How to Avoid Online Shopping Scams This Prime Day

Amazon Prime Day is here, and while that means steep discounts on thousands of items, it also means scammers are working overtime to separate you from your money. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) issued a warning on June 22, 2026, noting a surge in online shopping scams tied to the event. Here’s what you need to know to shop safely.

What happened

On June 22, the BBB warned consumers about an increase in scams during the Prime Day sales period, which runs from June 22–24 this year. The warning, covered by WBKO and several other outlets, highlights three common types of fraud:

  • Fake deals and too-good-to-be-true prices – Scammers set up websites or social media ads advertising huge discounts on popular electronics, clothing, or household items. The product either never arrives or arrives as a cheap knockoff.
  • Phishing emails and texts – Messages pretending to be from Amazon or other retailers ask you to click a link to confirm your order, update payment information, or claim a special offer. The link leads to a fake login page that captures your credentials.
  • Lookalike websites – Fraudsters register domain names that closely resemble Amazon, Walmart, or other retailers. The site looks almost identical, but any purchase you make goes straight to the scammer.

The BBB stated that these tactics are not new but intensify during major shopping events when people are moving quickly and may let their guard down.

Why it matters

Prime Day is one of the busiest online shopping periods of the year. With limited-time deals, countdown timers, and pressure to act fast, scammers rely on urgency to bypass your usual caution. According to the BBB’s 2025 Scam Tracker Risk Report, online purchase scams were the second most common type of fraud reported, and median losses per victim were around $100. While that may not seem huge, the cumulative effect adds up, and in some cases people lose hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Beyond the direct financial loss, falling for a scam can expose your personal information to identity thieves. A fake checkout page can capture your name, address, credit card number, and security code. Once stolen, that data can be sold or used for further fraud.

What readers can do

Here are practical steps to protect yourself, based on the BBB’s recommendations and general online safety practices.

1. Stick to the official app or website. Instead of clicking a link from an email or search result, type the retailer’s URL directly into your browser or open the official app. For Amazon, that means using amazon.com or the Amazon Shopping app. Avoid third-party sites that claim to offer “Amazon deals” but aren’t actually Amazon.

2. Check the URL and sender address carefully. Scammers often use addresses like amazon-prime-deals.com or amzn-support.net. Hover over any link (without clicking) to see where it really goes. In emails, check the “From” field. Genuine Amazon emails come from addresses ending in @amazon.com, not from Gmail or random domains.

3. Be skeptical of deals that seem impossibly good. If a new smartphone is listed for 90% off, it’s almost certainly a scam. Compare prices across legitimate retailers. The BBB also advises watching out for social media ads from unknown sellers—many of these are fraudulent.

4. Use a credit card or a payment service with buyer protection. Credit cards typically offer chargeback rights if you don’t receive what you ordered. Debit cards, wire transfers, and gift cards offer little to no recourse. Never pay a stranger with a gift card or cryptocurrency.

5. Keep your software and antivirus updated. Some scam sites can install malware. Running up-to-date security software adds a layer of protection.

6. If you think you’ve been scammed, act quickly. Contact your bank or credit card issuer to dispute the charge. File a report with the BBB’s Scam Tracker (bbb.org/scamtracker) and with the Federal Trade Commission (reportfraud.ftc.gov). The more people report, the better the data becomes for warning others.

Sources

  • BBB warning reported by WBKO, June 22, 2026: “BBB warns of online shopping scams ahead of Amazon Prime Day” (articles published June 22–23, 2026)
  • BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report, 2025
  • FTC guidance on online shopping scams

Prime Day deals can be real and worthwhile, but the extra traffic also attracts bad actors. By staying cautious and following these simple steps, you can enjoy the sales without becoming a statistic.