Email scam for Airbnb vouchers via Amazon

lunarjan

I have stupidly fallen for a scam, and am trying to claim a refund.On Thursday 22 January 2026 I received an email from an 83 year old friend of mine, asking if I do much online shopping, so I replied that I do. Several emails subsequently arrived, asking if I could buy some Airbnb vouchers via Amazon, as she’d been unable to do that, and couldn't phone  as she had laryngitis. They were for a friends’s daughter who is struggling with cancer.   She asked me to buy 4 x £100 vouchers, then sent an email address for the delivery of the vouchers, and said she reimburse me. At the time I did think that was overly generous of her, but didn’t phone because of the laryngitis. Of course I know now that I should have texted her. I used my debit card as I didn’t want to put £400 on my credit card because that would take it close to its limit for January. At the first attempt my bank, quite rightly, declined the transaction, but sadly I persevered and the vouchers went on their way. This was around 9.30-10pm. Then I sent a screenshot of the transaction to my friend via WhatsApp, whereupon she immediately replied telling me that her email account had been hacked and several of her friends had received the same request, she knew nothing of them.In a panic I phoned my bank who cancelled my debit card, and told me that the money had already left my account, then I contacted  Amazon via live chat, who told me that the vouchers had already been cashed in. It was by now about 11pm.
23/1/26 So I started another live chat With Amazon. I was told someone would be in touch with me within 24 hours, but that response was to decline my claim.29/1;26 This was all very disheartening, but I decided to try again, and phoned Report Fraud, who were very helpful and seemed to think they could do something, also advised me to contact Airbnb and Amazon. However, later the same day I had an email from Report Fraud saying they’ve closed the case as there are “insufficient lines of enquiry”I then emailed Airbnb, but as yet they haven’t replied.29/1/26-another lengthy live chat with Amazon, in which I was told that I’d receive an email with a refund, and was asked to check if it had arrived-it hadn’t-so I sent my email address to ask them to confirm that’s where it had been sent. It still didn’t appear in my inbox (or any spam folders etc) so the chat was kept open for a while, but no email, so I enquired how long it might take to arrive, and was then told 2-3 hours, at which point it seemed sensible to end the chat! 30/1/26. This morning again no email, so I started yet another live chat with Amazon, eventually to be told that yesterday’s promise was wrong and that nothing can be done. I did manage to find out from the assistant that the vouchers had actually been cashed in on the 23rd of January, so in fact when I contacted them late on the 22nd to try to cancel them (failed), then asked if they could be cancelled that should have been possible. The case has now been escalated, whatever that may mean, and apparently I will hear within 48 hours.5/2/26. Still no email from Amazon. Another live chat brought no results, I was again told that the case has been escalated and that I will hear within 24/48 hours. I asked for contact details for the escalation department, but was merely told that I would be contacted via email and not to worry. Was cut off rather abruptly so started another live chat which just went round in circles. Just now an email has arrived, now saying that they do not have access to to the voucher redemption details for Airbnb, having previously told me two different dates for them during the live chats!I have applied to Amazon for all my personal data, hopefully including chat transcripts. (That file has now arrived.)Phone call with Airbnb, who do not have records of voucher redemption, but confirmed that the email address I’d been given for sending the vouchers to is not registered with them.
Does anyone know if there are there any further steps I can take to recover my money?I’d be very grateful for any help with this. I always thought I was quite savvy regarding scammers, but have now revised that opinion!


Sent from my iPad

visidigi

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6655607/email-scam-for-airbnb-vouchers-via-amazon

Unfortunately there is little chance of getting anything back for this - after the bank refused the first attempt that should have been a warning.

Amazon havent done anything wrong, you asked them for vouchers, they produced them. You either put in the email address for them or, worse, you forwarded the codes once you had them.

Unfortuntely, this well defined scam really is catching so many out because there is very little comeback.

Slinky

That confirms my suspicions about an email I received today from someone I hadn't heard from for about 8 years. I ignored it.

Subject was Question

Hi
Lost my volce from laryngitis —  One quick thlng: do you get items online?
Pippa

Emmia

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81887502#Comment_81887502

If I received that email it would have been permanently filed in the bin along with those from Nigerian Princes, women with terminal cancer of the breast (specifically) who want their multi million £$¥€ fortune to be given to specified types of charities (why they are unable to do this themselves whilst they're alive or have a will drafted to do this is a mystery). I've received 8 of those today alone.

OP the golden rule if you get one of these purporting to be from a friend, and you want to check you should contact them by phone (this will tell you if they really do have laryngitis), but otherwise they're very obviously scams.

I hope you're able to get your money back, but please be ultra suspicious about anything like this.

flaneurs_lobster

The other warning here is to make sure that your email account (especially) is secured with a decent, preferably long, preferably complicated password (or passkey) and that 2FA is enabled if available.

The few times I've had these "do you shop online?" emails they've been from the accounts of friends/acquaintances who didn't really see the need to set passwords on their email accounts other than "password123" that they used for every online account that they had "otherwise they'd just forget them".

Maybe the next time a less-savvy pal asks for a bit of tech help, ask about their email security?