Prime Day: Beware of Scammers + Porch Pirates
Not only is Amazon Prime Day one of the biggest shopping days, but it’s also the biggest day for scams and porch pirates. Many people are hunting down bargains and deep discounts on Amazon. However, shoppers are more vulnerable to scams this time of year.
The Better Business Bureau is warning that cybercriminals will be after the millions of shoppers trying to scoop up deals. Shoppers are urged to be careful and make sure an exciting shopping time doesn’t lead to falling victim to phishing scams, misleading advertisements, or lookalike websites.
They say it’s important to ensure everything you’re clicking on is real. It’s tempting to act fast when you see a great deal or click on a delivery notification if you receive an email. It’s best to use caution before clicking because scammers are more likely to impersonate the company to trick a vulnerable person. Amazon is the most impersonated business, according to BBB’s Scam Tracker. In fact, several reports, note “Amazon impostor” and “Amazon Prime spoof” victims are asked to click on links or put in their credit card information. Checking the URL is a way to verify the validity of the site. As well as, typing the URL to Amazon directly into your browser. (Also, check out some legit deals here.
Scammers & Porch Pirates
An estimated 1.7 million packages are lost or stolen in the U.S. every day, according to the security company Security.org. Post-prime day package theft is expected to rise. According to their data and Google Trends data, they expect package theft in the week following Prime Day to rise by at least 40%.
All isn’t lost when it comes to a lost package. Amazon’s A-to-z Guarantee policy protects customers who purchase goods from third-party sellers up to $2,500, but Amazon doesn’t get involved immediately. It requires customers to try resolving the issue directly with the seller. If it’s not resolved, the customer can file a claim with Amazon, which will notify the seller and determine if a refund is eligible. It’s worth noting that the guarantee applies to lost, stolen, or damaged orders.
For more information from the BBB or to report a scam here.
