Amazon Prime Day Scams: Watch Out for PitfallsAmazon Prime Day Scams: Watch Out for Pitfalls Durham, North Carolina – As Amazon Prime Day approaches, 5 On Your Side warns consumers about common pitfalls they should watch out for. Avoid Scams: * Verify Sellers: If purchasing directly from Amazon, check the seller’s information and save their contact details. * Beware of Fake Package Texts: Ignore messages claiming your package is stuck and asking you to click a link. * Double-Check Social Media Ads: Verify the authenticity of sale offerings by visiting the retailer’s website directly. * Scrutinize Website Addresses: Be vigilant about suspicious URLs with strings of random letters and numbers. * Use Credit Cards: Opt for credit cards whenever possible for added protection. Protect Yourself: * Do thorough research before making purchases. * Be skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true. * Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication for online accounts. * Monitor your bank and credit card statements diligently. Remember: * Prime Day and other holiday sales often attract scammers. * Take precautions to safeguard your personal and financial information. * Report any suspicious activity to your bank and the Better Business Bureau immediately.
Before you go hunting for big discounts on Amazon Prime Day, 5 On Your Side warns you about the pitfalls to watch out for during and after shopping.
At Amazon’s same-day fulfillment center in Durham, they expect Prime Day to be on par with some of the biggest retail holidays of the year.
“We deliver approximately the same number of packages to our customers during Prime Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the week leading up to Christmas,” said Miguel Rios, the warehouse’s location leader.
It’s also Christmas in July for scammers because it’s not just Amazon. Walmart just had their Deals, Target had Circle Week and other retailers are having their best sales to compete.
“Whenever there is a time of year when there are big sales, we always encourage people to do their research,” said Meredith Radford of the Better Business Bureau for the Eastern Carolinas region.
There are several things you can do to protect yourself when shopping online:
- If you buy through Amazon, check who the seller of the product is and keep any contact information you can find.
- If you receive a questionable text message stating that your package is stuck in the warehouse and asking you to click on a link to update your information, DO NOT DO SO.
- “The fake package delivery scams happen all the time,” Radford said. “I still get them, you get them, and that’s something to watch out for after the sale is over.”
- At first glance it may seem legitimate, but upon closer inspection you will see that the links on the website do not work as they should, the URL looks suspicious and consists of a strange combination of letters and numbers, Radford warned.
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