notifications may highlight fake order numbers and include phishing URLs.
In its warning, Amazon said it was taking action against refund fraud groups, including filing lawsuits in the U.S. and U.K. against organized groups that “operated on messaging platforms and attempted to orchestrate millions of dollars worth of fraudulent refunds.”
To help protect consumer accounts and report bad actors to law enforcement, Amazon encourages consumers to report suspected fraud at amazon.com/reportascam, according to a statement from an Amazon spokesperson to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Amazon’s policy is to immediately remove recalled products if they are sold by one of our resellers. Amazon will contact affected customers by email, push notification, and on the Recalls and Product Safety Alerts page in the customer’s Amazon account.
Scammers impersonating Amazon often claim there are problems with your order or other issues as well.
Consumers are encouraged to take the time to review so-called emergency requests, especially if they require immediate attention in writing. Please log in to your account and review your order page to review your information, or contact Amazon Customer Service to report suspicious activity through Amazon’s self-reporting tools.
Amazon says it never asks for sensitive information outside of Amazon’s websites and apps.
What Walmart advises about fraud
Walmart customers who believe they have received a fraudulent email claiming to be from Walmart can contact Walmart at OnlineAbuse@walmart.com. Walmart does not send text messages about recall alerts, and the company was not aware of any coordinated recall-related text scams targeting Walmart in late March.
Walmart’s practice is to remove recalled products from sale, share updated product warnings through a recall-specific website, and contact customers via email.
“Walmart works hard to protect our customers from fraudsters and other criminals who seek to harm them,” according to a statement from Walmart provided to the Detroit Free Press. “Customers who believe they have been a victim of fraud should contact the Federal Trade Commission or your state Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Division.”
Where can I find information about recalled foods, cars, etc.
To check for recalls, AARP Alert recommends accessing your account directly from the company’s official website, rather than using a link or phone number in a message.
In many cases, consumers simply need to stop using the product. They don’t need to panic. In some cases, refunds will also be issued.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission lists recalls and product safety warnings. For the latest information, visit cpsc.gov/recalls. Current recalls on this site include adult portable bed rails, certain sauna heater kits, convertible bassinets, magnetic balls, metal wire grill brushes, and power strips.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also lists recalls and safety warnings for foods, cosmetics, drugs, medical devices, and more. See fda.gov. Or visit FoodSafety.gov.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides recall information for cars, trucks, tires, airbags, child seats, and more. See nhtsa.gov.
A consolidated list of recalls from six federal agencies is available at www.recalls.gov.
Nofziger said he hopes more consumers will call the AARP Fraud Watch Network helpline at 877-908-3360 to report fraud, even if they don’t lose money.
“These are essentially criminal intentions,” Nofziger told the Detroit Free Press. “If someone tried to force their way through the front door and get into the house, we would report it.”
He noted that AARP issues alerts for things like what the Fraud Watch Network calls “recall scams” based on trends that show up on its hotline.
“The reason we found out about it was because people were calling us about it,” Nofziger said.
Contact personal finance columnist Susan Tompol: stompor@freepress.com. follow himr X @tompor.
