Is Prime Day a Scam? 

If you’re thinking of shopping on Prime Day, you need to know: Is Prime Day a scam? 

Below, we explain whether Prime Day is a scam and discuss some steps you can take to improve your safety when shopping on this day. 

What Is Prime Day?

Prime Day is a two-day sales event run by Amazon for its Prime members.

As per Amazon themselves, Amazon Prime is Amazon’s membership service that “combines savings, convenience, and entertainment in one single membership.”

During Prime Day, Prime members can buy certain Amazon products cheaper. 

The event has been taking place since it first happened in 2015. It usually occurs in the summer. 

Is Prime Day a Scam?

Depends on who you ask, but generally, no, Prime Day is not a scam.  

Many internet users liken Prime Day to a scam in the sense that, according to them, prices are often artificially inflated on Amazon just before Prime Day and then “discounted” back to what the items normally cost. 

However, others say they have managed to get good deals on Prime Day. 

The key, say some users, is that not all items are discounted, so it’s up to you to find the discounted items. 

Amazon says that issues with pricing on Prime Day stem from misunderstandings, with shoppers either missing a promo code, comparing the discounted price with atypical prices, or citing incorrect figures.

The company says it uses verified reference prices to display accurate discounts. 

It’s also possible that pricing issues arise due to third-party sellers on Amazon raising their prices before Prime Day. 

According to ​​Will Tjernlund, co-founder of Goat Consulting and previously an Amazon seller:  

“They [Amazon sellers] think, ‘Oh, well, [Prime Day] is coming up. I’m going to think outside the box. I’m going to jack up my price the week before, so then I can do an even bigger discount the week after.’” 

Also, Prime Day discounts can change as the sale goes on. 

As Prime Day draws nearer, the possibility of actual scams (e.g., fake emails that pretend to be from Amazon) also increases. 

Check Point Research noted a significant increase in phishing attacks around Prime Day. They found over 1,000 new Amazon-related domains at the time of their research, with 88% flagged as malicious, plus hundreds of scam emails pretending to come from Amazon. 

Scammers were also found to be making unsolicited calls to Prime members, saying there were urgent account issues that needed to be resolved (and ultimately, tricking users into sharing payment information)

So, Should You Shop On Prime Day?

Probably. You can get good deals on Prime Day. 

Just make sure to do your homework – check Amazon product price histories, review the sellers you’re thinking of buying from, and be careful not to fall for phishing scams, which tend to increase during Prime Day.  

How to Shop On Prime Day Safely (And Make the Most of It)

• Make sure you’re on the right site. Sounds obvious, but scammers can and do create fake Amazon sites. The URL of the genuine Amazon site is “https://www.amazon.com” and has a padlock icon. 
• Watch out for phishing emails and calls. Scammers also like to send emails and calls that look like they come from Amazon but are actually meant to trick you into sharing sensitive details. Don’t click on any links and texts, and don’t share personal details over the phone unless you’re 100% sure the call is from Amazon. 
• Use strong security practices. Make sure your passwords are strong and unique (don’t reuse your Amazon account password elsewhere on the web), and turn on two-factor authentication for added protection.
• Check price history. There are tools that allow you to check what an Amazon product cost historically. You should also check competitors’ websites for their prices and discounts before buying anything from Amazon on Prime Day. 
• Use Amazon tools. Add items to your Wish List or “Save for Later” section. If you have it, use Alexa to get notified if these items go on sale. 

• Look for Lightning Deals. These are time-sensitive offers that can provide significant savings but sell out quickly, so act fast if you see something appealing.
• Use Amazon Prime free trials. If you’re not currently an Amazon Prime member, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial before Prime Day. Just don’t forget to cancel if you don’t want to keep the Prime membership after the sale has passed.