How to Spot Online Shopping Scams Before Amazon Prime Day (BBB Warning)

If you are planning to shop during Amazon Prime Day this week, it is worth taking a few minutes to review the latest warning from the Better Business Bureau. Scammers know that major sales events create a sense of urgency, and they use that to trick shoppers into giving up their money or personal information.

The BBB issued its alert on June 22, 2026, cautioning consumers about a rise in online shopping scams tied to Prime Day. While the warning is specific to this event, the same tactics appear year after year during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other seasonal sales.

What Happened

The BBB’s warning highlights two common scam patterns that tend to spike during high-traffic shopping days. The first involves phishing emails that appear to come from Amazon or other major retailers. These messages often include a link to a “limited-time deal” or a notice about a problem with your account. Clicking the link leads to a fake login page designed to steal your credentials.

The second pattern is the creation of fake websites that imitate legitimate online stores. These sites offer steep discounts on popular items—electronics, kitchen appliances, or clothing—but never deliver the products. In some cases, they collect payment information and then disappear.

The BBB also notes that scammers may set up fake social media ads or posts that direct users to these fraudulent sites. Because Prime Day generates a flood of legitimate promotions, it can be easy to mistake a fake ad for a real one.

Why It Matters

Shopping scams are not new, but the volume of attempted fraud increases sharply during events like Prime Day. According to the BBB, consumers lost millions of dollars to online shopping scams in recent years, and the numbers tend to climb during the holiday shopping season. The risk is higher because people are looking for deals, often on their phones, and may not scrutinize a website or email as closely as they normally would.

The practical consequence is straightforward: you could lose money, have your credit card information stolen, or find yourself dealing with identity theft. Even if you catch the scam quickly, recovering funds or securing your accounts takes time and effort.

What Readers Can Do

You do not need to avoid shopping online to stay safe. A few simple precautions can dramatically reduce your risk.

Know the common scams. Phishing emails often contain misspellings, generic greetings like “Dear Customer,” and urgent language: “Act now” or “Your account will be suspended.” Fake websites may have odd domain names (amaz0n-deals.com instead of amazon.com) or lack contact information. If a deal seems too good to be true—a new laptop for 90 percent off—it is almost certainly a scam.

Verify the seller. If you are buying from a third-party seller on Amazon or another marketplace, check their ratings and history. The BBB recommends looking for sellers with a long track record and positive reviews. Be cautious of sellers that just launched or have only a handful of reviews that are all glowing.

Protect your payment information. Use a credit card rather than a debit card or direct bank transfer. Credit cards offer better fraud protection, and you are less likely to lose money if something goes wrong. Avoid wiring money or using gift cards as payment for items from unknown sellers.

Check the website carefully. Before entering payment details, confirm the site uses HTTPS (the padlock icon in the address bar). Look for a physical address and a working customer service phone number. If the site is poorly designed or has broken links, that is a red flag.

Do not click links in unsolicited emails. Instead, go directly to Amazon or the retailer’s website by typing the address yourself. If an email says there is a problem with your account, log in the usual way to check, not through the email link.

What to do if you fall victim. If you believe you have been scammed, contact your credit card company or bank immediately to dispute the charge. Report the scam to the BBB’s Scam Tracker and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Change any passwords you may have entered on a fake site, and monitor your accounts for unauthorized activity.

Sources

• Better Business Bureau warning issued June 22, 2026, as reported by WBKO.
• BBB Scam Tracker (BBB.org/scamtracker).
• Federal Trade Commission consumer advice on online shopping scams.

Prime Day can be a good opportunity to save money, but it also attracts bad actors. A little caution goes a long way.