Don’t Get Scammed This Prime Day: BBB’s Top Warnings for Online Shoppers

Amazon Prime Day is one of the biggest shopping events of the year, and scammers know it. With millions of shoppers hunting for deals, fraudsters ramp up fake websites, phishing emails, and social media ads designed to steal money and personal information. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued a fresh warning ahead of this year’s event, advising consumers to stay alert.

If you plan to shop during Prime Day — or any major sales event — knowing what to look for can save you from losing your hard‑earned cash.

What Happened

In late June 2026, the BBB put out a warning about a surge in online shopping scams timed to coincide with Amazon Prime Day. According to the organization, criminals are using several familiar techniques, but the volume peaks during high‑traffic sales events.

The most common scams include:

  • Fake websites that mimic Amazon or other major retailers. These sites often use similar logos, color schemes, and domain names with slight misspellings (e.g., “amaz0n‑deal.com”).
  • Phishing emails that appear to come from Amazon or a payment service, offering “exclusive” deals or asking you to confirm account details.
  • Social media ads pushing unbeatable discounts on popular items like electronics, shoes, or home goods. Many of these ads lead to counterfeit goods or no product at all.

The BBB’s warning is based on reports from consumers and its own monitoring of scam patterns. Similar warnings have been issued in previous years, but the threat remains.

Why It Matters

Online shopping scams are not just annoying — they can cause real financial harm. Victims often lose the money they paid for items that never arrive, and they may also have their credit card numbers, home addresses, and passwords stolen. In some cases, scammers use that information to commit identity theft.

Prime Day is especially risky because it compresses a huge amount of spending into a short period. Shoppers are in a hurry, deals are time‑sensitive, and the normal skepticism people might apply to a random online store is often suspended. Scammers exploit that urgency.

The BBB’s warning is a reminder that no matter how good a deal looks, it is worth verifying before clicking “buy.”

What Readers Can Do

You don’t need to be a security expert to protect yourself. A few straightforward habits can cut the risk significantly.

Shop directly on the retailer’s website or app. Instead of following a link from an email or social media post, type Amazon.com (or the retailer’s official URL) into your browser. Bookmark it if you shop there often. That simple step avoids many fake sites.

Pay with a credit card. Credit cards usually offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards or payment apps. If the purchase never arrives or is counterfeit, you can dispute the charge. Avoid wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency for online shopping — scammers often request these because they are nearly impossible to reverse.

Check seller ratings and reviews. On Amazon or any marketplace, look at the seller’s history. Be wary of sellers with very few ratings, all five‑star reviews that sound generic, or a recent flood of complaints. If a deal is being offered by an unknown third party, research it separately.

Watch for red flags in emails and ads. Poor grammar, mismatched URLs, and unrealistic discounts are classic signs of a scam. Legitimate companies rarely send emails with urgent countdown timers and a single “Claim Your Deal” button. If an email looks suspicious, do not click any links — go to the official website directly.

Enable two‑factor authentication on your accounts. This adds an extra layer of security so that even if a thief gets your password, they cannot log in without a code sent to your phone.

If you are scammed, act quickly. Contact your bank or credit card issuer to freeze the card and dispute the charge. Change passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised. Report the scam to the BBB’s Scam Tracker and to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Sources

  • BBB warns of online shopping scams ahead of Amazon Prime Day – WBKO (June 2026)
    Read the report