Amazon’s October Prime Day: Watch for These Scams

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days run October 6–7, bringing 48 hours of member-exclusive offers and helping kick off the holiday shopping season.

But whenever buzz surrounds a shopping event, scammers are bound to strike. Amazon is one of the most impersonated brands in phishing campaigns, largely because so many people expect order confirmations, delivery updates, and account notices from it.

Key takeaways

• A Prime Day deal, delivery problem or account warning can be fake even when it uses Amazon’s logo and familiar language
• Do not use links in unexpected texts, emails, social-media ads or pop-ups to sign in to Amazon
• Check orders, payment problems and account alerts directly in the Amazon app or by typing Amazon’s address into your browser yourself
• Be wary of urgent requests to “verify” payment details, reset a password, call support or buy gift cards
• Use tools such as Scamio and Link Checker when a message or deal doesn’t feel right

The scams to watch for this Prime Day and beyond

Fake delivery, payment and account notices

Amazon-themed scams often begin with a message designed to make you react quickly.

An unsolicited message may claim there’s a problem with a delivery, an order you did not place, a failed payment, a suspended account, or that your Prime membership is expiring. During a major sale, scammers may also send fake “limited-time deal” alerts or claim that an item in your cart is about to sell out.

The message may use Amazon’s logo, familiar colors and wording you’re bound to recognize. However, the embedded links can lead to a lookalike site designed to steal your Amazon password, card details or personal information. Some fake pages even copy genuine product listings and checkout screens.

 Fake Amazon support calls

Some Amazon scams begin with a phone call, voicemail or text claiming there’s an urgent problem with your account. A self-described representative may say an expensive item, such as a phone or laptop, has been ordered using your account, that your Prime membership is expiring, or that someone has accessed your account from an unfamiliar device.

The purpose is to make you panic and act before you think to check. The caller may ask for your password or a one-time verification code, tell you to install software that gives them remote access to your device, or demand payment through gift cards, bank transfers or another unusual method.

If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately. Don’t press any buttons, call back using a number the caller provides or share information to “cancel” an order. Instead, open the Amazon app or visit Amazon by typing the address into your browser, then check your account and orders directly.

Amazon says it will not ask for your password, one-time password, gift cards or remote access to your computer over the phone. You can also report suspicious Amazon communications via reportascam@amazon.com.

Fake Prime Day deals and ads

Prime Day is also bound to bring fake deals. A social-media ad, sponsored post or text may promise an unbelievable discount on a popular product, then lead to a copied Amazon sign-in page, a fraudulent store or a site collecting card details. Some posts advertise mystery boxes, clearance pallets, gift-card giveaways or “exclusive” Prime member offers that require a small shipping fee.

A real-looking ad is not proof that the offer is legitimate. If a deal catches your eye, open the Amazon app or type the official Amazon address into your browser yourself and search for it there.

A few simple checks make a difference

If you receive an unexpected Amazon notice, pause before clicking. Open the Amazon app and check your orders, messages, and account notifications. If the issue is real, you should be able to find it without using the link in the message.

Amazon also offers ways to verify suspicious communications. Customers can use Alexa for Shopping to ask whether Amazon contacted them, submit a suspicious message through Amazon’s Verify Communications service or forward it to verify@amazon.com.

For deals found outside Amazon, independently visit the official Amazon site and search for the item. If the discount is genuine, you should be able to find it there. It’s also worth comparing the price and checking the seller before buying.

Protection for Prime Day—and the shopping season after it

Amazon’s verification tools are useful when you already suspect a message is fake. But shopping scams don’t end when a two-day sale does. They follow shoppers through Black Friday, Cyber Monday, holiday delivery season, and well into the new year, changing brands and tactics along the way.

That’s where ongoing scam protection helps. Bitdefender security solutions help block malicious links and scam attempts across the devices people use to shop, while Scam Radar can warn users about emerging scam waves before they become familiar. If you are unsure about a text, email, ad, screenshot or conversation, you can ask Bitdefender Scamio, our AI-powered scam detector. Before opening a suspicious deal or delivery link, run it through Bitdefender Link Checker.