Amazon Prime Day Scams Are on the Rise: How to Shop Safely (BBB Warning)
Prime Day deals can be tempting, but scammers know that too. Just ahead of Amazon’s flagship sales event—this year scheduled for mid-July—the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued a warning about a surge in online shopping scams. These frauds are designed to steal both your money and your personal information. Here’s what you need to know and how to shop safely.
What the BBB Warning Says
On June 22, 2026, the BBB released an alert noting that fake websites, phishing emails, and social media ads claiming to offer early or exclusive Prime Day deals are circulating widely. The scams often mimic official Amazon pages, using lookalike domain names (e.g., “amzon-deals.com” or “amaz0n-prime-day.com”) to trick shoppers into entering their login credentials or credit card numbers.
The BBB also warned about unsolicited emails that promise early access to sales in exchange for clicking a link or providing personal details. In many cases, these lead to fraudulent sites or download malware onto your device. Counterfeit goods—especially electronics, clothing, and luxury items—are another common problem, with scammers advertising steep discounts on products that never arrive or turn out to be low-quality fakes.
Why This Matters for Shoppers
High-traffic shopping periods like Prime Day create a perfect environment for scammers. People are actively looking for deals, often in a hurry, which makes them more likely to click without thinking. According to the BBB, online shopping scams were among the top riskiest scams in recent years, with median losses in the hundreds of dollars per victim. Beyond the financial hit, handing over your email address, password, or credit card number can lead to identity theft or further fraud.
The timing of the warning is deliberate: scammers ramp up their efforts days before the event, sending fake “early access” offers and setting up fraudulent storefronts that look legitimate at first glance. Because these operations are often short-lived, they can disappear before shoppers realize they’ve been duped.
How to Protect Yourself
The BBB recommends several practical steps to avoid falling for these scams:
Check the URL carefully. Before entering any payment information, verify that you’re on the real Amazon site (amazon.com) or the retailer’s official domain. Look for misspellings, extra words, or unusual top-level domains like .shop or .xyz.
Use a credit card for purchases. Credit cards offer better fraud protection than debit cards or payment apps. If a charge turns out to be fraudulent, you can dispute it with your card issuer. Some cards also offer purchase protection for items that never arrive.
Be skeptical of unsolicited offers. If you receive an email or text message claiming to give you early Prime Day access, don’t click the link. Instead, go directly to Amazon’s website or app. Legitimate promotions won’t require you to provide sensitive information via email.
Read seller reviews and ratings. On Amazon, check the seller’s history and recent feedback. If a third-party seller has only a few reviews or mostly negative ones, proceed with caution. Scammers often create new accounts that appear legitimate at first.
Keep records of your purchases. Save order confirmation emails, screenshots of product pages and prices, and any correspondence with sellers. This documentation can be crucial if you need to file a dispute or report a scam.
Use secure payment methods. Avoid wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency for purchases—scammers almost always request these because they are nearly impossible to trace.
What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed
If you suspect you’ve fallen victim to a shopping scam, act quickly:
- Contact your bank or credit card issuer to report the fraudulent charge and request a chargeback.
- Change your passwords for Amazon and any other accounts where you used the same credentials. Enable two-factor authentication where possible.
- Report the scam to the BBB via their Scam Tracker (bbb.org/scamtracker). This helps warn others and may assist law enforcement.
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC shares data with other agencies to identify patterns and track down scammers.
- If you provided personal information like your Social Security number or driver’s license, consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with the major credit bureaus.
The Bottom Line
Prime Day can be a great time to save on things you need, but it’s also a peak period for scammers. By sticking to official websites, using credit cards, and being cautious with unsolicited messages, you can reduce your risk. The BBB’s warning is a good reminder: take a few extra seconds to verify before you click “buy.”
Sources
- Better Business Bureau, “BBB Warns of Online Shopping Scams Ahead of Amazon Prime Day,” June 22, 2026 (via WBKO)
- Federal Trade Commission, “How to Avoid Online Shopping Scams”
- BBB Scam Tracker, common fraud trends for 2026