Caller Said They Won an Amazon Gift, User Says — Then an Empty Package Showed Up

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A Reddit user said a strange phone call about an Amazon gift became even more suspicious after an empty package arrived at their home.

The user shared the situation in a post on r/Scams, explaining that they had been contacted by someone claiming they had won something connected to Amazon. The call itself already sounded suspicious, but the situation took a stranger turn when a package later showed up.

According to the post, the package was empty.

That detail made the whole thing feel harder to understand. A fake prize call is common enough. Scammers often claim someone has won a gift card, reward, sweepstakes prize, or expensive item, then use that supposed prize to get personal information, payment details, shipping details, or access to an account. But an empty package arriving afterward added a physical piece to the scam.

That can make the target second-guess themselves. A phone call alone can be dismissed as spam. A package on the doorstep makes the situation feel more real, even if the box contains nothing. It can make a person wonder whether someone created an account in their name, tested their address, used their information in a brushing scam, or tried to build a fake delivery record.

The user wanted to know if this was a new scam and what might be happening. The package did not appear to be a useful gift, and the phone call did not sound legitimate. But together, they suggested someone may have been using the user’s information or trying to make the scam seem more believable.

That is what makes these situations so frustrating. The target may not lose money immediately, but they still end up with questions. Who sent it? Why was it empty? Did someone use my name or address? Is this tied to a fake review scheme? Is another package coming? Should I report it to Amazon? Should I worry about identity theft?

The Amazon name also adds weight because so many people order from the company. A caller claiming to be connected to Amazon may catch someone off guard because Amazon deliveries are normal. A person may think, “Maybe I did enter something,” or “Maybe this is tied to an order I forgot about.” Scammers rely on that familiarity.

The empty package could also be part of a brushing-style scheme, where sellers or scammers send items to real addresses to create fake verified transactions. Sometimes the item is cheap or random. Sometimes the package may be empty or nearly empty. The recipient may not be charged, but their name and address may still be used without permission.

The post did not describe the user giving away money or handing over personal information. It described the unsettling moment after something weird reaches the doorstep and makes a person wonder what else is going on behind the scenes.

That is often how scam concerns start. Not with a massive theft, but with one odd call, one strange package, and enough uncertainty to make someone ask whether their information is being used.

Commenters treated the situation as suspicious and warned the user not to interact further with anyone claiming they had won an Amazon gift.

Several people said legitimate companies do not usually call out of nowhere to announce prizes in a way that requires the target to provide personal information, pay fees, buy gift cards, or verify accounts through links. If a caller asks for anything beyond basic awareness, commenters said that is a red flag.

Others focused on the package itself. They suggested saving the label, tracking number, return address, and any paperwork inside the box. Even an empty package can carry useful information, especially if the user needs to report it to Amazon, the carrier, or a fraud-reporting agency.

Some commenters said the user should check their Amazon account and financial accounts for unfamiliar orders, saved addresses, new payment methods, or strange activity. If the empty package was tied to an account, there may be an order history or email confirmation somewhere. If nothing appeared, it could still be a brushing-related shipment or an attempt to validate the address.

There was also advice not to scan QR codes, visit links, call numbers printed on suspicious inserts, or respond to follow-up messages about the package. Scams often come in layers. The first contact gets curiosity. The second step asks for information.

A few commenters said the user could contact Amazon directly through the official website or app, not through any phone number provided by the caller or package. That would let them ask whether the tracking number was connected to a real order without trusting the scammer’s contact details.

The post did not end with a confirmed explanation for the empty box. It ended with the user trying to make sense of a call-and-package combination that felt too odd to ignore.

Commenters did not tell the user to panic. They told them to treat the call as suspicious, avoid engaging, save the packaging, and check accounts for signs that their information had been used.

Because when someone claims you won an Amazon gift and an empty package shows up afterward, the box may not be the prize. It may be the bait.