How to Avoid Online Shopping Scams This Prime Day: BBB’s Top Warning
With Amazon Prime Day and competing sales events just around the corner, shoppers are on the lookout for deals. Unfortunately, so are scammers. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued its annual warning, reminding consumers that fraudulent websites, phishing emails, and fake social media ads surge during major shopping events.
Here’s what you need to know about the current threat and how to protect your money and personal information.
What Happened: BBB Issues Warning
In late June 2026, the BBB published a cautionary alert ahead of Amazon Prime Day and the summer sales season. The nonprofit organization noted that scammers often impersonate well-known retailers, send bogus “exclusive deal” emails, and create lookalike websites that are difficult to distinguish from the real ones. The warning was picked up by local news outlets such as WBKO, which reported on the heightened risk for consumers.
The BBB’s alert aligns with patterns observed in previous years: fraud reports spike by as much as 30% during major shopping holidays, and losses often total hundreds of dollars per victim.
Why It Matters
Online shopping scams don’t just waste your time—they can drain your bank account and expose your credit card details to criminals. A common tactic is to send an email that appears to come from Amazon, offering a “limited-time Prime Day discount.” The email contains a link that leads to a fake login page, designed to steal your credentials and payment information.
Other scams include:
- Social media ads promising deep discounts on popular electronics, but the seller disappears after you pay.
- Fake “order confirmation” emails that trick you into calling a fraudulent customer service number.
- Spoofed websites with URLs that differ by one character from the real retailer (e.g., “arnazon.com” vs. “amazon.com”).
Because these scams are engineered to look legitimate, even experienced shoppers can be fooled. Understanding how to verify an offer before clicking or buying is the best defense.
What Readers Can Do
1. Always start from the official app or website
Instead of clicking a link in an email or social post, type the retailer’s address directly into your browser or open their official app. This ensures you land on the authentic site, not a copycat.
2. Check the URL carefully
Look for misspellings, extra words, or unusual top-level domains (e.g., “.shop” or “.xyz” instead of “.com”). Legitimate retailers almost always use “.com,” “.org,” or a well-known country code like “.co.uk.” Also confirm the connection is secure—look for “https://” and a padlock icon in the address bar.
3. Be skeptical of “too good to be true” prices
Scammers lure shoppers with discounts that seem unrealistically large—like a new laptop for 90% off. If a deal feels extreme, cross-check the same item on the retailer’s official site or through a price comparison tool. If it’s significantly cheaper on the ad, assume it’s a scam.
4. Avoid paying with debit cards or wire transfers
Credit cards and reputable payment services (like PayPal or Apple Pay) offer buyer protection that can help you dispute fraudulent charges. Debit cards, gift cards, and bank transfers are much harder to recover if something goes wrong. Never pay with a gift card for an online purchase—legitimate retailers rarely request that.
5. Verify the seller’s identity
If you’re buying from a third-party seller on a marketplace, check their ratings, read recent reviews, and see how long they’ve been active. Scammers often create accounts that look good at first but fail to deliver. You can also search the seller’s name plus “scam” or “BBB” to see if complaints have been filed.
6. Know what to do if you get scammed
Act quickly. Contact your bank or credit card issuer to report the unauthorized charge and request a chargeback. Then file a report with the Better Business Bureau at BBB.org/ScamTracker and with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The more people report, the better the chance of warning others and shutting down fraudulent operations.
Sources
- BBB Warns of Online Shopping Scams Ahead of Amazon Prime Day – WBKO (June 2026)
- Better Business Bureau – BBB.org/ScamTracker
- Federal Trade Commission – ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Stay alert, take a few extra seconds to verify, and you can enjoy the sales without becoming a statistic. Real deals are out there—just make sure they’re actually real.