A software update by CrowdStrike took down tons of computer systems around the world. Banks, businesses, hospitals, and more were all impacted. Plus, Amazon Prime Day updates and Zoom’s demand for a return to the office.
Fake Prime Day sites, emails and calls spreading
Amazon’s fall Prime Big Deal Days sale is next week on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9. Yes, I’ll be sharing all the best deals. But the most important thing I want you to know is that scammers are hard at work creating lookalike sites and emails to trick you while you’ve got your credit card out.
Gone are the days of crappy rip-offs. Today’s crooks create fake websites that look just like the ones they’re imitating. Don’t worry, I’ve got your back, and I’m here to help you spot the scams and shop safely.
Carbon copy
Over the last 30 days, Check Point Research has discovered more than 1,000 newly registered Amazon-related domains — and 88% of them are malicious or suspicious.
One out of every 54 of the new domains includes the phrase “Amazon Prime,” because they want your search to lead right to them.
- Examples: Domain names ending with .com, like “amazonprimemotels,” “amazonprimeresort” and “amazonprimeresorts.”
Many of these domains are “parked,” meaning they’re not in use — yet. Scammers like to get their ducks in a row and create sites that are ready to go live when it’s Prime (Day) time.
As for those sites that already have content up, most look and feel close enough to the real deal to catch the attention of unsuspecting shoppers browsing quickly. More than anything, scammers bank on you seeing the Amazon name and logo.
Calls and emails work, too
Check Point found more than 100 different Prime-focused scam email campaigns. Many impersonate Amazon Financial Services, asking you to update your payment details or other personal information.
They might look something like this:
CheckPoint.com
Don't fall for these Prime Day scams
Everyone’s pumped for this year’s Amazon Prime Day — including scammers. Last year, shoppers worldwide bought over 300 million items, giving criminals many opportunities to swoop in and steal information.
These crafty crooks have plenty of tricks up their sleeve, especially when it comes to phishing attacks. To avoid their schemes and order those Prime Day deals without a side of identity fraud, keep on reading.
$14.2 billion
Total Amazon Prime Day 2024 sales across both days. This year’s sales beat those in 2023 by 11% … and almost beat the national GDP of the Bahamas. Top product categories? Electronics and back-to-school gear. That’s a lot of erasers.
Get $20 in Amazon cash to spend on Prime Day - It takes 60 seconds
Mark your calendars. Amazon Prime Day begins July 12. Good news if you plan to take advantage of the tsunami of sales. There’s an extra Amazon Prime Day discount to apply to your order.
Since inflation is sky-high, you need all the deals you can get. That’s why you should shop for the stuff you need on Amazon Prime Day. You don’t have to wait a few weeks to take advantage.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
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Are you ready for Prime Day? One of the year’s biggest shopping events is just around the corner, which means you’ll have to beat the crowds if you want to snag the best deals.
Want a head start on all the best Prime Day sales? Tap or click here to see our favorite early deals.
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