Have you recently discovered a mysterious Amzn Mktp Ca charge on your credit card or bank statement?
While there’s a chance that the charge could be legitimate, the bad news is that this charge is likely illegitimate or fraudulent.
Credit card fraud is rising, and younger victims are often the most common targets. Below, I’ll give you a little bit more background on the Amzn Mktp Ca charge, explain how to identify a legitimate Amazon charge, and give you some tips on how to prevent fraudulent Amazon charges in the future.
Is The “Amzn Mktp Ca” Charge Fraudulent?
I have an Amazon Prime membership and use the platform quite frequently. It’s hard to beat the free two-day shipping and Prime member discounts. Plus, Prime Video has a decent selection of streamable content and lets users rent/buy new releases that aren’t available for streaming yet.
When I first heard about the Amzn Mktp Ca charge, I admit I was a bit perplexed.
Personally, I’ve never seen this charge on any of my account statements. Usually, my Amazon purchases or Amazon Prime Video charges appear as:
- Purchase Authorized [insert date] Amazon.ca
- Purchase Authorized [insert date] Amzn.ca
There will usually be a few other numbers inserted in the charge to identify the transaction, as well as the last four digits of the card I used to make the transaction.
I know that each bank and credit card company may have a slightly different way of listing charges, so I can’t say for certain whether the Amzn Mktp Ca charge is 100% illegitimate.
That being said, I did a bit of digging and research on this particular charge. Unfortunately, this charge is commonly associated with fraudulent charges made by illegitimate companies.
These days, credit card scammers are more innovative than ever, and they often disguise their illegitimate charges as legitimate charges by using variations of keywords and well-known brand names.
If you’re quickly glancing through your statement, it can often be challenging to tell a fraudulent charge from a legitimate one.
At this point, it’s a good idea to mention that unrecognized charges from Amazon may very well be legitimate purchases made on your account. Unauthorized users may have just made them.
One of the most common examples of this I’ve seen is when parents let their kids use their smartphones. Ten minutes later, their five-year-old is on the Amazon app taking advantage of the ‘one-click order’ feature.
In the same vein, other adults in your family who you share your account with may have accidentally charged a purchase to your card after forgetting to add their credit card to the account to complete their purchase.
How To Identify Fraudulent Amazon Charges On Your Card
Before you jump to a quick assumption and cancel your cards, I recommend spending a few minutes investigating the charge. If the charge still appears illegitimate, then you’ll want to proceed to cancel the card in question.
Here are some simple ways to identify fraudulent Amazon charges on your card.
Identify The Date & Amount Associated With The Charge
First, review your credit card or bank statement and note the charge amount and the date the charge was initiated. All legitimate Amazon charges should include the purchase date in the description. If there’s no date listed, then it’s almost certainly fraudulent.
Log Into Your Amazon Account To Verify The Charge
After noting the charge’s date and amount, log into your Amazon account and navigate to the recent orders. Scroll through your orders until you find the date listed on your statement. Then, double-check the order amount on your statement to see if it corresponds with any orders you made on that particular day.
If you use Amazon frequently, there’s a chance that you may have simply forgotten the order you made.
Ask Your Family Members If They Used Your Card
If you can’t find any associated purchases on your Amazon account, then your next step should be to ask your immediate family members if they used your card.
There’s always a chance that your spouse, partner, or kids may have simply picked up your card and used it to make a purchase on their personal Amazon accounts without notifying you.
Double-Check Your Prime Video Subscriptions
Lastly, I recommend double-checking your Prime Video subscriptions. If you have a subscription add-on for particular TV networks, these will be charged monthly using your Amazon account’s primary linked card.
If it’s an issue, these secondary subscriptions can be cancelled anytime.
What To Do After Identifying A Fraudulent Charge
If, after going through the steps above, you still believe that a fraudulent company made the charge, then I recommend freezing the card in question and requesting a new one. After that, you can contact your card or bank’s customer support line and explain the fraudulent charge.
In most cases, the bank or your credit card company will be able to refund the amount. After this, they’ll perform a deeper investigation into the case to try and find the culprit.
5 Tips To Prevent Fraudulent “Amzn Mktp Ca” Charges
Whether you’ve had $5 or $500 taken from you, it’s never a pleasant feeling. However, there are some things that you can do to prevent fraudulent or unauthorized Amazon purchases in the future.
1. Use A Secure Password For Amazon
For one, use a secure Amazon password. If you’re like most users, your Amazon account is likely packed full of sensitive information about you, such as:
- Your full name
- Your address
- Your family members’ names
- Your credit/debit card numbers
- Your purchase history
Data thieves can use some of this information later to steal your identity, so it’s imperative that you keep it safe and secure. You should use a password containing upper and lowercase letters, random numbers, and symbols.
2. Change Your Amazon Password Frequently
Creating a great password once isn’t enough. Most cybersecurity professionals recommend changing your passwords at least once every three months. This adds an element of randomness and change to the equation, making it even harder for hackers and thieves to figure out your login credentials.
3. Don’t Allow Others To Access Your Amazon Account
I know that it’s common practice to allow family members to access your Amazon account, but it’s never a good idea. Even if you allow your child to access your Prime Video account to watch a movie, they’ll still have your Amazon account password saved on their phone.
They could lose their phone or accidentally share it with someone less trustworthy. The next thing you know, your child’s friend’s older brother could be using your Amazon credentials to log into your account and make fraudulent purchases.
4. Don’t Save Your Card Information On Amazon
If you really want to be secure, you can avoid storing your card information on Amazon altogether.
While this will make it harder to make purchases on Amazon (as you’ll have to re-enter your card information every time), it ensures that nobody else can make purchases on your account without your consent.
5. Be Careful Where You Use Your Card
This is more of a general card security tip, but it’s just as relevant.
Unfortunately, it’s common for credit/debit card information to be stolen at scam terminals or by dishonest workers who have access to your cards.
Legitimate card terminals may have an overlaid scanner to steal your card data. I’ve even heard of restaurant workers stealing card data when they take your card to pay for the cheque.
Always trust your gut, and avoid using your most valuable cards in unsavoury locations.
Should You Worry About Amzn Mktp Ca Charge?
The Amzn Mktp Ca charge has been associated with fraud and scams in the past, so it’s definitely a red flag worth noting. I recommend double-checking your Amazon account to see if the charge is associated with recent purchases. If not, it’s safe to assume the charge is illegitimate.
In some cases, fraud can get so bad that it may become necessary to switch bank accounts. Keep on reading for a step-by-step guide on how to switch your bank account in Canada!
