Amazon Prime Day Scam - How to Protect Yourself

To protect your personal data and money, be highly aware of these specific threats:

Common Prime Day Scams

• Phishing & Smishing: Scammers send unsolicited texts or emails claiming an issue with your account, a problem with an order, or a fake package delivery. They urge you to click a link to a fake login page to steal your credentials.
• Fake Deals & Domains: Cybercriminals register hundreds of lookalike Amazon websites to lure shoppers with unbelievable discounts. These sites collect your credit card info without ever sending the product.
• Fake Refunds or Recalls: You may receive an email claiming a product you recently bought is recalled and you must click a link to claim your refund.
• Fake Gift Cards: Scammers often offer "rewards" like $100 Amazon gift cards for signing up for fake shipping perks.

Best Practices to Shop Safely

• Verify URLs: Always double-check the web address. Misspellings or strange domain extensions are a major red flag.
• Never Use Risky Payment Methods: Scammers heavily rely on wire transfers, peer-to-peer apps, or gift cards because those funds are impossible to recover.
• Use Credit Cards: Whenever possible, pay with a credit card instead of a debit card to ensure you have fraud protection and the ability to dispute charges.

• Watch for "Fake Discounts": Some third-party sellers temporarily raise an item's list price right before the sale to make a regular-priced item look like a massive deal.