Stay Safe This Prime Day: 9 Tips to Avoid Online Shopping Scams
Prime Day brings steep discounts, but it also draws a flood of phishing sites, fake listings, and too-good-to-be-true offers. Scammers know shoppers are in a hurry to snag deals, and they exploit that urgency. Whether you’re after electronics, home goods, or something else, taking a few precautions can keep your money and personal information safe.
PCMag published a useful guide on June 11, 2026, outlining nine essential tips to avoid the most common Prime Day scams. Their advice applies whether you’re shopping on Amazon or any other major retailer running a sales event.
Why Shopping Scams Peak During Sale Events
Fraudsters follow the money. Major shopping days like Prime Day see a sharp increase in phishing emails, fake website domains, and social media ads that lead to counterfeit stores. According to consumer protection reports, the number of reported shopping scams can double during these periods. Many of these scams rely on impersonating trusted brands—Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy—and tricking shoppers into entering payment details on a fraudulent page.
The financial impact can be serious. Debit card fraud often takes weeks to resolve, and money may not be recoverable. Credit cards, on the other hand, offer stronger liability protections under federal law if you report unauthorized charges promptly.
What You Can Do: Nine Practical Steps
Follow these tips to reduce your risk during Prime Day and any other major sale event.
1. Stick to known retailers and official apps.
Open the app or website you have bookmarked, rather than clicking a link sent via email or text. Scammers often clone the login page of a retailer to harvest your credentials.
2. Double-check URLs for typosquatting.
Fake domains like “amaz0n-deals.com” or “amazn-prime-day.com” are common. Look closely at the address bar before entering any information. If the domain doesn’t look right, leave the site.
3. Avoid clicking unsolicited links or ads.
Deals that show up in spam emails or pop‑up ads are frequently scams. If an offer seems too good to be true—a new TV for $50—it almost certainly is.
4. Use a credit card, not a debit card.
Credit cards give you better fraud protection. Many issuers have zero‑liability policies, and you can dispute charges more effectively. Debit cards tie directly to your checking account and can be harder to recover.
5. Look for HTTPS and the padlock icon.
A secure website starts with “https://” and shows a padlock in the browser bar. That doesn’t guarantee a site is legitimate, but it’s a minimum requirement before entering payment info.
6. Set up purchase alerts and monitor statements.
Enable notifications from your bank or card issuer so you see each transaction immediately. Check your statements a few days after the sale ends. Quick detection limits damage.
7. Be wary of fake shipping notifications.
Scammers send emails or texts claiming “Your package is delayed—click here to reschedule.” These often install malware or lead to phishing pages. If you get one, go directly to the retailer’s tracking page instead of clicking the link.
8. Use unique passwords and enable two‑factor authentication (2FA).
Don’t reuse the same password across shopping accounts. A password manager can help. Turn on 2FA for Amazon and any other retailer that offers it; this stops most account takeovers even if your password is stolen.
9. Report suspicious activity immediately.
If you think you’ve fallen for a scam, contact your bank and the retailer’s fraud department right away. For U.S. readers, report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Quick reporting can sometimes reverse the charge.
Sources
- PCMag. “Stay Safe This Prime Day: 9 Crucial Tips to Avoid Online Shopping Scams.” Published June 11, 2026. Link