How to Spot Amazon Prime Day Scams: BBB’s Top Warning Signs
Amazon Prime Day brings steep discounts and tight deadlines—and scammers know it. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns of online shopping scams ahead of Amazon Prime Day, pointing to a surge in fake deals, phishing emails, and fraudulent websites targeting bargain hunters. If you plan to shop during the event, knowing how to separate legitimate offers from traps can save you money and personal information.
What Happened
On June 22, 2026, the BBB issued a consumer alert specifically calling out the rise in Prime Day–related scams. According to their report, scammers are creating lookalike websites that mimic Amazon’s checkout pages, sending fake order confirmation emails that trick people into revealing login credentials, and promoting “too good to be true” deals for high-demand electronics and gift cards on social media. These tactics aren’t new, but they intensify around major sales events when shoppers are more likely to act quickly and less likely to double-check a URL.
The BBB’s warning aligns with patterns seen in previous years. The Federal Trade Commission and cybersecurity firms have documented similar spikes during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Prime Day.
Why It Matters
Prime Day is a limited-time event, and that urgency is exactly what scammers exploit. A few seconds of hesitation is all it takes to click a malicious link or enter payment details on a fraudulent site. The consequences go beyond losing the cost of a fake product—victims often have their credit card numbers stolen, their Amazon accounts hijacked, or their devices infected with malware.
Even cautious shoppers can be tripped up by sophisticated phishing emails that look identical to Amazon’s real notifications. The BBB report notes that one common scam sends a message claiming “your order has been delayed” and asks you to click a link to update payment information. The link leads to a site that captures your password and credit card details.
What Readers Can Do
You don’t need to avoid Prime Day altogether. The key is to slow down and verify before you click or buy.
Shop through official channels only. Always open Amazon directly in your browser or through the official app. Do not click links in unsolicited emails, text messages, or social media ads, even if they appear to come from Amazon. If you get an email about an order or a deal, manually go to Amazon.com and check your account or search for the product.
Inspect URLs carefully. Scammers register domain names like “amaz0n-deals.com” or “amzn-prime.net.” Before entering any personal information, look at the address bar. Official Amazon pages use “amazon.com” and have a padlock icon.
Check seller reputations. If you’re buying from a third-party seller on Amazon, look at their ratings and read recent reviews. Be skeptical of sellers with very few reviews or those that list high-demand items at prices far below other sellers. The BBB recommends sticking to sellers with a long history of positive feedback.
Pay with a credit card. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards, gift cards, or peer-to-peer payment apps. If a seller asks you to pay via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or a gift card, that is a red flag.
Watch for phishing attempts. Legitimate Amazon emails will address you by name and will not ask for sensitive information like your password or social security number. Hover over links (without clicking) to see the actual destination URL. When in doubt, delete the email and check your account directly.
What to do if you get scammed. If you provide payment or personal information to a suspicious site, act fast:
- Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately to report the transaction and request a chargeback.
- Change your Amazon password and enable two-factor authentication.
- Report the scam to the BBB’s Scam Tracker and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Monitor your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized charges in the coming weeks.
Sources
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) scam alert, June 22, 2026, as reported by WBKO.
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidance on online shopping scams.
- Previous BBB warnings for Prime Day and Black Friday events.
The BBB warns of online shopping scams ahead of Amazon Prime Day each year, and this season is no different. A few extra seconds of caution can keep your wallet and identity safe.