Amazon Users Report Receiving Mysterious Gift Card Emails, Sparking Scam Worries Amazon customers were puzzled when they received multiple unexpected gift card purchase confirmation emails for transactions they never made.

By Madeline Garfinkle Edited by Jessica Thomas

Key Takeaways

  • The users raised concerns on social media about potential data breaches and scams.
  • Amazon acknowledged the issue and clarified that it was a system error, not fraudulent activity.

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Over the weekend, Amazon customers reported receiving confusing emails thanking them for purchasing gift cards to Google Play, Mastercard and Hotels.com that they had never bought.

The customers received the emails between Saturday and Sunday and took to social media to see if others had a similar experience.

Amazon's customer service team experienced a surge of inquiries about the issue, CNBC reported, with one agent mentioning that they had received three consecutive questions about it. Because it's common for scammers to disguise compromising links in the form of seemingly legitimate emails, many affected customers were worried their data had been compromised.

"DID ANYONE ELSE GET MULTIPLE AMAZON GIFT CARD EMAILS ? ITS LIKELY A SCAM DONT CLICK IT," one user posted on X on Saturday.

Thankfully, Amazon acknowledged the issue and confirmed it was a system error, not the work of fraudsters.

"An error in our system resulted in an order confirmation email being sent to customers who did not purchase a gift card," an Amazon spokesperson told CNBC. "We are emailing these customers to inform them of the error and apologize for the inconvenience."

An Amazon customer service representative added to the outlet that they are "sorry" to any users who experienced the alarm but that "every account" is "safe," and customers should disregard the messages.

Madeline Garfinkle

News Writer

Madeline Garfinkle is a News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. She is a graduate from Syracuse University, and received an MFA from Columbia University. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Growing a Business

'Boring' Businesses Are Making Millionaires — and You Can Borrow Their Strategies For Success

The silent growth strategy reveals how understated, steady businesses are quietly creating wealth for entrepreneurs in 2025.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Side Hustle

After a 12-Year-Old's Side Hustle Made Over $4,000 in 1 Day, He and His Dad Grew the Business to Nearly $50,000 a Month: 'It Takes Commitment'

Madden Forrest and his father, Steven, turned their passion for football into a lucrative business.

Leadership

How to Harness Your Inner Athlete and Train Your Mind to Reach Peak Professional Performance

It is important to make yourself the primary force driving your growth. Here are several strategies to channel your inner motivator for success.

Business News

Is AI the Reason for Your Layoff? New York Becomes the First State to Require Companies to Disclose If So.

It's the first official statewide move towards understanding AI's effect on the labor market.

Business News

10 Surprising and Inspiring Quotes From Brian Wilson, the Genius Behind The Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds'

The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson died this week at age 82, but his music is still blowing minds.