Common Amazon Prime Day scams and 5 tips for avoiding them
Amazon Prime Day 2022 will take
place on the 12-13th of July. As you’re preparing to save some
serious cash on some great deals, scammers are preparing to do everything they
can to steal your money and personal data.
We can’t know for sure exactly which specific
angles the scammers will take with their scams this year, but we do know two of
their most preferred tactics. Keep on reading to learn about the two most
common Amazon Prime Day scams and how to protect against them.
Scam #1 – fake Amazon websites
Around the time of Amazon Prime Day, scammers love to create copycat versions of the Amazon website, hoping to trick people into spending their money on them rather than the legitimate Amazon website.
At first glance, it’s nearly
impossible to tell a fake version apart from the legitimate one, but a
sure-fire way to know you’re shopping safely is to check the website’s URL.
It goes without saying, but don’t purchase
anything from any fake Amazon websites. Your goods will never arrive, and the
scammers will record any personal and financial information you enter on the
site.
Scam #2 – Amazon phishing text messages
Another common scam type that
always sees increased activity around Amazon Prime Day is phishing text
messages. The content of the messages will vary, but they will always include a
phishing link. The link will lead to a malicious, scammer-controlled website
designed to steal your money and/or personal data.
Here are some examples of Amazon phishing text
messages we’ve observed in the past:
- Fake Amazon Prime issues
- You won’t be able to watch all your favourite Amazon Prime shows until the payment issue has been fixed {URL}
- Dear Maryjulie. Your Amazon Prime subscription is having billing issues. Fix it by updating your billing information: {URL}
- Hi Mary. Your Amazon Prime account is having payment problems. Fix it by updating your billing information: {URL}
- Fake Amazon rewards
- Rick, you still have $150 Amazon Bonus credit: w1fbv{.]info/(URL) See what you can buy before it expires on 03/23
- FINAL NOTICE: Wil, please confirm the details for shipment ID: AmazonRewards J62H8 here: <URL> Description: $110 bounty
- Fake package delivery
- Delivered: Your Amazon package with Mayfair Games CN3025 Catan: Junior and 1 other item was delivered. More info at <URL>
- Fake Amazon raffle
- No matter which text message you receive, if you click on the embedded link you will be taken to a fake online survey page that will promise you some sort of gift if you complete the survey.
After completing the survey, to receive your gift (which doesn’t exist), you will need to enter your personal and financial information. If you do so, you’ll be handing all your information directly over to the scammers!
5 tips for avoiding Amazon Prime Day scams
- NEVER click on links or attachments from unknown sources. Use Trend Micro Device Security Pro to detect scams with ease!
- Always double-check senders’ mobile numbers/email addresses and website’s URLs
- If in doubt, reach out to Amazon’s customer support team through www.amazon.com.au
- Watch out for too good to be true offers – they’re always a major red flag
- Be cautious – these Amazon Prime Day scams are everywhere, so keep an eye out
