BBB Warns: Watch Out for These Online Shopping Scams Before Amazon Prime Day

Amazon Prime Day is a major shopping event that draws millions of bargain hunters. But the same surge of deals also attracts scammers looking to take advantage of rushed, distracted shoppers. This week, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) issued a warning about the types of fraud that tend to spike in the lead-up to Prime Day. Here’s what you need to know to keep your money and personal information safe.

What Happened

On June 22, 2026, the BBB published a consumer alert reminding shoppers that criminals ramp up fake online stores, phishing emails, and social media ads during high-volume sale periods like Prime Day. The warning is not tied to any specific breach or new scam technique, but rather to a recurring pattern that enforcement agencies and consumer groups have observed for years. According to the BBB, reports of shopping scams typically rise by 20–30% around major retail events.

Why It Matters

When you’re hunting for limited-time deals, it’s easy to click a link that looks legitimate but isn’t. Scammers rely on urgency and excitement to bypass your usual caution. The consequences can range from losing a few dollars on an item that never arrives to having your credit card details stolen or your identity compromised. Since Prime Day also encourages shoppers to browse unfamiliar third-party sellers, the risk is higher than during routine online shopping.

What Readers Can Do

Here are the most common scams the BBB highlights, along with practical steps to avoid them.

1. Fake websites impersonating Amazon or other retailers.
Scammers register domain names that look like Amazon (e.g., amazon-deals-2026 dot com or something similar). They may even copy Amazon’s layout. Before you enter payment information, check the URL carefully. Look for the padlock icon and ensure the domain ends with “.com” or the retailer’s official extension. If the site uses a weird suffix like “.shop” or “.top,” proceed with caution.

2. Phishing emails and texts claiming exclusive deals.
You might get an email that looks like it’s from Amazon, urging you to “claim your Prime Day offer” by clicking a link. Real promotional emails from Amazon do not ask you to verify your account or provide extra payment details. Hover over the sender’s address—if it’s a jumble of letters or a free email provider (Gmail, Yahoo), it’s a scam. Never click a link in an unsolicited message. Instead, type “amazon.com” directly into your browser.

3. Social media ads for counterfeit or nonexistent products.
Flashy ads on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok can lead to stores that take your money and ship cheap knockoffs or nothing at all. The BBB advises checking a seller’s reputation through its own BBB Scam Tracker or at BBB.org before buying. If the deal seems too good to be true for a popular item, it almost always is.

4. Unusual payment requests.
Legitimate online retailers accept credit cards, debit cards, or services like PayPal. If a seller asks you to pay via wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a peer-to-peer app like Zelle or Cash App, walk away. Those methods offer little to no fraud protection.

General protections that work:

  • Use a credit card for online purchases. Credit cards often provide better fraud protection than debit cards.
  • Keep your browser and device updated.
  • Review bank and credit card statements regularly during Prime Day and for a week afterward.
  • Enable two-factor authentication on your Amazon account and your email account.

If you think you’ve been scammed:

Act quickly. Contact your bank or credit card issuer to dispute the charge. Report the scam to the BBB at BBB.org/ScamTracker, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and if you gave away login credentials, change your passwords immediately. The faster you act, the better chance you have of recovering your money.

Sources

  • BBB consumer alert, June 22, 2026, as reported by WBKO.
  • Federal Trade Commission, “How to Report Fraud.”
  • Amazon Prime Day fraud statistics from previous years (BBB and FTC archives).