EXPERTS have revealed the 5 “red flags” to look out for in a bid to protect online shoppers from scams, as millions gear up for Amazon Prime Day.
New research conducted by McAfee shows the users most at risk and how to stay safe online as scams become increasingly difficult to spot.
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Scams becoming harder to spot
According to Abhishek Karnik, the Head of Threat Research at McAfee: “As inflation and tariffs push more people to hunt for deals, scammers are using generative AI to craft scams that are more polished, personal, and persuasive.
“From retailer impersonations to hyper-realistic delivery scams, these threats are getting harder to spot.”
Experts reveal 5 ‘red flags’
In light of this new growing threat, the cyber security company has shared five red flags to watch out for to help users stay safe online:
- Urgent language demanding immediate action (“Your account will be closed in 24 hours!”).
- Requests for payment via gift cards, wire transfers or cash.
- Claims that you need to “verify” or “legalise” your money.
- Transfers to “goverment agencies” during the same call.
- Pressure to keep the call secret or not hang up.
McAfee also emphasised that Amazon will never call you about suspicious account activity or unauthorised purchases.
Further advice includes, using Amazon’s Message Centre, and never giving personal information, passwords, or payment details over the phone.
Mr Karnik added: “The good news is that the tools to fight back are getting smarter too.
“The best way to stay safe is to pause before you click, trust your instincts, and use AI-powered protection like McAfee’s Scam Detector to stay one step ahead.”
On how to protect your shopping experience, McAfee advised that you enable two-factor authentication on your Amazon account, use strong and unique passwords, and only shop on secure websites.
It also suggests you monitor your bank and credit card statements regularly, never click on suspicious emails, and, most importantly, trust your gut.
McAfee identified older adults as particularly at risk, while platforms like TikTok shop and Instagram Shopping are fast becoming hot spots for scam exposure.
Scammers strike again
Earlier this year, Amazon shoppers were also advised to watch out for dangerous scams and “unexpected” attacks that could empty bank accounts.
In March, Amazon released an official list of the four “common scam trends” that users needed to look out for, ahead of its spring sale.
Among the list, were prime membership scams whereby cybercriminals attempted to convince shoppers that they needed to reinstate their membership.
How to protect yourself from scams
BY keeping these tips in mind, you can avoid getting caught up in a scam:
- Firstly, remember that if something seems too good to be true, it normally is.
- Check brands are “verified” on Facebook and Twitter pages – this means the company will have a blue tick on its profile.
- Look for grammatical and spelling errors; fraudsters are notoriously bad at writing proper English. If you receive a message from a “friend” informing you of a freebie, consider whether it’s written in your friend’s normal style.
- If you’re invited to click on a URL, hover over the link to see the address it will take you to – does it look genuine?
- To be on the really safe side, don’t click on unsolicited links in messages, even if they appear to come from a trusted contact.
- Be careful when opening email attachments too. Fraudsters are increasingly attaching files, usually PDFs or spreadsheets, which contain dangerous malware.
- If you receive a suspicious message then report it to the company, block the sender and delete it.
- If you think you’ve fallen for a scam, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use its onlin
