Avoid These Common Prime Day Scams: A Shoppers’ Safety Guide

With Amazon Prime Day just around the corner, shoppers are getting ready to hunt for deals. But the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has a reminder: scammers are also preparing—and they’re counting on the shopping frenzy to lower your guard. Here’s what you need to know about the most common Prime Day scams and how to keep your money safe.

What happened

The BBB issued a formal warning ahead of Amazon Prime Day 2026, noting that phishing emails, fake websites, and too-good-to-be-true deals tend to spike during major sales events. The warning was covered by local and national outlets, including WBKO and MSN, on June 22 and 23. According to the BBB, scammers create convincing copies of well-known retail pages and send messages that appear to come from Amazon, urging recipients to “verify account details” or “claim a limited-time offer.”

These attacks are not new, but they become far more common when millions of people are shopping online in a short window.

Why it matters

During Prime Day, consumers are moving quickly—clicking links, comparing prices, and entering payment details across multiple sites. That haste is exactly what scammers exploit. A single click on a phony email link can lead to a lookalike login page that steals your Amazon credentials. Worse, some fake sites are designed to collect credit card numbers and shipping addresses, which can be used for identity theft or unauthorized purchases.

The financial impact can be significant. The BBB’s 2025 online shopping scam report noted that people who lost money to purchase scams reported a median loss of $100. But the real cost can extend beyond that single transaction if personal information is compromised.

What readers can do

Below are the three most common Prime Day scams the BBB has highlighted, along with concrete steps to avoid each one.

1. Phishing emails and texts pretending to be Amazon

Fraudsters send messages that look like Amazon order confirmations, account alerts, or prize notifications. The goal is to get you to click a link and enter your login or payment information.

What to do: Never click a link in an unexpected email or text. Go directly to Amazon.com by typing the URL into your browser. Check your account notifications inside your Amazon dashboard, not via a message link.

2. Fake websites and social media ads offering steep discounts

Scammers set up websites that look nearly identical to Amazon, Target, or other retailers. They often use URLs that differ by one letter or a dash (e.g., “amaz0n-deals.com”). Social media ads for “90% off” electronics frequently lead to these counterfeit sites.

What to do: Examine the URL before entering any information. Trusted retailers use familiar domains (amazon.com, bestbuy.com, etc.). If a deal appears on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, verify the seller by looking up the store name plus “scam” or “complaint” before buying. Stick to major retailers’ official apps or websites.

3. Too-good-to-be-true deals on high-demand items

You might see a listing for a new PlayStation or laptop at a price far below market value. These are almost always scams—either the product never arrives, or it’s a counterfeit.

What to do: If the price seems unrealistically low, it probably is. Compare with prices on other legitimate sites. Be especially cautious when buying from third-party sellers you’ve never dealt with. Check seller ratings and reviews, but keep in mind that fake reviews are common.

General safety steps for Prime Day

  • Pay with a credit card or a payment service like PayPal. Credit cards offer better fraud protection than debit cards or peer-to-peer apps like Venmo.
  • Enable two-factor authentication on your Amazon account. This adds an extra layer of security even if your password is stolen.
  • Use a strong, unique password for Amazon. Do not reuse a password from another site.
  • Avoid public Wi-Fi for shopping. If you must use public internet, connect through a VPN to encrypt your data.

What to do if you think you’ve been scammed

Act quickly. If you entered payment information on a fake site, contact your credit card issuer or payment provider immediately to dispute the charge and request a new card. Report the scam to:

  • BBB Scam Tracker (bbb.org/scamtracker)
  • Amazon’s customer service (report suspicious emails via [email protected])
  • The Federal Trade Commission (reportfraud.ftc.gov)

You can also file a police report if you have evidence of identity theft.

Sources

This article draws on the following published reports:

The BBB’s general advice on online shopping scams is available at bbb.org.