Amazon is warning its customers to protect themselves from scammers who attempt to impersonate representatives of the online shopping giant.

The tips below will help you identify scams and keep your account and information safe:

Never feel pressured to give information (such as your credit card number or account password) over the phone, especially if the call was unexpected. Scammers may try to use calls, texts, and emails to impersonate Amazon customer service. If you're ever unsure, it's safest to end the call/chat and reach out directly to customer support through the Amazon app or website.

The company says that it will never ask you to provide payment information, including gift cards (or “verification cards”, as some scammers call them) for products or services over the phone.

Always go through the Amazon mobile app or website when seeking customer support or when looking to make changes to your account.

Scammers may try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they're asking. Be wary any time someone tries to convince you that you must act now.

For more information on how to stay safe online, or to report suspicious communications, visit the Amazon Customer Service page, which can be found in the Help section at the bottom of the Amazon home page.