As Amazon prepares for its longest-ever Prime Day event from July 8 to 11, 2025, the company has issued a serious warning to all customers: online scams are surging, and hackers are stepping up efforts to exploit the retail giant’s massive customer base. With the stakes higher than ever and sales expected to break records, cybercriminals are following the money and the millions of consumers logging in to score deals.
According to Amazon, there was an 80% increase in impersonation scams during Prime Day 2024 compared to the previous year. These scams range from fake calls and phishing emails to malicious links and spoofed websites, all crafted to trick unsuspecting shoppers into revealing sensitive account information or making fraudulent payments.
Prime Day: A Prime Opportunity for Hackers
Every year, Prime Day attracts hundreds of millions of shoppers globally, making it an irresistible target for hackers looking to exploit the chaos. This year, with Prime Day extended to a four-day event, threat levels are even higher. Scammers are already rolling out fake support calls, texts, and emails claiming issues with customer accounts, delayed orders, or fraudulent charges.
The timing couldn’t be more precise or sinister. One journalist writing about Amazon’s warning reportedly received a scam phone call impersonating Amazon, claiming that an iPhone 13 had been ordered from their account. It’s exactly the kind of real-time manipulation that Amazon is working hard to prevent.
“As deals drop, consumers may also drop their guards, making them more susceptible to scams,” said an Amazon spokesperson. The company’s internal data shows a spike in scam activity beginning weeks before Prime Day, targeting shoppers while anticipation is at its highest.
The Most Common Prime Day Scams
Amazon’s security team has identified several recurring scam tactics that shoppers should be especially wary of this season:
- Phone impersonation scams: Fraudsters call pretending to be Amazon support, citing problems with orders or payments.
- Phishing emails and texts: These often look like legitimate messages from Amazon and include fake links asking users to verify account details or confirm a suspicious transaction.
- Urgency-based manipulation: Many scams aim to create panic claiming your account will be locked or charges processed immediately unless you act fast.
- Gift card scams: Hackers request that victims pay using gift cards a method Amazon says it never uses for transactions.
These tactics are designed to manipulate human psychology, using fear, urgency, and authority to get victims to act without thinking.
Amazon’s Official Guidance to Stay Safe
To combat the rise in fraudulent activity, Amazon has released a set of security tips that every shopper should follow, especially during the Prime Day period:
1. Always Verify Purchases on the Official Website or App
If you receive a suspicious message, don’t click any links. Instead, open the Amazon app or go directly to the website to check your account or order history.
2. Never Give Account Info Over the Phone or Via Email
Amazon will never call or email you requesting sensitive information like passwords, Social Security numbers, or payment credentials. All payments should be made within the official Amazon ecosystem.
3. Beware of False Urgency
If someone pressures you to act quickly, pause and consider the request. Amazon suggests taking a moment to “count to ten” before making any decision based on a sudden alert.
4. Gift Card Requests Are Always a Red Flag
Amazon will never ask customers to purchase or provide gift card details as a form of payment or account verification.
5. Report Suspicious Activity Immediately
Customers can report suspected scams directly through Amazon’s help pages. The company encourages shoppers to share details such as phone numbers, email addresses, or screenshots to aid investigation efforts.
Why Prime Customers Are High-Value Targets
With over 200 million global Amazon Prime members, each account represents a potential treasure trove of personal and financial data. In addition to saved payment methods, many users store delivery addresses, contact info, shopping preferences, and even linked family accounts.
Hackers can use this data not only to commit fraud within Amazon, but also to launch identity theft schemes across platforms. That’s why Amazon emphasizes strong, proactive account protection measures, especially during high-traffic periods like Prime Day.
The expansion of Prime Day to four days signals Amazon’s aggressive strategy to drive more traffic and sales but it also increases the attack window for scammers. Amazon is investing heavily in fraud detection technologies and customer education campaigns, but the first line of defense is always the user.
If you’re planning to shop the sales this July, Amazon encourages you to prepare now:
- Enable two-factor authentication on your Amazon account.
- Use strong, unique passwords, and avoid using the same credentials across multiple sites.
- Stay skeptical of unsolicited communication, no matter how official it looks or sounds.
Prime Day 2025 promises big deals but potentially bigger dangers if shoppers aren’t careful. With impersonation scams already spiking, Amazon’s security warning is timely and urgent. Stay vigilant, trust only verified sources, and think twice before clicking that link or answering that call. After all, the best deal is protecting your identity and peace of mind.
