Prime Day has become a summer event, and this year Amazon (a BBB Accredited Business) has selected July 12 and July 13. Amazon isn’t the only retailer rolling out discounts those days. Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, and many other companies are running their own sales as well.
More deals are great for consumers, and more people out shopping is great for businesses large and small. But this is a time to stay on guard. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently reported that scammers are impersonating Amazon significantly more than any other business, and odds are this will spike during and just after the two Prime Days.
They may reach out via emails, texts, or calls, but no matter the method of contact, scammers are looking for a way to get your credit card information, account login details, or remote access to your computer to get to your personal information.
Phishing scams increase during busy shopping times, such as Prime Day or Black Friday. When you’re making a lot of purchases, it’s easy to lose track of exactly what you bought and where you shopped. And there’s a good chance you’re expecting some orders to be shipped. That makes you more likely to fall for phishing scams that use the names of widely known retailers and shipping companies.
Look out for unsolicited emails and texts, especially those with a link or attachment. These messages may claim you have a free gift waiting for you or that there is a problem with a delivery. In either case, the message is designed to get you to click on the link or open the attachment, which could allow the scammer access to your device and your personal information.