How to Spot Online Shopping Scams Before Amazon Prime Day: BBB Tips

Introduction

With Amazon Prime Day expected to launch in the coming days, shoppers are preparing for deals on electronics, home goods, and other categories. But alongside legitimate discounts, online scams tend to spike during major sales events. The Better Business Bureau has issued a warning about this increased risk, and knowing what to look for can help you avoid losing money or personal information.

What Happened

According to a recent report from WBKO, the BBB is warning consumers about a rise in online shopping scams ahead of Amazon Prime Day 2026. The warning covers several types of fraud that tend to circulate during high-volume shopping periods. These include phishing emails designed to look like official Amazon messages, fake websites that mimic familiar retailers, and social media ads promoting deals that are too good to be true. The BBB also notes an increase in counterfeit goods and identity theft attempts tied to these scams.

The timing makes sense: when millions of people are actively looking for bargains, scammers have a larger pool of potential victims. The BBB’s alert is consistent with previous years’ warnings, and similar advisories have been issued by the Federal Trade Commission in the past.

Why It Matters

Falling for a shopping scam can mean more than just losing the money spent on a fake product. Many of these schemes are designed to capture credit card numbers, banking details, or login credentials. Once scammers have that information, they can make unauthorized purchases or attempt to access other accounts. Even if the financial loss is reimbursed later, the process of disputing charges, replacing cards, and monitoring accounts for fraud is time-consuming and stressful.

Beyond individual harm, these scams undermine trust in online shopping. When fake websites and phishing emails imitate Amazon or other major retailers, it becomes harder for consumers to distinguish the real from the fraudulent. This uncertainty can make people hesitant to take advantage of legitimate deals, which defeats the purpose of a shopping event like Prime Day.

What You Can Do

The following strategies can help reduce your risk. Most are straightforward and take only a few extra seconds.

Check the URL before you click. Scammers often use addresses that look close to the real thing but contain small differences—for example, “arnazon.com” instead of “amazon.com,” or a misspelled store name. If an email or social media post sends you to a site, hover over the link first to see where it actually leads. If the URL seems off, do not click.

Be suspicious of unsolicited messages. If you receive an email or text claiming to be from Amazon with a “limited-time offer” or an “account alert,” do not click any links. Instead, go directly to the retailer’s official website or app and check your account there. The BBB warns that many Prime Day phishing emails include urgent language meant to push you into acting quickly before verifying.

Stick to credit cards when possible. Credit cards generally offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards or payment apps. If a purchase turns out to be fraudulent, you have a better chance of recovering the money. Avoid wire transfers, gift card payments, or other unusual methods that scammers often demand.

Research unfamiliar sellers. When buying from a third-party seller on Amazon or another marketplace, check their ratings and reviews. Look for patterns—lots of generic five-star reviews posted on the same day can be a red flag. If the seller is completely unknown and has very little feedback, proceed with caution.

Enable purchase alerts. Many banks and credit card companies allow you to set up notifications for transactions over a certain amount. This can help you catch unauthorized charges quickly. If you get a notification for a purchase you did not make, report it immediately.

If you are scammed, act fast. Contact your bank or credit card provider to report the fraudulent transaction and request a chargeback. File a report with the BBB’s Scam Tracker and with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Also change the passwords for any accounts that may have been exposed. The faster you respond, the better your chances of limiting the damage.

Sources

  • WBKO, “BBB warns of online shopping scams ahead of Amazon Prime Day,” June 22, 2026.
  • Better Business Bureau, scam alerts and consumer tips.
  • Federal Trade Commission, guidance on online shopping fraud.

The BBB warning is a timely reminder to slow down and double-check before clicking “buy.” A few moments of caution can save a lot of trouble later.