by The Villages, FL — A Marion County couple says they were scammed out of thousands of dollars after trying to fix a simple problem with their Amazon Alexa device. What they thought was a call to Amazon’s official support line turned out to be a sophisticated scam that cost them nearly $2,500 in fraudulent charges.
How the Scam Happened
The victims, Carol and her husband Stille, told investigators they had been experiencing technical issues with their Alexa device, which controls their home’s fan and lighting system. Hoping for a quick fix, they searched Google for Amazon’s tech support number and called what they believed to be an official line.
Instead, they had unknowingly contacted a scammer posing as a company representative. The individual, who identified himself as “John,” appeared helpful at first and resolved the Alexa problem remotely. However, moments later, the scam took a financial turn.
According to FOX 35 Orlando, the scammer told the couple their credit card had expired and requested a valid one for “account verification.” Once the Stilles provided the information, the caller gained remote access to their devices — leading to several fraudulent transactions.
Victims Speak Out
Carol Stille said the man sounded professional and trustworthy, which made it easier for them to believe he was a legitimate Amazon employee.
“We let him look at it. Then he wanted to look at our television to show us where we could get these free movies that we were entitled to,” Carol recalled in her interview with FOX 35’s Matt Trezza.
Within hours, the couple noticed unauthorized charges appearing on their credit card accounts. They immediately contacted their banks and local authorities to report the fraud.
What We Know So Far
- The scammer used a fake Amazon support number listed on a fraudulent website.
- He gained remote access to the couple’s smart devices and payment details.
- The Stilles lost approximately $2,500 in unauthorized charges.
- The incident has been referred to the FBI for further investigation.
Authorities say the scammer’s identity and location remain unknown, though similar cases have been reported nationwide.
“This type of scam plays on trust and urgency,” said one cybersecurity analyst. “People are quick to fix a problem, and scammers exploit that emotional response.”
Why It Matters
This case highlights the growing threat of tech support scams, which often target older adults and smart home users. Scammers take advantage of consumer confusion about technology and impersonate trusted brands like Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple to steal money and data.
Experts say consumers should never:
- Call tech support numbers found through search engines.
- Give remote access to their computers or devices.
- Provide payment or banking information during unsolicited calls.
- Click links or open attachments from unfamiliar sources.
What’s Next
The FBI’s Cyber Division has taken over the investigation, while Amazon has launched new consumer education initiatives to prevent similar scams. The company urges users to contact support only through official channels listed on Amazon.com.
“Scammers are getting more advanced, but the red flags remain the same — unexpected payment requests, remote access, and urgency,” the FBI warned in its advisory.
The Stilles say they’re now sharing their story to help others avoid falling into the same trap.
What are your thoughts on this growing tech support scam problem? Share your views in the comments below.
