McAfee is sounding the alarm just in time for Prime Day. The cybersecurity company says scammers are getting smarter and bolder, creating fake Amazon sites and blasting out realistic delivery scam texts to trick people.
According to McAfee’s latest study, more than 36,000 fake Amazon websites have popped up. On top of that, over 75,000 scam texts are impersonating Amazon, hoping to catch shoppers off guard.
The timing isn’t random. With 81 percent of Americans planning to shop on Prime Day this year, scammers see it as an opportunity. And it’s working. About 15 percent of Americans say they’ve been scammed during Prime Day or a similar event in the past. Most lost money. One in four lost over $500. Ten percent lost more than $1,000.
Even though most people say they take precautions, many admit they don’t always feel confident about spotting scams. And that’s exactly what scammers are banking on.
Generative AI is making scams harder to catch. It’s being used to create fake Amazon pages, deepfake videos of influencers promoting fake products, and convincing texts claiming there are issues with your order or account.
The goal? To get you to click before you think.
“With inflation and tariffs driving deal-hunting, scammers are using generative AI to make their scams look more real and more personal,” said Abhishek Karnik, Head of Threat Research at McAfee. He says tools like McAfee’s Scam Detector can help people fight back.
Tariffs are also playing a role. Nearly half of Americans say they plan to spend more during Prime Day to save money in the long run. That number jumps to 68 percent among adults 65 and older. But scammers are targeting older shoppers with offers that seem too good to pass up.
Younger people are taking different risks. A quarter of adults aged 18 to 34 say they’re open to buying from unfamiliar brands if the deal looks good. That’s especially true on platforms like TikTok Shop and Instagram Shopping.
Nearly one in three young shoppers say they’ve seen deepfake influencer scams. Of those, 71 percent say either they or someone they know lost money.
Even the time of day matters. About 30 percent of shoppers admit they’ve clicked a suspicious link or made a sketchy purchase while multitasking or shopping late at night. And 37 percent say scam fears have made them back out of a purchase entirely.
There’s hope, though. Nearly half of shoppers say they’d consider using a scam detection tool this Prime Day. About 24 percent say they definitely will.
McAfee recommends a few tips. Go directly to apps like Amazon instead of clicking links. Watch for pressure tactics and strange payment requests. And trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.
Prime Day may be about deals, but shoppers need to stay sharp. The scams are slicker now. But with some caution and the right tools, you can shop smart and stay safe.
