Record Spending Expected for Father’s Day and Prime Day: How to Shop Smart and Avoid Scams

Intro

Father’s Day and Amazon Prime Day are nearly here, and with them comes the usual flood of promotions, email offers, and social media ads promising can’t-miss deals. This year, consumer spending is expected to hit record levels — which also means scammers will be working overtime.

The good news: you don’t have to avoid sales to stay safe. A few straightforward precautions can help you spot fake offers before you hand over your payment information.

What Happened

According to a report from WRAL, analysts predict that combined spending for Father’s Day and Prime Day will reach an all-time high. The two events now overlap closely on the calendar, creating a stretch of several days where shoppers are especially active online.

That kind of concentrated buying activity is exactly what fraudsters look for. Phishing campaigns, fake websites mimicking major retailers, and too-good-to-be-true ads on social media all spike during these periods. The Federal Trade Commission and consumer protection groups routinely issue warnings ahead of major shopping events, and this year is no different.

Why It Matters

Scams during high-traffic shopping periods often follow a pattern. You may receive an email that looks like it’s from Amazon, offering an “exclusive Prime Day deal” if you click a link. The link takes you to a site that looks legitimate but is designed to steal your login credentials or credit card number.

Other common tactics include:

  • Social media advertisements that lead to counterfeit goods or never-arrive items.
  • “Deal” websites that pop up in search results and appear to offer steep discounts on popular gifts.
  • Calls or texts claiming you’ve won a gift card or a free item — and asking you to pay a small “shipping fee” via wire transfer or gift card.

These scams are effective because they play on urgency and excitement. When you’re looking for a last-minute Father’s Day present or hunting for a Prime Day lightning deal, it’s easy to let your guard down.

What Readers Can Do

You don’t need expensive security software or a technical background to shop safely. These practical steps cover the main risk areas.

1. Verify the seller and the URL

Before you enter any payment information, confirm that you’re on the real website. For Amazon, type amazon.com directly into your browser address bar instead of clicking a link from an email or ad.

Look for “HTTPS” in the URL — but note that many scam sites now use HTTPS too, so it’s not a guarantee. Check the domain name closely: amzon-deals.com or prime-day-offer.shop are red flags.

If you’re buying from a smaller retailer you don’t know, search for reviews and complaints. A quick search with the store name plus “scam” or “review” can tell you a lot.

2. Pay with a credit card or a trusted payment service

Credit cards generally offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards. If a charge turns out to be unauthorized, you can dispute it and typically get your money back while the card issuer investigates.

PayPal and similar services add another layer — you don’t give your card number directly to the merchant. Avoid wire transfers, cryptocurrency, and gift cards as payment methods for online shopping. Legitimate sellers don’t ask for those.

3. Be skeptical of deals that seem too good

If a new game console or a popular gadget is listed at 70% off on a site you’ve never heard of, it’s almost certainly a scam. The price might be a lure to collect your payment information, or the product may never ship.

Compare prices across a few well-known retailers. If only one obscure site has the deal, skip it.

Phishing emails during Prime Day often use subject lines like “Your exclusive Prime Day code” or “Action required for your Amazon account.” Hover over any link (without clicking) to see where it actually leads. If the URL doesn’t match amazon.com, delete the message.

If you’re unsure whether an offer is real, go directly to the retailer’s website and look for the promotion in your account or on their official sale page.

5. Keep records and monitor your accounts

Take screenshots of order confirmation pages and save email receipts. Check your bank and credit card statements a few days after your purchases for any unfamiliar charges. If you see something wrong, report it immediately to your bank or card issuer.

What to do if you think you’ve been scammed

Act quickly:

  • Contact your bank or credit card company to report the fraud and request a chargeback.
  • Change the passwords for any accounts you used on the fake site.
  • Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  • If you gave away your Amazon login, change your Amazon password and enable two-factor authentication.

Sources

  • WRAL, “Father’s Day, Prime Day to bring record spending. Here’s how to shop smart, and avoid scams,” June 20, 2026.
  • Federal Trade Commission, “Online shopping scams,” ftc.gov.
  • Amazon, “How to spot phishing emails,” amazon.com/privacy.