DANDENONG, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 05: The Amazon website is seen on December 5, 2017 in Dandenong, Australia. Amazon has ended months of speculation by launching its local website overnight. The online retail giant has started taking orders and shipping products from its 'fulfilment centre' in Dandenong South, offering massive discounts on millions of items across more than 20 categories including electronics, toys, clothing, beauty and accessories.
In a strange turn of events, Amazon has left hundreds of consumers confused and concerned after sending them email confirmations for gift card purchases they never made.
The irony? These erroneous emails included a strong warning about gift card scams.
The emails contained a paragraph stating, "There are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards from well-known brands."
Amazon Customers Alarmed by Scam Warning Email
BleepingComputer tells us that over the weekend, customers across the Amazon platform reported receiving multiple emails, both Saturday night and Sunday morning, thanking them for purchases of Google Play, Mastercard, and Hotels.com gift cards. But they did not make any such purchases.
"I just randomly received 3 gift card emails in a row (within a minute) from Amazon, and I am really confused by this," one baffled Amazon customer posted on Reddit.
Countless others echoed this sentiment. Insider tells us that one Reddit user even mentioned receiving the emails just 20 minutes after purchasing unrelated gift cards.
Amazon Responds
Quickly responding to the mounting confusion, Amazon stated that an error in their system was responsible for these out-of-the-blue email confirmations.
In an email to CNBC, an Amazon spokesperson assured customers they did not need further action and apologized for the inconvenience.
While the company acknowledged the issue promptly, it failed to prevent panic among its customers.
CNBC reported that Amazon's customer service representatives were flooded with inquiries about the issue. In one instance, a representative reported receiving three consecutive calls about the email problem.
However, amidst the confusion, some Reddit users claimed that an Amazon representative explained the mishap as "poorly worded emails intended to warn customers about potential scams."
While this might shed some light on the strange situation, it does not entirely alleviate the initial concern generated by the emails.
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In the end, Amazon customers can now rest easy, knowing that their accounts remain secure, and the email scare, while bewildering, was just a minor glitch in the vast online marketplace.
In Other News
Apple has recently altered its approach to customer support on social media platforms. Beginning Oct. 1, the @AppleSupport account on X will no longer provide human technical assistance via direct messages, signaling a change to automated support.
Stay posted here at Tech Times.
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