Amazon Prime Day Scams Are Surging: How to Shop Safely
Amazon Prime Day is the biggest online sales event of the summer, and scammers know it. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued a warning that fraudulent websites, phishing emails, and too-good-to-be-true deals are already circulating, targeting shoppers who are looking for discounts. If you plan to buy anything during the sale, a few precautions can keep your money and personal information safe.
What happened
The BBB’s warning, picked up by outlets including WBKO, highlights a seasonal surge in scams that mimic legitimate online retailers. During Prime Day, crooks set up fake sites that look nearly identical to Amazon’s checkout page. They send emails and text messages that appear to be order confirmations or account alerts, hoping you’ll click a link and enter your login credentials or payment details. Social media ads offering steep discounts on popular electronics, clothing, or home goods are another common entry point. The deals are often for products that either never arrive or turn out to be counterfeit.
The problem isn’t limited to Amazon itself. Many scammers impersonate smaller vendors that sell through Amazon’s marketplace, or they create standalone fake storefronts with names like “AMZN-DEALS” to confuse shoppers. The BBB notes that these operations tend to ramp up a week or two before the official sale dates and continue for days afterward.
Why it matters
Online shopping scams are financially damaging and surprisingly common. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing more than $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022, with online shopping scams among the top categories. During major sales events, people are in a hurry and more willing to overlook red flags. A too-good-to-be-true price on a laptop or a limited-time countdown can override caution.
Beyond the immediate loss, falling for a phishing email can give scammers access to your Amazon account, saved payment methods, and even linked bank accounts. Once they have that information, they can make unauthorized purchases or sell your data to other criminals. The BBB warning is timely because even savvy shoppers can get caught off guard when they’re juggling multiple tabs and deals.
What readers can do
You don’t need to be a security expert to shop safely during Prime Day. Here’s a practical checklist:
Check the URL before you click. Scammers often use addresses like “amzon-deals.com” or “amaz0n-prime.net.” If the domain doesn’t match the official Amazon.com (or the retailer’s actual site), don’t enter any information.
Don’t click links in unsolicited emails or texts. If you get a message about an order you didn’t place, or a “limited-time deal” from an unknown sender, go directly to Amazon’s website or app instead of clicking the link.
Use a credit card, not a debit card. Credit cards offer better fraud protection. If a charge turns out to be fraudulent, you’re typically not liable, and the dispute process is more straightforward.
Look for trust signals, but don’t rely on them blindly. Real trust seals (VeriSign, McAfee Secure) are clickable and lead to a verification page. Fake websites often paste images of these seals that don’t link anywhere.
Research the seller. On Amazon, click the seller name to see their ratings, return policy, and how long they’ve been active. Be wary of sellers with few reviews or a recent start date.
Avoid public Wi-Fi when making purchases. If you’re shopping on your phone at a coffee shop, use mobile data or a VPN. Public networks are easy for scammers to intercept.
Enable purchase alerts. Most credit cards and banks let you set up text or email notifications for transactions over a certain amount. This gives you a near-instant warning if someone uses your card without permission.
Keep records. Save order confirmation emails, receipt screenshots, and tracking numbers. If something goes wrong, you’ll need them to dispute a charge or file a report.
What to do if you’ve been scammed
If you realize you entered your credit card info on a fake site, or you never received a paid order, act quickly:
- Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately. Ask them to reverse the charge and issue a new card number if yours was compromised.
- Change your Amazon password and enable two-factor authentication. Also change any other accounts that use the same password.
- Report the scam to the Better Business Bureau at BBB.org/ScamTracker. This helps them warn others.
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- If the scam involved a fake website, report it to Google Safe Browsing and Amazon’s fraud team.
For larger losses, consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file through one of the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). This makes it harder for scammers to open new accounts in your name.
Prime Day is a great time to snag real deals, but the best deal is the one that arrives as promised and leaves your bank account intact. A few minutes of caution can save you hours of frustration later.
Sources: Better Business Bureau, WBKO news report (June 2026), Federal Trade Commission fraud data.