![\"Amazon](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1764459736_67_0x0.jpg\")
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Look out for these messages on your phone<\/p>\n
AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Updated Nov. 29 with Amazon\u2019s response to the raft of holiday season security warnings and additional advice for customers on how to stay safe from attacks. <\/p>\n
Attacks targeting Amazon customers were \u201calready surging\u201d by Black Friday, with millions at risk. And \u201cthe threat has not yet peaked,\u201d increasing for another 48 hours through Cyber Monday. It\u2019s critical you look for messages and check your account.<\/p>\n
That warning comes courtesy of Darktrace<\/a>,. \u201cAmazon is the most mimicked brand, making up 80% of phishing attacks\u201d against major companies, it says. Attacks which have already spiked 620% in November and will surge another 20 to 30% by Nov. 29.<\/p>\n According to Will Glazier from Cequence Security, \u201csocial engineering and phishing might just be two of the oldest professions in the cybersecurity space, and this report shows how criminals leverage vulnerabilities in our psyches, such as excitement over holiday gift tracking, every bit as much as they do in software.\u201d<\/p>\n ForbesGoogle Confirms Gmail Choice\u20142 Billion Users Must Now DecideBy Zak Doffman<\/a><\/p>\n The scale of this threat to holiday shoppers in general and Amazon customers in particular has been echoed by the latest research from Guardio<\/a>. \u201cBlack Friday is no longer just a shopping day,\u201d it warns. \u201cIt has become a hunting ground for cybercriminals armed with artificial intelligence.\u201d<\/p>\n Guardio points out that \u201cAmericans lost over $432 million to online shopping fraud in 2024, and experts predict 2025 will shatter that record as AI-powered attacks reach unprecedented sophistication.\u201d Amazon is highlighted again, alongside other major brands, including Walmart, Costco, Apple, AT&T and Verizon.<\/p>\n The latest wave of phishing attacks use AI as never before, \u201cwhich means perfect grammar, professional designs, and convincing copy that makes traditional \u2018red flags\u2019 obsolete. The old advice to \u2018look for spelling errors\u2019 or \u2018check for poor formatting.\u2019 That\u2019s ancient history. AI has eliminated those telltale signs.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Guardio, “The most common trap is the urgent account alert. You receive a text claiming your Amazon account has been \u2018suspended due to suspicious activity\u2019 or your Verizon bill \u2018couldn\u2019t be processed\u2019 and you need to \u2018verify your information immediately\u2019 by clicking a link\u2019.”<\/p>\n Amazon is working hard to combat the plague of impersonation scams that target attacks against its users, the objective being to steal user names and passwords and gain access to accounts. The answer, Amazon says<\/a>, is to add a passkey to your account.<\/p>\n Sectigo CTO Nick France pushes the same security message, telling me \u201cas the holiday shopping season reaches its peak, consumers are eager to snag the best deals online, but this surge in activity also attracts cybercriminals looking to exploit vulnerabilities.\u201d <\/p>\n France warns that \u201cultimately, security is a shared responsibility. Consumers can benefit by staying vigilant and shopping wisely, while businesses must maintain their security posture to promote trust and confidence. Together, these efforts help create a safer online shopping experience during the holiday season and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n Amazon is doing that. Its security advice is now front and center. \u201cTo securely sign in to your Amazon account you can enable a passkey to simply use your face, fingerprint, or the PIN that you use to unlock your device. Passkeys are a convenient and secure way to sign in to your Amazon account without using a password.\u201d <\/p>\n And hundreds of millions of Amazon customers<\/a> have already upgraded their security. Along with Google<\/a>, Amazon is leading the way in passkey adoption. Add one to your account now, after which you don\u2019t have to worry about credential stealing attacks.<\/p>\n \u201cThis year we\u2019re guaranteed to see ever more sophisticated scams, primarily fueled by AI,\u201d Keeper Security\u2019s Anne Cutler told me. \u201cBlack Friday doesn\u2019t need to be a hacker\u2019s payday. A few proactive steps, coupled with an identity-first mindset, can make the difference between a money-saving bargain and a costly breach.\u201d<\/p>\n