Beware These Online Shopping Scams Before Prime Day — and How to Outsmart Them
Amazon Prime Day has become one of the biggest online shopping events of the year, drawing millions of bargain hunters. Unfortunately, it also draws scammers. Every year, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) issues warnings about the surge in fraudulent activity surrounding sales events like Prime Day, and this year is no different. If you’re planning to shop for deals, it’s worth knowing what to look for before you click “buy.”
What happened
In late June, the BBB released a warning about online shopping scams ahead of Amazon Prime Day. The alert, covered by local news outlets including WBKO, highlighted several common tactics criminals use to exploit the shopping frenzy. The BBB’s annual scam report has consistently shown that online shopping fraud spikes during major sales events. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers lost hundreds of millions of dollars to online shopping scams in recent years, and the numbers continue to climb.
The scams take many forms: fake websites that mimic real retailers, phishing emails promising can’t-miss deals, and fraudulent ads on social media that lead to counterfeit storefronts. Scammers rely on urgency. They want you to act fast before you have time to verify whether the offer is real.
Why it matters
For the average shopper, the difference between a legitimate deal and a scam can be a single click. A fake website might look nearly identical to Amazon’s login page. A phishing email might use Amazon’s logo and official-sounding language. Once you enter your payment information, the damage is done. You may receive a cheap knockoff, nothing at all, or find your credit card details used for unauthorized purchases.
Beyond the immediate financial loss, victims often face weeks of dealing with banks, credit card companies, and fraud alerts. Identity theft is also a risk, especially if scammers gain access to your email or Amazon account.
The BBB’s warning isn’t just noise. It reflects a real and growing problem. The agency’s 2025 scam report noted that online shopping scams were among the riskiest, with a median loss of roughly $100 per incident. During Prime Day, those numbers are likely higher because more people are shopping and letting their guard down.
What readers can do
You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to protect yourself. A few simple habits can make a big difference.
Verify URLs before you buy. Scammers create lookalike domains that differ by a single character—for example, “arnazon.com” instead of “amazon.com.” Always check the address bar. If you’re unsure, type the retailer’s official URL directly rather than clicking a link from an email or ad.
Be skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true. A 70% discount on a popular electronics item might be a lure. Real Prime Day deals are good, but they’re not absurd. If a price seems obviously out of line with market rates, it’s probably a scam.
Ignore unsolicited texts and emails. Phishing messages often claim you’ve won a gift card or that you need to “confirm your Prime account” by clicking a link. Do not click. Amazon and other major retailers do not ask for sensitive information via email or text. If you’re unsure, go directly to the retailer’s website and log into your account.
Watch for social media ads. Scammers set up fake seller accounts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, often with thousands of followers bought in bulk. They post deals with buzzwords like “flash sale” or “limited stock.” Before you buy, check the seller’s history, look for real user reviews, and see if the store has a verifiable physical address or phone number.
Use a credit card, not a debit card. Credit cards offer better fraud protection. If something goes wrong, you can dispute the charge with your card issuer. Debit cards are riskier because the money leaves your bank account immediately.
Check the BBB’s website. Before buying from an unfamiliar merchant, you can look up its BBB rating and read complaint history. It’s not foolproof, but it’s a useful extra step.
What to do if you are scammed. If you realize you’ve fallen for a scam, act quickly. Contact your bank or credit card issuer to freeze the account and dispute the charge. Report the incident to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the BBB through its Scam Tracker. Also change any passwords you used on the fraudulent site. If you gave scammers access to your Amazon account, update your password and enable two-factor authentication.
Sources
The information in this article draws from the BBB’s 2025 scam report (available at bbb.org), FTC data on online shopping fraud, and the BBB’s public warning ahead of Prime Day as reported by WBKO. While the specific data points are current as of this writing, scam trends evolve rapidly. Check the BBB’s website for the latest alerts during the shopping season.