As the Amazon Great Freedom Sale 2024 approaches, beware of shipping scams

In some cases, the fraud may be committed by a supplier or delivery partner who has your product (File) | Image source: REUTERS

Amazon’s Great Freedom Festival sale, which begins at noon (or midnight for Prime members) on August 6, will encourage Indian users to fill up their digital shopping carts with everything from branded products to common household items to take full advantage of the discounts.

However, large sales events present a prime opportunity for scammers and hackers who will attempt to deceive those who are unsure about online purchases or transactions. In other cases, the scam may be perpetrated by a supplier or delivery partner who has your product. Others may use coupons, trade-in offers, cash on delivery options, or home installation processes.

For example: Mukund P. Unny, a Supreme Court advocate who posts on X as @eminentjurist, claimed that when he bought an Apple iPhone 15 and exchanged his iPhone 13 in late July, the delivery person demanded a second OTP. He then allegedly demanded the product back, saying the exchange had not been finalised and that the phone would be re-delivered. He also received a call from another person asking him to come to an undisclosed location to drop off his old device for exchange, Mr. Unny said. While Amazon was initially uncooperative, it later agreed to refund the money, he shared.

Since customers buy high-value products during sales and offer periods, they should be wary not only of online scams on platforms but also of offline shipping scams. Remember, not everyone who ships your product may be an Amazon employee, so the burden of due diligence often falls on the customer.

One good practice when purchasing high-value items is to record the details of the person delivering and the date/time of delivery, preferably on an official receipt. Make sure the delivery takes place at the designated location; do not agree to meet the delivery partner at a different location.

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For gadgets that require specialist setup or installation (like TVs and fridges), call a trusted professional or use Amazon’s official installation service at the time of ordering. The delivery person is usually not a professional who will set up the product for you, so be wary of a delivery person who insists on coming into your home to deliver the item.

It is recommended that someone else in the home support you when the designated installer or their team comes to install the product. Do not allow the installation team to take your device under the pretext of damage or replacement. In case of a return, only give the product to the designated collection partner sent by Amazon after submitting the request.

Finally, never pay bribes or unspecified fees to get your item delivered. If a delivery person refuses to deliver your item or demands a bribe, file a formal complaint with Amazon. Do not answer phone calls through your delivery partner’s device and never answer random calls from so-called supervisors or invisible customer service representatives, as they may be scammers posing as real Amazon employees. Instead, contact Amazon customer service through the website or app and only speak to their representatives.

With these tips in mind, you can take full advantage of the sales and festivals offered by the e-commerce platform while staying safe.