3. Ask for payment off-platform 

Swindlers often use Amazon to deceive customers into sending money through Western Union and similar wire transfer services or mobile payment applications like Zelle and Venmo.

Using these services will exclude you from the retailer’s A-to-Z guarantee since they don’t provide buyer protection. Therefore, if you fall victim to a scam, you’ll be out of luck in terms of recovering your funds.

How the schemes work:

• In order to trick people into thinking that they’re indeed working for Amazon, scammers fabricate a legitimate-looking Amazon product listing and post it online. They could even use fabricated testimonials to boost credibility;
• The fraudster approaches you when you try to buy the goods and provides a link to a 3rd-party payment processor, such as Cash App or Western Union;
• After that, your money (and maybe credit card details) will be sent to the fraudster as soon as you click that link.

How to recognize an Amazon fraud attempt (and what to do about it):

Authentic Amazon merchants will never ask customers to pay using a method other than their website. It should raise red flags if the vendor insists on being paid using a service like Zelle, Western Union, PayPal, or MoneyGram. Don’t send any money, and cut all contact with the vendor.