The biggest two shopping days of the summer are about to get underway, but it’s important to be cautious of emails and texts regarding them. While many may lead to legitimate deals, some may not be trustworthy, according to a warning from cybersecurity provider Check Point Software Technologies.
Beware of fake sales and copycat websites
Shoppers everywhere are gearing up for Prime Day sales on July 16 and 17.
Prime member Trey Morgan wants to ensure that the discounts are genuine. He expressed his concern, saying, “You always wonder if the price went up and then came down for Prime Day, just like a lot of companies do.”
However, the main issue to be wary of is potential criminal activity. Check Point warns that scammers are also preparing for Prime Day.
In June, Check Point identified over 1,200 new website domains linked to Amazon, with 85% of them being flagged as malicious or suspected to be malicious. Jeremy Fuchs, lead researcher for email security at Check Point, advises to closely examine the sender’s email address for misspellings or added characters and to hover over links to check their destinations before clicking.
“Anything can be spoofed, and any email can potentially be a threat,” Fuchs warned. “The 10 seconds you spend performing these checks are much less time than dealing with potential fallout.”
Be cautious of fake delivery text messages
Meanwhile, with increased deliveries to your residence, Melanie McGovern from the Better Business Bureau emphasizes the importance of monitoring the delivery notifications you have subscribed to.
“People often get confused when they receive a text message,” McGovern explained. “They recognize they have a pending delivery and blindly click on the link, not realizing they may be exposing themselves to malware or giving away personal information.”
While Prime Day brings excitement for shoppers, it’s crucial to safeguard your bank account from scammers to prevent any financial losses.
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