FIR lodged over hacking of Amazon Prime customer's account
Noida (UP): An FIR was filed over an alleged fraud and hacking of an Amazon customer's account on the e-commerce giant's website, officials said on Friday.
The FIR was lodged at the Sector 20 police station on Thursday after the complainant, a Noida resident, alleged that her Amazon Prime account got hacked and the problem remains unresolved despite assurance from Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, an official statement said.
Noida Police officials said the FIR names as accused "Amazon employees" and a Madhya Pradesh-based man, Omkar, who was found using the complainant's Amazon Prime account.
"The matter has been handed over to the Cyber Cell and an investigation has been launched into the complaint," a local official told PTI.
When contacted, an Amazon India spokesperson said, "We have just been made aware of the matter and are in the process of retrieving the details from the concerned police station to help resolve the customer issue."
Surabhi Aggarwal stated in the FIR that she had purchased a membership of Amazon Prime, a paid subscription to premium services, including video streaming, by the tech giant, in February this year against a payment of Rs 999 which is valid for one year.
However, Aggarwal stated that she started facing issues with her subscription after around six months and was not even able to log into her account, prompting her to contact the customer care support of the company.
She added that she was told by Amazon officials that her registered email-id was changed in June and that the company had informed her about it via email. However, she claimed that she did not receive any such intimation from the company.
"Firstly, I did not change my email address... and secondly, I did not receive any email from Amazon regarding the aforementioned change in my email address," Aggarwal, a Supreme Court lawyer, claimed, adding that she had asked the company to resend the intimation mail they sent her in June but got it only in August.
She alleged that her account was hacked, credentials changed and orders placed, like earphones worth Rs 3,887, and even Amazon Pay activated on the account but the transactions were not carried out by her.
She said she later got a reminder from the company to clear her Amazon Pay Later (an Amazon service to get credit and return in EMIs) payments pending since August 5.
"Immediately upon receiving the Amazon Pay Later repayment reminder on August 8, I wrote a mail to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, narrating the whole incident and also forewarning that if no action is taken by Amazon, I shall be constrained to file an FIR," Aggarwal alleged.
"I again received an Amazon Pay Later repayment reminder mail on August 9 for clearing dues pending since August 5. On August 11, I received a mail from the office of Jeff Bezos, CEO,Amazon stating that my Amazon Account security breach issue has been investigated and resolved. I state that the same is not true. I was never informed of the results of the investigation conducted by Amazon, or my query being resolved as my Amazon account continues to remain suspended and I continue to receive the Amazon Pay Later repayment reminder mails," she alleged.
Aggarwal said she again informed the office of Bezos but has not been contacted by Amazon thereafter, nor received any update or intimation electronically.
"Instead, yet again I have received an Amazon Pay Later repayment reminder mail on August 13," she claimed.
The FIR has been lodged under Indian Penal Code section 420 (cheating) and under provisions of the Information Technology Act, the police said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
