Tips for Safe Prime Day Shopping
Looking forward to deals and deep discounts on Amazon Prime Days (June 23-26)? You’re not alone. Many other retailers have also begun offering discounted pricing on those days. Unfortunately, more deals also mean more chances for scammers to take advantage of eager shoppers. BBB reminds consumers to watch out for phishing scams, misleading advertisements, and lookalike websites designed to steal your money or personal information.
“Some of the biggest online retailers will be offering deep discounts,” said Mechele Agbayani Mills, President and CEO of BBB Serving Central East Texas. “This also means a big payday for scam artists, so please take steps to protect your information and be cautious about what you click.”
BBB tips for online shopping:
Research the seller or retailer. Before you buy, take time to read customer reviews and research the company. Be sure you can find contact information for the seller, and make note of it. Make sure you can locate valid contact information, and look up the business on BBB.org to see if they are BBB Accredited and check out their profile to get a good overall picture of the company.
Watch for email and text phishing attempts that appear to come from a popular retailer. Phishing and smishing increases during busy shopping days. These messages may claim you have a gift waiting for you, or that there is some problem with your account. Track your purchase so that you aren’t deceived by fake package delivery text messages, and never click on any links you receive which seem suspicious.
Use caution with social media ads. Lookalike websites often pop up through social media promotions. Always check that the domain name is correct. For example, “PopularStore.com” vs. “PopvlarStore.com.” Legitimate businesses will have clear contact information and customer service details. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Watch for fake order confirmations. Scammers send emails or text messages claiming you’ve made a purchase and need to click a link to cancel it. The goal is to steal your account credentials or payment information. Instead of clicking any links, log in directly through the retailer’s website or app to verify your order status.
Be aware of increasingly convincing scams. Artificial intelligence is making phishing emails, fake websites, and customer service impersonations look more legitimate than ever. Don’t rely solely on professional-looking messages, photos, or websites. Verify information independently before sharing personal or financial information.
Make sure the website is secure. Look for the “HTTPS” in the URL (the extra “s” is for “secure”) and a small lock icon on the address bar. Never enter payment or personal information into a website with only “HTTP.” It is NOT secure.
Use extra caution with hard-to-find products. If something is sold out everywhere else, scammers will often offer fake listings at attractive prices. Be especially wary with popular electronics, toys, or collectibles.
Pay with a credit card. Credit cards generally provide stronger fraud protections than debit cards. Use extra caution with retailers who insist on payment through gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, prepaid cards, or peer-to-peer payment apps such as Cash App, Venmo, or Zelle.
For more information
Consumers can report scams and read business profiles at BBB.org. If you encounter a suspicious website, advertisement, or seller, report it to BBB Scam Tracker at BBB.org/ScamTracker.
About BBB: BBB is a nonprofit, business-supported organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Most BBB services to consumers are free of charge. BBB provides objective advice, free BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.3 million companies, 11,000 charity reviews, dispute resolution services, alerts and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. Visit bbb.org for more information. BBB Serving Central East Texas was founded in 1985 and serves 19 counties.