Sadly, it’s also a significant day for scammers. Prime Day marks an opportunity where potential victims might forego the “if it’s too good to be true” rule, falling into a scam trap. But if you keep your wits, you’ll be able to spot them a mile away. Read on for classic scam signs during Prime Day and how to stay safe while shopping for bargains.
Here’s the backstory
Scammers are active throughout the year, but there are some “special” occasions where they ramp up schemes. Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and Independence Day celebrations usually increase activity.
Scams to look out for
Criminals use several methods to trick online shoppers into handing over their data or money. Many scams hit your inbox in the form of phishing emails, which is why you must be able to identify the signs that something is amiss. Here are a few red flags: Confirmation of order You might be tempted to click on the attachment to see the invoice (if you don’t remember buying anything) or to check that all is in order if you did. But that will be dangerous, as cybersecurity company Check Point Research found these emails to contain executable malware that steals your data. Canceled items Approving a payment
What you can do about it
Your best weapon against these scams is to be on the lookout for phishing emails. Last year there was an 86% increase in phishing emails relating to Prime Day. Also, there was a 16% increase in phishing URLs compared to the month before Prime Day 2021.
