Amazon Prime Day this year could expose shoppers to scams, experts warn
Stay Safe On Amazon Prime Day, Avoid Scams!
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July 10, 2023 / 5:31 PM / Financial Insights
The forthcoming Amazon Prime Day is set to feature exclusive deals accessible only to invited individuals.
As Amazon Prime Day commences on Tuesday, experts are cautioning consumers to remain vigilant against fraudulent schemes that specifically target enthusiastic bargain seekers.
According to the Better Business Bureau, scammers will use various deceitful techniques such as "phishing" emails and fraudulent websites, as well as social media updates and SMS messages, in order to deceive customers into revealing their personal details.
According to the group's Prime Day advisory to customers, increased bargains benefit customers, and a higher number of people visiting stores benefits both big and small businesses. However, the group advises caution and warns against getting excessively carried away with the thrill of shopping, as this could make individuals susceptible to phishing scams, deceptive ads, and counterfeit websites.
A phishing scheme occurs when a scammer sends an email or text message to a consumer regarding, for instance, a holdup in delivering a purchase on Amazon or any other online shopping site. These messages often contain a URL where the recipient is urged to disclose their account information.
According to the specialists, it is important to refrain from clicking on any link that you are not completely certain originates from Amazon. The Better Business Bureau also suggested that keeping a record of your orders and their expected delivery dates can assist customers in avoiding falling prey to scams.
Melanie McGovern, a representative of BBB, suggested the possibility of creating a database containing order numbers, tracking numbers, and details regarding the progress of your deliveries. This way, in case you receive a text message or email notifying you about a shipping delay or any problem, you can simply consult the said spreadsheet for reference.
Scammers can also employ text messages to carry out phishing attempts, where they deceitfully inform individuals that they have won a complimentary item and encourage them to complete a form to collect their reward.
According to experts, a majority of phishing tactics targeting Amazon shoppers take advantage of their lack of knowledge regarding the retailer's communication methods. Scott Knapp, the director of global buyer risk prevention at Amazon, mentioned to CBS affiliate WNCN that it is highly unlikely for a company representative to directly reach out to a customer and inquire about their order information.
Knapp mentioned that there is the communication hub, which informs you about our attempts to contact you or verify an order. In such cases, you can directly navigate to the My Orders section.
In some instances, online criminals fabricate websites that bear a striking resemblance to Amazon.com in their attempt to deceive customers into making purchases on these fraudulent platforms. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission reported that fraudsters seem to target Amazon pages more frequently than any other business website. It's worth noting that Amazon assisted in the removal of over 20,000 counterfeit websites in the previous year, as shared by Knapp during an interview with WNCN.
According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), one can easily identify a fake website by scanning for mistakes in spelling or grammar within its URL or anywhere on the webpage. To tackle this issue, customers are advised to report any deceitful websites to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) via reportfraud.ftc.gov or on Amazon's customer service site.
This year, the highly-anticipated Prime Day kicks off at the early hour of 3 a.m. on Tuesday and will continue for a span of 48 hours. Experts at Bank of America Securities predict that this two-day event, initiated by Amazon in 2015, has the potential to rake in approximately $12 billion in merchandise sales.
"In the search for bargains, a greater number of businesses joining in, quicker deliveries, and significant price reductions, we are anticipating an overall robust Prime Day. There is a possibility that our growth estimate of 12% compared to last July's Prime Day could be even exceeded," stated their report released on Monday.
Khristopher J. Brooks works as a journalist for CBS MoneyWatch, specializing in reporting on various topics related to business, consumers, and finance. His coverage includes a wide range of issues, such as economic disparity, housing problems, bankruptcies, and the sports industry.
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