Medium riskText Message

Amazon Prime Text Scam

This scam sends a text claiming your Amazon Prime membership has auto-renewed or that a payment failed, with a number to call or a link to 'cancel' that is used to harvest your login and card details.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Retailer impersonation scam
Main red flag
A text about a surprise Prime renewal or failed payment urging you to call a number or tap a link to cancel.
What to do first
Do not call the number or tap the link. Check your membership by signing in to Amazon directly through the official app or website.

How this scam works

This scam sends a text claiming your Amazon Prime membership has auto-renewed or that a payment failed, with a number to call or a link to 'cancel' that is used to harvest your login and card details.

Text-message scams, known as "smishing", reach you directly on your phone where a link is only a tap away and messages feel personal and urgent. They impersonate trusted senders, banks, couriers, government, or even people you know, and depend on you acting before you pause to verify.

In short, the giveaway is usually simple: A text about a surprise Prime renewal or failed payment urging you to call a number or tap a link to cancel. Do not call the number or tap the link. Check your membership by signing in to Amazon directly through the official app or website.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the Fake Amazon Order Email and the Fake Subscription Renewal Email. See the full Text Message Scams guides hub, or test a suspicious message with the scam checker.

How to spot this scam

  • A renewal or payment-failed alert arriving by text rather than in your Amazon account
  • A phone number to call to 'cancel' or 'dispute' the charge
  • A link that does not lead to the official amazon domain you normally use
  • An amount designed to alarm you into reacting quickly
  • A request for your Amazon login, card, or one-time code to stop the charge

What the message looks like

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Amazon Prime: Your membership has renewed for $139.00. If you did not authorise this, cancel here: [suspicious link] or call to dispute.'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

What gives it away: A text about a surprise Prime renewal or failed payment urging you to call a number or tap a link to cancel.

The scale of it

$330M
reported lost to text-message scams in the US in 2022, more than double the year before
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
#1
fake bank fraud alerts were the most-reported text scam type in 2022
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

How to protect yourself

  • Do not call the number or tap the link in the message
  • Sign in to Amazon through the official app or website and check your membership and orders
  • Report the text to Amazon through its official reporting channel and to your mobile provider
  • Delete the message and block the sender

Already responded? Do this now

  • Do not enter login or card details on the linked page
  • If you signed in, change your Amazon password from a trusted device and enable two-factor authentication
  • If you gave card details, contact your bank to flag or freeze the card
  • Review your Amazon orders and payment methods for changes you did not make

Mistakes to avoid

  • Do not call the number to 'cancel' the membership
  • Do not read out any one-time code to a person on the phone
  • Do not give remote access to your device to anyone claiming to be Amazon support

Related scams to know

Medium risk Email

Fake Amazon Order Email

This scam emails a fake order confirmation for an expensive item, hoping you click a link or call a number to dispute a charge you never made.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Email

Fake Subscription Renewal Email

This scam emails that a subscription is renewing for a large amount, hoping you call a fake support number or click a link to cancel and hand over details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Email

Fake Netflix Payment Email

This scam warns that your Netflix payment failed and your account is on hold, linking to a fake page that steals your login and card details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Common questions

Does Amazon tell me about renewals by text with a link?
Amazon membership and billing details normally appear inside your account, not in a text with a cancel link or phone number. An unexpected renewal text is a common scam pattern.
I am a Prime member, so could this be real?
Scammers send these messages widely, so some reach real members by chance. Check your membership by signing in to Amazon directly rather than using the message.
Why do they want me to call a number?
On the call they often pose as support and try to talk you through 'cancelling', which is used to collect your login, card, or one-time codes. Genuine cancellation is done in your account settings.
How do I report an Amazon Prime text scam?
You can report it to Amazon through its official scam reporting page, forward it to your mobile provider's spam service, and notify your national anti-fraud centre.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.