BBB Warns of Online Shopping Scams Ahead of Prime Day: Here’s What to Watch For

Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner, and shoppers are already hunting for deals. But the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued a timely warning: scammers are gearing up with fake offers, phishing emails, and counterfeit websites designed to take advantage of the shopping frenzy.

If you’re planning to shop during Prime Day, knowing the common scams and how to avoid them can save you money—and your personal data. Here’s what you need to know.

What Happened

On June 22, 2026, the BBB published an alert about a surge in online shopping scams targeting Prime Day shoppers. The bureau reports that scammers are sending emails that look like they come from Amazon, complete with logos and urgent subject lines like “Your Prime Day Deal Expires Tonight.” Others set up fake websites that mimic Amazon’s checkout page, hoping to steal credit card numbers and login credentials.

The BBB also noted an increase in social media ads promoting “exclusive Prime Day discounts” that lead to lookalike sites. In many cases, the scammers never ship the product—or they send a cheap counterfeit instead.

This isn’t a new pattern, but the scale spikes during major shopping events. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) logged more than 376,000 reports of online shopping fraud in 2025, with a median loss of $157 per person.

Why It Matters

Prime Day creates a sense of urgency that scammers exploit. When a deal seems too good to be true or appears only for a limited time, people are more likely to click without double-checking. The consequences go beyond a lost purchase: clicking a phishing link can install malware, give away your password, or expose your financial information.

Even if you catch the scam quickly, recovering your money can be a hassle. Many victims have to dispute charges with their bank or credit card company, and some never see a refund.

The stakes are higher than just missing out on a bargain. Once scammers have your details, they can attempt to open accounts in your name or target you with more sophisticated attacks later.

What Readers Can Do

You don’t need to avoid Prime Day entirely—just shop with a few precautions in mind. Here’s a practical checklist:

Shop directly on the official site or app.
Don’t click links in emails, text messages, or social media ads that claim to offer Prime Day deals. Instead, open a new browser tab and type amazon.com yourself. Better yet, use the official Amazon app.

Look for telltale signs of phishing.
Fake emails often have typos, odd sender addresses (like [email protected]), or requests for personal information such as your password or Social Security number. Amazon will never ask for that via email.

Check the website’s URL carefully.
If you’re redirected to a page that looks like Amazon but the address is something like amazon-prime-deals-2026.shop, don’t enter any information. Legitimate Amazon pages always end with .amazon.com or a subdomain of it.

Use a credit card, not a debit card.
Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection. If your card number gets stolen, you can dispute the charge and often get it reversed. Paying with a debit card pulls money directly from your bank account, making recovery more difficult.

Enable two‑factor authentication on your Amazon account.
This adds an extra step when logging in from an unknown device. Even if someone steals your password, they can’t get into your account without the second factor.

Watch for fake order confirmations.
Another common trick is an email claiming that you’ve just bought an expensive item, with a phone number to call if you want to cancel. The person on the other end will try to get your card number or remote access to your computer. If you receive an unexpected confirmation, log into your Amazon account directly to check your order history.

Report scams promptly.
If you spot a suspicious email or website, forward it to Amazon at [email protected]. You can also file a report with the BBB Scam Tracker at bbb.org/scamtracker and with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you gave out financial information, contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately.

Sources

  • Better Business Bureau, “BBB Warns of Online Shopping Scams Ahead of Amazon Prime Day,” June 22, 2026.
  • Federal Trade Commission, “Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2025,” February 2026.
  • Amazon, “Protect Your Account from Phishing,” support page accessed June 2026.