Protect yourself during Amazon Prime Day. Watch out for scams and avoid clicking on suspicious links. Stay safe online!
The “epic deals” of Prime Day are available from July 11-12. Amazon claims that its Prime members have access to special discounts on a variety of items, including those from their favorite stores and brands. Since July 15, 2015, when Amazon sparked a shopping frenzy in the midst of the summer doldrums “to celebrate Prime members on Amazon’s 20th birthday,” people have been talking about this made-up shopping holiday.
Swindlers love the holiday shopping season.
Fake texts and delivery scams
Recently, I’ve gotten a few texts from customers reporting issues with their orders. “You have a package that needs to be delivered,” one of them adds. Perhaps they have the wrong address? Or are unable to provide it. Sometimes it claims to be from UPS or the United States Postal Service. These text messages have been completely disregarded by me.
Scammers have been texting me recently, claiming there’s an issue with my Amazon account. Again, I can assure you that this is not an issue. That text was also overlooked by me.
If you click the link, you may unwittingly give criminals access to sensitive information, such as your account password or credit card number. Someone else may contact you, claiming that they require your assistance with your bank account.
Don’t even try to contact help by pressing 1.
On Amazon Prime Day, the online retail giant and its partners provide discounts to its customers. Scammers could pose as popular retailers like Amazon, Walmart (especially during Walmart Plus Week, which begins on July 10), Target, Best Buy, and others. Yes, fraudsters will even pretend to be couriers.
Also, never follow the instructions of a suspicious text message or email to download and install software on your device.
In a statement posted online, Amazon says, “If you received suspicious communication pretending to be from Amazon and you don’t have an account with us, report it to us at stop-spoofing@amazon.com.”
Amazing social media ads
Some fraudulent internet stores have created “lookalike” websites to deceive unsuspecting customers.
The Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern Michigan advises paying great attention to the URL before providing any personal information.
Domain name variants are common among fraudsters. According to the BBB warning, phishing websites may use a slight variation on the retailer’s name in their URLs (such as using a ‘v’ instead of a ‘u’) or may append generic terms like “online” to well-known brand names. Check the spelling of the company name to make sure you have it right. Verify the site’s contact information and customer support phone numbers are correct by performing a thorough review. Use your instincts when making business decisions.
Pictures aren’t to be trusted
Keep in mind that any thief may snap a picture of an expensive baby stroller and sell it on the internet for peanuts. Verify if the vendor has a good reputation.Why do you think you were able to find it at a 50% discount if it is no longer available anywhere else?
Packages are sometimes never delivered in frauds. Alternatively, the BBB warns that you might acquire a high-priced game console online and instead receive a phone case or some other trivial item.
Nearly 360,000 complaints about online retail fraud were filed with the Federal Trade Commission last year, with 43% alleging financial loss. The median reported loss was $179, and the total recorded loss was over $359 million. Second only to impostor scams in the number of complaints is fraudulent online purchasing.
Stolen merchandise
The prices might be ridiculously low at times. Meaning that the goods were stolen and are now being sold online to naive customers for profit. Or the criminals offer tempting deals on fake items. Nike shoes, NFL apparel, Apple products, Louis Vuitton bags, Tiffany jewels, and LEGO toys are among the most targeted companies, according to a warning from the Better Business Bureau.
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