Prime Day Scams Are Everywhere: 9 Tips to Shop Safely

Prime Day is one of the biggest sales events of the year, and scammers know it. Fake deals, phishing texts, and lookalike websites flood the internet in the days leading up to the event. If you’re planning to shop, a few simple precautions can save you money and keep your personal information out of the wrong hands.

PCMag recently published a practical guide with nine essential tips for staying safe during Prime Day and other large sales events. Their advice aligns with what consumer protection experts have been saying for years, but it’s worth revisiting given how sophisticated scams have become.

What happened

On June 11, 2026, PCMag released an article titled “Stay Safe This Prime Day: 9 Crucial Tips to Avoid Online Shopping Scams.” It covers common tactics scammers use during high-traffic shopping periods, including fake deals, phishing emails and texts, and malicious ads. The guide also explains how to verify retailer legitimacy, use secure payment methods, and monitor your accounts after purchase.

Related PCMag pieces from recent weeks highlight the ongoing threat: one covers a hidden phone defense against scam texts that most users haven’t enabled, another warns about viral social media scams, and a third reports on Google suing a cybercrime group behind phishing kits. Taken together, these articles paint a clear picture: online shopping scams are not rare, and they are getting easier to launch.

Why it matters

Sales events like Prime Day create a sense of urgency. Limited-time offers, countdown timers, and deep discounts push people to click first and think second. Scammers exploit this by creating convincing copycat sites, sending texts that appear to come from Amazon or other retailers, and running ads that lead to fraudulent checkout pages.

The Federal Trade Commission has reported that consumers lost billions of dollars to online shopping scams in recent years. Phishing attempts during major sales events spike dramatically. For many people, a single careless click can lead to a compromised Amazon account, stolen credit card details, or identity theft.

What readers can do

PCMag’s nine tips are a solid foundation. Here’s how to apply them in practice:

  1. Check the URL before you click. Look for “https” and a domain name that matches the official retailer. Scammers often use addresses like “amaz0n-deals.top” or “bestbuy-offers.info.” If the URL looks off, don’t enter any information.

  2. Be skeptical of deals that seem too good. If a 4K TV is listed at 90% off from an unknown seller, it’s almost certainly a fake. Stick to well-known retailers for deep discounts. Price check across multiple sites.

  3. Use a credit card or a one-time virtual card number. Credit cards offer better fraud protection than debit cards. Many banks and credit card companies now allow you to generate single-use virtual numbers for online purchases, which limits your exposure if the merchant’s database is breached.

  4. Don’t click links in unsolicited texts or emails. Phishing messages often mimic Amazon’s “suspicious login” alerts or “limited-time deal” notifications. Go directly to the retailer’s website or app instead of clicking the link.

  5. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts. This adds an extra layer of protection even if your password is stolen. Use an authenticator app rather than SMS if possible, since SIM-swapping attacks are on the rise.

  6. Use official apps and websites. Scammers set up fake apps and browser extensions that look legitimate. Download only from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or the retailer’s official website.

  7. Read return policies and seller ratings. On marketplaces like Amazon, check the seller’s rating and review history. Fraudulent sellers often have few reviews or a pattern of complaints about items not arriving. If the return policy is unclear or seems too restrictive, proceed with caution.

  8. Monitor your bank and credit card statements after purchasing. Small, unauthorized charges can be test runs for larger theft. Set up transaction alerts so you know immediately if something looks wrong.

  9. Report scams to the FTC and the platform. If you encounter a fake listing, phishing text, or fraudulent website, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Also notify the platform (Amazon, eBay, etc.) so they can take down the scammer.

These steps may seem basic, but they are surprisingly easy to skip in the rush to snag a deal. A few seconds of caution can prevent weeks of hassle.

Sources

  • PCMag. “Stay Safe This Prime Day: 9 Crucial Tips to Avoid Online Shopping Scams.” June 11, 2026.
  • PCMag. “Your Phone Has a Hidden Defense Against Scam Texts—And It’s Probably Turned Off.” June 14, 2026.
  • PCMag. “Think Before You Tap: Don’t Fall for These 9 Viral Social Media Scams.” April 29, 2026.
  • PCMag. “Google Sues Chinese Cybercrime Group Behind ‘Phishing-for-Dummies’ Software.” June 13, 2026.
  • Federal Trade Commission. “Consumer Protection Data Spotlight: Online Shopping Scams.” 2025.