(BBB Cleveland)
Consumers with an Amazon Prime subscription can expect to see a second “Prime Day” this year. Amazon (a BBB Accredited Business) released a statement in late September announcing its “Prime Early Access Sale” for October. These Prime events are exclusive to Amazon’s subscription program and feature discounts on “hundreds of thousands” of items. The sales last only 48 hours and are highly anticipated by the company’s consumer base. With so many netizens looking to find a good bargain, scammers are known to use Amazon’s name to target victims. Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland® (BBB®) receives reports about Amazon impostor scams and online shopping fraud throughout the year. However, BBB is warning consumers to be particularly careful about these scams and more in the days leading up to the holiday season.
Recently, a local Northeast, Ohio consumer reported to BBB Serving Greater Cleveland on October 6th that she received a “phishing” email from Amazon. “The email looked legit like it was coming from Amazon and even had a case number,” she said. Amazon impostors typically use scare tactics like this to elicit a response from the victim. “Scammers may send messages regarding a high-value item, such as a new iPhone, tablet, or computer purchase. Messages are typically regarding a declined or late payment or delivery,” says Sue McConnell, CEO of BBB Serving Greater Cleveland. “Other times, scammers may attempt to set up fake Amazon web pages for purchases and raffles and this is something consumers should keep an eye out for.”
In order to help consumers shop safely, BBB has tips on how to not fall victim to online shopping scams. More information on Prime Day and avoiding post-Prime Day scams.
To find more scams in your area, click on our BBB Scam Tracker.