- Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
Today, Amazon kicked off its annual Prime Day that will run deals through tomorrow, July 13. Amidst the excitement of discounts and fun product purchases, it is important to beware of common internet shopping scams. From lookalike fake websites to phishing schemes, here are some important warning signs and tips from the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation to stay safe and secure this Amazon Prime Day:
Common Scams:
- Phishing: In the June leading up to Prime Day in 2021, phishing emails related to the event shot up 86%. Scammers have been calling and emailing consumers posing as Amazon and Apple, among other retailers, claiming to help resolve fraudulent account activity, unfulfilled orders, and more. Their goal is to have you share passwords, credit card numbers, social security numbers, and other personal information.
- Fake Websites: When searching for deals, make sure you are on the intended website. Scammers may create similar-looking websites with altered URLs. For example, if you are buying something from target, make sure the URL (the link at the top of the browser) reads www.target.com. You may accidentally end up on a similar looking “targett.com” or “targetstore.com”. Other good tells for a fake website include poor spelling and a lack of customer service phone numbers.
Tips:
- Avoid Unsolicited emails and phone calls. If you receive an un-initiated call from someone posing to be a seller such as Amazon, avoid further interaction.
- It could be too good to be true: While sellers will be offering sales across numerous products, be wary of items whose discounts seem unreal. Become acquainted with usual product and historical sale prices before making a purchase.
- False Sense of Urgency: Phishing emails and calls may threaten immediate cancellation of orders, suspensions of accounts, and even legal action if certain steps are not followed. Scammers use urgency as psychological tool to pressure unsuspecting victims.
- Look out for grammar and spelling errors. Fake websites, products, and emails often contain grammar and spelling mistakes due to poor translation.
- Watch out for imposter email addresses. Scammers may try to trick consumers with email addresses such as “amazon@customer-support.com” or “support@waImart.com”. Scammers may swap similar looking characters such as an uppercase “I” (i) and lowercase “l” (L) as well as the number “4” and uppercase A.
- Make sure a website is secure. Never enter credit card and other personal information on a website that does not contain the “https” prefix in its URL. Any website with a “http” prefix—without the “s”—may not be secure.
- Never click links or download attachments from sources you do not trust.
- Know your Massachusetts consumer shopping rights! Massachusetts consumers enjoy numerous protections ranging from transparent item pricing and clear advertising to fair return and warranty policies. To learn more about safe shopping practices, visit the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation’s Consumer Guide to Shopping Rights.
Report suspicious activity.
If you experience fraud or a scam, call the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (AGO) Consumer Hotline at +1 (617) 727-8400 or submit a complaint through the consumer complaint form.
For questions and concerns, call the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation Consumer Hotline at +1 (888) 282-3757.
Amazon also accepts reports of suspicious and fraudulent activity.
