Residents in Montgomery County, the state of Maryland, and across the country are receiving fraudulent text messages claiming to be from Amazon about a “safety recall” on a recently purchased product. The message, which appears professional at first glance, instructs recipients to stop using the supposed product immediately and to click a link for a refund. It also includes a fake order ID and emphasizes that “your safety is our top priority.”
The text, however, is not from Amazon. It originates from a random phone number and directs users to a shortened URL, a common tactic used by scammers to disguise malicious links. These types of messages are designed to steal personal information, account passwords, or financial details.
Amazon does not issue recall notices via random text numbers, nor do they send refund links through third-party URL shorteners. Legitimate recall notifications appear in your Amazon account, in your order history, and through official Amazon email channels. Even then, Amazon will never ask for personal information, passwords, or payment details to process a recall or refund.
With scam text messages, officials urge residents not to click the link, delete the message immediately, and report it as junk or spam through their phone’s messaging app. Anyone who accidentally clicked the link should change their Amazon password, enable two-factor authentication, and monitor their account for suspicious activity.
Scammers frequently impersonate major retailers during the holiday shopping season, when package tracking and order notifications become more common. If you ever receive a message about an order you don’t recognize, the safest option is to open your Amazon app or visit Amazon.com directly, never through a link sent by text.
