How to Spot Amazon Prime Day Scams: BBB’s Top Warning Signs
Amazon Prime Day is one of the biggest online shopping events of the year, and scammers know it. The Better Business Bureau has issued a warning ahead of this year’s event, noting that fraudsters are already ramping up efforts to trick shoppers with fake websites, phishing emails, and too-good-to-be-true deals. If you plan to take advantage of Prime Day sales, it helps to know what to look for before you click “buy.”
What Happened
The BBB’s warning, reported by WBKO and applicable to shoppers nationwide, highlights the typical scams that surge during high-volume sales periods. According to the BBB, the most common tactics include:
- Lookalike domains – Scammers register web addresses that are nearly identical to Amazon’s (e.g., “arnazon-deals.com” or “amzon-prime-day.net”). These sites often have the same logo and layout but are designed to steal payment information.
- Phishing emails – Emails that appear to come from Amazon claiming there’s a problem with your account, an exclusive deal, or a limited-time offer. These messages usually contain a link to a fake login page.
- Social media ads with stolen photos – Fraudsters post ads on platforms like Facebook or Instagram featuring product images lifted from legitimate sellers. The prices are heavily discounted, but the item either never arrives or is a counterfeit.
- Counterfeit goods – Even if you do receive a package, it may contain a low-quality imitation of the advertised product.
The warnings are not new, but the scale increases sharply around Prime Day because of the combination of high traffic and the pressure of limited-time offers.
Why It Matters
Online shoppers have become more savvy over the years, but scammers are also getting better at mimicking trusted brands. A fake site can look convincing — down to the SSL padlock icon and polished checkout flow. The difference is often subtle: a misspelled word in the URL, slightly awkward grammar in the email, or a deal that is 80% off when the usual retail price is already low.
The financial risk is obvious, but there is also a privacy risk. Handing over your credit card number and address to a fraudulent site can lead to identity theft or repeated fraud. Because Prime Day is a single event with a lot of hype, many shoppers rush through the buying process and skip the usual caution.
What Readers Can Do
The BBB offers several concrete steps to protect yourself:
- Check the URL carefully. Before you enter any payment information, look at the web address in your browser. Scammers often change one or two letters (for example, using “arnazon” instead of “amazon”). If the domain does not match the official site, do not proceed.
- Verify the seller. If you are buying from a third-party seller on Amazon, check their ratings and review history. The BBB also recommends looking up the seller on bbb.org to see if there have been complaints.
- Avoid deals that seem unreal. A brand-new gaming console for $99 or a luxury watch for $20 is almost certainly a scam. If the price is dramatically lower than what you see elsewhere, treat it as a red flag.
- Use a credit card or a payment service like PayPal. Credit cards offer better fraud protection than debit cards. PayPal and similar services add an extra layer of separation between your bank account and the seller.
- Enable two-factor authentication on your Amazon account. This makes it harder for scammers to access your account even if they get your password.
- Stick to the official Amazon app or a known bookmark. Do not click links in unsolicited emails or social media promos. Type amazon.com directly into your browser or use the official app from the App Store or Google Play.
If you do fall for a scam, act quickly. Contact your bank or credit card issuer to dispute the charge. Then report the scam to the BBB Scam Tracker and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Change your Amazon password and any other accounts that use the same credentials.
Sources
- Better Business Bureau warning as reported by WBKO (June 2026)
- BBB.org – Scam prevention tips
- Federal Trade Commission – Online shopping scams
Prime Day can be a good opportunity to save money, but it also attracts bad actors. A few extra seconds of caution before you pay can save you a lot of trouble later.