Amazon's Alexa can now verify suspicious messages

We have seen plenty of scams borrow Amazon's name, and some of them look convincing enough to make almost anyone hesitate.

Earlier this summer, we showed you a fake Amazon email that claimed there was unusual activity on an account and pushed the recipient to "Sign In to Verify." The message even suggested a document might need to be uploaded. We have also warned about fake Amazon recruiting texts promising hundreds of dollars a day for easy remote work.

The stories change, but scammers keep coming back to Amazon because so many of us use it. A delivery warning or account alert can feel believable when you are already expecting a package.

Now Amazon is giving customers a new way to answer the question we keep asking when these messages arrive: Did Amazon actually send this? The company says about 360,000 customers contact Amazon customer service every year asking whether a message is real. Its latest answer is built into Alexa for Shopping.

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Here is how the new verification tool works, what it can tell you and why you should still keep your guard up when an Amazon message feels suspicious.

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Amazon says U.S. customers can now ask Alexa for Shopping whether an email, text, phone call or other message actually came from Amazon. Alexa for Shopping is Amazon's AI shopping assistant. It helps customers find products, compare items and manage shopping through natural conversation. Prime membership is not required to use Alexa for Shopping, but if you are considering joining, see our guide on how to get a cheap Amazon Prime membership at Cyberguy.com.

Now, you can also use Alexa for Shopping when something suspicious lands on your phone or computer. Instead of trying to judge a message by appearance alone, you can describe it to Alexa for Shopping.

You might ask: "Did Amazon send me a text about a delivery problem yesterday?" Or you could ask whether a Prime membership email came from Amazon. You can even provide details about a phone call from someone claiming to offer an Amazon refund. The verification tool then checks the information you provide against Amazon's own communication records.

When you ask Alexa for Shopping about a suspicious communication, provide details about where it came from and when you received it. You can also tell the assistant what the message said. Amazon then compares those details with its records.

According to the company, its technology looks at information such as the sender and message content. It also considers timing and formatting.

That gives Amazon an advantage over tools that simply search for suspicious wording or potentially dangerous links. Amazon can compare the communication with messages generated through its own systems. The company says it only confirms a message as legitimate when the tool has complete confidence.

The answer depends on what Amazon finds. If Amazon can match the communication to its records, Alexa for Shopping tells you it came from Amazon. It can also provide details about the communication and account security advice.

If the message does not match Amazon's records, the tool tells you that the information provided does not appear to correspond with an official Amazon communication.

At that point, Amazon may advise you to check your orders directly in the app or contact Amazon through its official support channels. You should also avoid clicking links in the suspicious message.

There is another possibility. Alexa may tell you that it cannot verify the communication with certainty. If that happens, Amazon provides additional steps. You can submit more detailed information or use another Amazon verification option.

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Alexa for Shopping is only one of Amazon's verification options. Earlier this year, Amazon launched verify@amazon.com. Anyone worldwide can forward a suspicious message to that email address and receive a response about whether Amazon sent it. You do not need an Amazon account or the Amazon app to use the service.

Amazon also offers a communication verification form through its customer service pages. So, if Alexa for Shopping cannot give you a firm answer, you still have another way to check before taking action.

There is another interesting part of the new feature. When you ask Alexa for Shopping to verify a communication, Amazon says it automatically reports that submission to its customer protection and enforcement team.

Those reports can help Amazon identify developing scam campaigns and bad actors impersonating the company. That means the suspicious text sitting on your phone could potentially help Amazon spot a larger scam targeting other customers.

Amazon scams work because they often start with something completely believable. You ordered something last week, so a delivery problem sounds possible. You have a Prime membership, so an account warning gets your attention. Then the scammer adds pressure.

A fake email may claim your account has been locked. Another message might say someone placed an expensive order using your account. That urgency can push you toward a link before you have time to think.

We saw exactly that pattern in the fake Amazon account email we investigated. The message used Amazon branding and warned that the account had been placed on hold. The safest response remains simple. Do not use the link in the message to investigate the warning. Open Amazon yourself and check your account.

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Amazon's new verification feature gives you another way to check suspicious communications. However, scammers will keep changing their tactics, so these steps can help you stay safer.

Be cautious when a message pressures you to act immediately or threatens consequences if you do not respond. Scammers want you reacting quickly because slowing down gives you more time to spot something suspicious.

If a message claims your account will close or a package requires immediate action, avoid clicking its links. Check your Amazon account through the official app or website instead.

Watch for anyone claiming to represent Amazon who asks you to buy gift cards as payment. Amazon warns that it will never ask you to purchase a gift card to resolve an account problem or make a payment. If someone makes that request, stop communicating with them.

Be especially careful if a caller asks for sensitive account information. Amazon says it will never ask for your password or one-time passcode over the phone. If someone claiming to represent Amazon asks for those details, end the conversation and contact Amazon through an official channel.

Phone scams deserve extra caution because the number on your screen can look convincing. Scammers can spoof caller ID information and make a call appear to come from a familiar company. Seeing "Amazon" on your phone does not prove Amazon is actually calling. If someone unexpectedly calls about a refund or account problem, avoid giving them information. Hang up and check your Amazon account independently.

Phishing messages can expose you to malicious websites and dangerous downloads. That is why I recommend using strong antivirus software on your devices. Strong antivirus software can warn you about known phishing sites and suspicious links. It can also help detect malware if a scammer tricks you into downloading something dangerous. Of course, antivirus software cannot replace good judgment. Avoid clicking links in unexpected Amazon messages whenever possible. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

Amazon also points U.S. consumers toward the Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker at bbb.org/scamtracker. Amazon has partnered with the BBB so consumers can search reports involving suspicious communications. You can search using details such as an email address or phone number. However, a lack of reports does not prove a message is safe. New scams can appear before anyone reports them. When in doubt, verify directly with Amazon.

We have spent a lot of time showing you convincing Amazon scams because they keep arriving in inboxes and on phones. Scammers understand that Amazon feels familiar, which can make an urgent message easier to believe. That is why I think this verification feature has real potential. Instead of staring at an email wondering whether the logo looks right, you can ask Amazon whether the communication lines up with something it actually sent. Still, I would keep one habit above everything else: go around the message. Open Amazon yourself. Check your account from there. If something looks suspicious, use Amazon's official verification tools before you respond. The more ways we have to interrupt a scammer's sense of urgency, the harder it becomes for that scam to work.

Would you trust Alexa to tell you whether an Amazon message is real, or would you still want to verify it another way before taking action? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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