Amazon Prime Day Deals Scammers Lie in Wait, Watch Out

Amazon Prime Day Deals Scammers Lie in Wait, Watch Out: Amazon Prime Day, a popular shopping event, brings a surge of deals and awes shoppers, but this excitement also attracts a myriad of scammers eager to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers.

Short Summary to Amazon Prime Day Deals Scammers Lie in Wait, Watch Out:

• Amazon Prime Day is targeted by scammers through phishing emails, fake websites, and deceptive offers.
• Scammers impersonate legitimate sellers and platforms to steal personal and financial information.
• Consumers need to be vigilant and adopt protective measures to avoid falling prey to scams.

Beware: Scams Lurk Behind Exciting Amazon Prime Day Deals

Deals on Amazon Prime Day lure shoppers by offering discounts on electronics, appliances, and more. However, cybercriminals also become more active during this period. As Scott Knapp, Amazon’s director of worldwide buyer risk prevention, reports, customers’ scam reports rose dramatically around Prime Day, increasing from 5,000 to over 14,000 weekly.

These scams manifest through emails, text messages, and phone calls, with a recent rise in successful phone frauds, Knapp noted. The excitement around Prime Day can make it difficult for consumers to spot dubious offers.

Common Tactics Used by Scammers

Phishing and smishing attempts are rampant, where criminals send malicious links via email or SMS to steal users’ information. “More deals bring more shoppers, but also more scammers,” the Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns.

“More deals are great for consumers, and more people out shopping is great for businesses large and small. Just be careful, and don’t get so caught up in the excitement that you fall for phishing scams, misleading advertisements, and lookalike websites.”

– Better Business Bureau

Counterfeit products represent another common threat. Criminals create fake websites or pose as legitimate third-party sellers on Amazon to sell counterfeit items.

As Saleem Alhabash, a professor of digital advertising at Michigan State University, points out, counterfeiters thrive on the sense of urgency that time-limited deals create.

“The only sure thing about the marketplace is that any big shopping event is associated with a rise and influx in the availability of counterfeit products.”

– Saleem Alhabash

Signs of counterfeit products include unusually low prices for normally expensive items, but these can be difficult to detect during Prime Day’s deep discounts.

Proliferation of Fake Reviews

Fake product reviews have also seen an increase, particularly with the aid of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, allowing cybercriminals to produce reviews rapidly.

Saoud Khalifah, founder of Fakespot, points out that these reviews often contain grammatical errors and vagueness about product details.

“If a consumer is looking at a review right now, they may be AI-generated or augmented.”

– Saoud Khalifah

Categories often targeted by fake reviews include Bluetooth headphones, clothes, and cheaper electronics, which are highly competitive and rely heavily on reviews.

Phishing Scams

Phishing scams, where consumers receive fake offers via email, and drive to websites that mimic Amazon, are detailed by Zulfikar Ramzan, chief scientist at Aura. He advises inspecting URLs to confirm the legitimacy of websites.

“The only apparent distinction could be in the address bar at top. Always ensure you’re on Amazon.com by checking the full URL.”

– Zulfikar Ramzan

To avoid falling into these traps, Ramzan suggests using the Amazon app instead of clicking on links from emails. Similarly, Carl Bates, President and CEO of the BBB in Birmingham, warns about phishing attempts through emails and social media ads for Prime Day deals, stressing the importance of verifying website security and using a credit card for online purchases.

“Make sure it’s HTTPS and has a little lock on it so you know it’s truly a website and not a fake one.”

– Carl Bates

Phishing Email Tactics

Criminals use sophisticated phishing emails that mimic Amazon’s notifications, often claiming issues with orders or Prime memberships to lure victims into providing personal details. “Update Payment Information” scams are particularly prevalent, exploiting the urgency around Prime Day.

These emails use convincing design elements but can usually be identified by slight inconsistencies in the sender’s email or URL structure, often using recently registered domains.

Post-Prime Day Scams

Even following Prime Day, scammers may attempt to exploit the hype by sending phishing emails or texts about reward points or issues with transactions.

Such emails, although appearing legitimate, are designed to harvest personal and financial information. Always scrutinize unsolicited messages, and do not click on any links.

By sticking to familiar retailers and verifying the website’s legitimacy, you can minimize the risk of encountering fraudulent sellers. Ramzan emphasizes typing the web address directly into your browser rather than utilizing external links to reach retailer websites.

Protective Measures for Online Shopping

Besides vigilance, shoppers can enhance their online security by enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on their accounts, closely monitoring bank statements for unauthorized transactions, and using a VPN for added security.

“Shop with a credit card. It’s easier to dispute charges you didn’t approve or get your money back if there is a problem.”

– BBB suggests.

Learning to identify the signs of scams, such as generic greetings, unreasonably low prices, and requests for sensitive information, can make a significant difference in protecting yourself from fraud.

What to Do if Scammed

In case you fall victim to a scam, acting swiftly is crucial. Contact Amazon’s customer service, report the incident to relevant authorities, monitor your financial accounts, and consider freezing your credit reports to prevent further misuse.

Updating passwords and enabling additional security settings on your accounts is also recommended.

“In the US, you can place a freeze on your credit reports with the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to prevent identity thieves from opening new accounts in your name.”

– BBB

In conclusion, while Amazon Prime Day offers fantastic deals, shoppers must remain vigilant and adopt proactive security measures. Being aware of common scams and exercising caution can help ensure a safe and enjoyable shopping experience.