How does the AI determine if a message is a scam?

The AI analyzes the sender information, content, timing, and message metadata against the billions of messages Amazon has sent globally to confirm whether a communication originated from its own systems.

What other options did Amazon offer to fight scams before this AI feature?

Earlier this year, Amazon launched an email address, verify@amazon.com, and an online form on its customer service site that allow anyone to forward suspicious messages for confirmation.

TechCrunch AI8h agoSep 3, 2026, 01:00 JST2 min read

Amazon's Alexa for Shopping now detects scam messages

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Key takeaway

Amazon now lets customers ask Alexa for Shopping if a message is a scam.
The AI checks messages against Amazon's own records to confirm authenticity.
The system improves as users report suspicious messages.

3 Key Points

What happened
Amazon announced on Wednesday that customers can now ask its consumer AI service, Alexa for Shopping, to confirm whether a message claiming to be from Amazon is real or a scam. The AI checks the sender information, content, timing, and message metadata against the billions of messages Amazon has sent globally.
Why it matters
Every year, around 360,000 customers contact Amazon's customer service to ask if a message is genuine. The company said its AI can "definitively" confirm whether a communication originated from its own systems, and it will improve as customers report more suspicious messages, helping it spot scams more effectively in the future.
What to watch
The feature follows earlier efforts this year, such as the verify@amazon.com email address and an online form for the same purpose. Alexa for Shopping is available from both the Amazon website and mobile app, and on Tuesday Amazon also added an Alexa feature for setting alerts on new product or content releases.

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Context & Analysis

This announcement is part of Amazon's broader shift in its Alexa product strategy toward providing proactive shopping assistance. Beyond scam detection, the assistant can now source personalized deals, create shopping guides, help with reordering everyday items, offer AI product overviews, and transcribe handwritten lists. The new scam-fighting capability directly addresses a problem where roughly 360,000 customers a year contact customer service for help verifying messages, including fake order confirmations, account suspension warnings, and package delivery notifications. The system's reported ability to improve with more customer reports suggests its effectiveness will increase over time as it encounters more suspicious messages.

FAQ

How does the AI determine if a message is a scam?: The AI analyzes the sender information, content, timing, and message metadata against the billions of messages Amazon has sent globally to confirm whether a communication originated from its own systems.
What other options did Amazon offer to fight scams before this AI feature?: Earlier this year, Amazon launched an email address, verify@amazon.com, and an online form on its customer service site that allow anyone to forward suspicious messages for confirmation.

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Also reported by The Verge AI

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