Holiday shoppers targeted as Amazon and FBI warn of surge in account takeover attacks

The FBI has issued a warning about a rise in account takeover (ATO) fraud, coinciding with Amazon's alert to its customers regarding brand impersonation scams. ATO fraud involves scammers hijacking accounts through tactics like malware and credential stuffing. The FBI highlights impersonation of customer support, while Amazon warns of fake delivery notices and phishing attempts. Techniques include fake websites, SEO poisoning, and browser push notifications.

ATO fraud has increased significantly, with a 21% rise from H1 2024 to H1 2025. To protect against these scams, users are advised to bookmark login pages, use official apps, and be cautious with personal information. Amazon emphasizes it will never ask for payment information over the phone or via email.