Be careful! Don’t get scammed about Amazon Prime refunds

Earlier this yr, the USA Federal Commerce Fee dominated that Amazon had engaged in misleading practices regarding its Amazon Prime subscriptions—folks have been enrolled unintentionally, and so they additionally couldn’t simply unsubscribe. As a part of the settlement, Amazon agreed to challenge refunds to United States Amazon Prime members who meet sure standards.

That half is nice information for customers. Much less nice are the scammers that can use this chance to steal cash from you.

Forewarned is forearmed, so right here’s what you should know concerning the settlement—who qualifies, how a lot to count on, the way it’ll be disbursed, vital dates, attainable rip-off methods, and extra.

Who qualifies for the Amazon Prime settlement refund

Prospects who qualify fall into two completely different camps: Those that will robotically obtain a refund, and people who qualify for a refund after submitting a declare.

Notification of automated refunds started on November 12, 2025 and can proceed via December 24, 2025.

Claims will be filed starting December 24, 2025 through the Amazon Prime settlement web site. These eligible for a refund primarily based on the claims standards will obtain notification of their standing by January 23, 2026.

You’ll obtain an automated refund when you meet the entire following standards:

• You signed up for Amazon Prime between June 23, 2019 and June 23, 2025
• You signed up for Amazon Prime via a “challenged enrollment stream” (outlined as “the common Prime determination web page, delivery choice web page, single web page checkout, or the Prime Video enrollment stream”)
• You used not more than three Amazon Prime advantages in a 12-month interval (EX: Prime Video, Prime Music, and so forth)

You’re eligible to file a declare for a refund when you meet the entire following standards:

• You signed up for Amazon Prime between June 23, 2019 and June 23, 2025
• You by accident enrolled via a “challenged enrollment stream” or tried to cancel via the web cancellation stream, however couldn’t accomplish that
• You used greater than three, however lower than 10 Amazon Prime advantages in a 12-month interval between June 23, 2019 and June 23, 2025 (EX: Prime Video, Prime Music, and so forth)

For full particulars on the settlement and its phrases, head to the official settlement web site.

What if I’m undecided I qualify for a refund?

The official settlement web site’s Often Requested Questions explains problem enrollment flows in barely extra element, however extra importantly, it additionally confirms that you just don’t have to determine for your self when you used a problem enrollment stream or not.

So, if you understand you fall throughout the required dates however aren’t certain when you qualify to file a declare, file one anyway. The worst that can occur is you’ll be denied eligibility.

Whereas the FTC has printed details about the refund, the settlement distribution is being dealt with by Amazon.

An organization required to pay a settlement will sometimes contract an administrator to deal with the claims and disbursement. Accordingly, communication ought to come from the official settlement web site or Amazon straight.

To keep away from scammers, double-check any communication concerning the refund—with AI instruments, it’s a lot simpler now for fraudsters to create polished, clear messages that sound official. Carefully look at web site addresses (URLs) earlier than clicking on hyperlinks.

How refunds will likely be paid to eligible U.S. customers

Those that qualify for an automated refund will obtain an electronic mail from Amazon between November 12, 2025 and December 24, 2025. This electronic mail will ask you to offer your PayPal or Venmo info for receiving the refund.

Earlier than clicking any hyperlinks, confirm the e-mail got here from Amazon or the official settlement web site straight. 

You have got 15 days to simply accept this digital cost. For those who miss this window, will probably be canceled and a test will robotically be despatched to the handle on file to your Amazon Prime account.

The FTC recommends cashing refund checks inside 60 days of receipt.

How huge is the Amazon Prime settlement refund?

Qualifying Amazon Prime subscribers are eligible to obtain as much as $51. The precise quantity varies primarily based in your scenario.

For instance, when you acquired any earlier refunds or credit (or carried out a chargeback via your bank card firm), that will likely be deducted out of your eligible quantity. 

The overall quantity paid might have been decrease than $51 as properly, like when you solely paid a small (and even nominal) quantity for an Amazon Prime trial.

What are the indicators of an Amazon Prime refund rip-off?

Scams have gotten extra refined over the previous yr, which makes recognizing them tougher. However armed with all the data above, you may nonetheless search for clues that can give them away.

• The message doesn’t come via electronic mail.
• The sender of the e-mail will not be Amazon or the official settlement web site. (Verify the e-mail handle’s area and in contrast towards the official URLs.)
• The hyperlink within the electronic mail doesn’t direct you to a web page on Amazon or the official settlement web site.
• The message asks you for cash. (For instance, you have to first repay an overdue steadiness to your Amazon Prime subscription, or you need to first renew prematurely for the approaching yr, and so forth.) You’re getting a refund—you shouldn’t should pay something!
• The sender of the message claims to be from the FTC or one other U.S. authorities company.
• The message asks you for private particulars (title, handle, telephone quantity, cost data, and so forth) not essential to ship a PayPal or Venmo cost.
• You go to an internet web page to fill out a declare, however the URL doesn’t match the one for the official settlement website.
• Somebody contacts you claiming they can assist you obtain an even bigger refund.

This checklist doesn’t cowl each situation, simply the most certainly ones. Principally, if the information you obtain or the request you get sounds a little bit off—or on the flip aspect, too good to be true—proceed with warning.