With Prime Day sales approaching, shoppers need to be cautious to avoid falling victim to cybercriminals who take advantage of major shopping events. Security experts are alerting consumers to the risks of fake offers, phishing emails, and fraudulent websites designed to steal personal information and financial details. Check Point’s security team discovered a significant increase in new Amazon-related web domains globally, particularly in April when 1,446 new domains were created. This timing is worrisome as attackers can use this period to make malicious domains appear legitimate before Prime Day. Despite most domains being safe, Check Point found that about one in every 11 new Amazon-themed domains was either malicious or suspicious.
Scammers succeed during Prime Day by mimicking normal shopping behavior, using familiar branding, convincing checkout pages, delivery alerts, and creating a sense of urgency. To stay safe while shopping, consumers are advised to be vigilant and verify the authenticity of websites before making any transactions. It’s crucial to watch out for fake URLs that closely resemble Amazon’s official site, including extra characters or unusual domain endings like .top or .online.
Furthermore, shoppers should refrain from clicking on links received through emails, texts, or social media posts and instead manually enter Amazon’s website address. Warning signs of potential scams include unrealistically cheap deals, refund claims, or urgent alerts about expiring offers. Moreover, be cautious of fake notifications about Prime accounts being suspended, and always verify such messages directly on Amazon’s official site. By following these simple steps, shoppers can enjoy Prime Day without falling prey to scammers.
Prime Day is scheduled from June 23 to June 26, and Express.co.uk will be providing coverage of the top deals and offers during the event.