My Account has been Compromised for More Than Three Weeks, and Amazon Still Won’t Remove the Hacker—I Don’t Know What Else to Do After My Post Was Removed from r/Amazon

Title: A Cautionary Tale: Dealing with Amazon Account Hacking and Brushing Scams

In today’s digital age, the security of our online accounts has never been more paramount. Unfortunately, I learned this lesson the hard way when I discovered that my Amazon account had been compromised for over three weeks. Despite my numerous attempts to rectify the situation, I find myself in a frustrating and alarming predicament.

It all started when I noticed unfamiliar purchases appearing on my account—items being ordered, unexpected shipping addresses added, and unknown debit and credit cards linked to my profile. Initially, I suspected that I was a victim of a brushing scam—where third parties send unsolicited products to boost their sales figures. However, the lack of clarity surrounding this situation only added to my concern.

Despite making more than five calls to Amazon’s customer support and having my account temporarily locked not once, but twice, the issues persist. I’ve taken every precaution I could think of—changing my password over ten times, enabling two-factor authentication for both my Amazon account and the associated email, and deauthorizing all other devices connected to my account. Yet, the unauthorized activity continues.

Amazon claims that they have “sanitized” my account, yet I see no tangible changes. My frustration mounts as I find myself questioning the effectiveness of their security measures. I am reluctant to close my Amazon account altogether; I have years of order history stored there and valuable perks accrued from my children’s baby registries.

For anyone else facing a similar issue, here are some steps you may want to consider:

Change Your Passwords Regularly: Frequent password changes can limit the hacker’s access if they haven’t already extracted your personal information.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication: This is an essential tool for adding an extra layer of security to your account.
Monitor Account Activity: Regularly check your account for unauthorized transactions and addresses linked to your account.
Contact Customer Service Persistently: Don’t hesitate to follow up until your issue is resolved. Document each conversation for future reference.
Consider Escalating the Issue: If customer service isn’t helping, request to speak with a supervisor or ask for further escalation in order to resolve the issue.
Stay Informed: Keep yourself updated on potential scams and security threats that could affect your online presence.