Prime Day is here — here’s how to spot scams before they catch you
Amazon Prime Day 2026 has officially launched, with major sales events running across multiple retailers. But alongside the genuine bargains, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued a fresh warning: online shopping scams spike sharply during these high-traffic periods. This guide explains what’s happening, why it matters, and how you can avoid becoming a statistic.
What happened
On June 22, 2026, the BBB published an alert detailing an uptick in fraudulent activity tied to Prime Day and concurrent sales from other large retailers. According to the bureau, scammers are deploying a mix of old tricks and newer tactics:
- Fake deal websites that closely mimic Amazon, Walmart, or Target landing pages. These sites often use misspelled URLs (e.g., “amaz0n-deals.com”) and offer items at impossibly low prices.
- Phishing emails and texts that appear to come from Amazon or another retailer, urging recipients to “verify your account” or “claim your exclusive Prime Day offer.” These messages contain links that lead to credential-harvesting pages.
- Social media ads promoting steep discounts on hot-ticket items. Many of these ads route to fraudulent checkout pages that collect payment information without delivering any goods.
- Pressure to pay by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency — a major red flag that legitimate retailers almost never request.
The BBB warning is based on reports from consumers and tracking by its Scam Tracker database. Similar patterns have been observed in previous years, but the scale is expected to be larger in 2026 as more shoppers move online.
Why it matters
Sales events like Prime Day create a perfect storm for fraud: high volume, limited-time urgency, and a flood of marketing emails that make phishing attempts harder to spot. According to the BBB, consumers have already reported losses ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars in the first days of the event.
Beyond losing money, victims risk having their credit card numbers, addresses, and other personal data harvested for future fraud. And because these scams often involve counterfeit or nonexistent products, recovering your funds can be difficult — especially if you paid using a method that lacks buyer protection.
The stakes are high, but the good news is that most scams are avoidable with a few straightforward checks.
What readers can do
Here are practical steps to protect yourself while shopping during Prime Day or any major sale:
Stick to known retailers’ official apps or websites. Instead of clicking a link in an email or social media ad, type the retailer’s URL directly into your browser. For Amazon, that’s amazon.com — not “amazon-deals.org” or “prime-day-offer.net.”
Check the URL carefully. Scammers often register domains that look almost correct but swap letters or add extra words. For example, “amaz0n.com” (zero instead of o) or “amazonshop.com”.
Ignore unsolicited messages that ask for personal info. Amazon and other legitimate retailers will never email or text you asking for your password, Social Security number, or payment details. If you receive such a message, report it as phishing and delete it.
Use a credit card, not a debit card or gift card. Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection. If you pay by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency, you effectively have no recourse when the item never arrives.
Verify sellers on third-party marketplaces. If you’re buying from a seller that isn’t Amazon itself, check their ratings, review history, and the BBB’s Business Profile. Be wary of sellers with very few reviews or accounts created just days before the sale.
Enable purchase alerts on your credit card. Most banks allow you to set up text or email notifications for transactions over a certain amount. This can help you catch unauthorized charges early.
If you think you’ve been scammed, act quickly. Contact your bank or card issuer to dispute the charge. File a report with the BBB’s Scam Tracker and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. In cases where personal information was exposed, consider freezing your credit with the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to prevent identity theft.
Sources
- BBB warning issued June 22, 2026, as reported by WBKO: BBB warns of online shopping scams ahead of Amazon Prime Day.
- Additional context on concurrent sales from MSN: Amazon Prime Day 2026 launches alongside major rival sales.
- General scam prevention guidance from the Federal Trade Commission and BBB Scam Tracker.