Skip to content
  1. Home
  2. Local News

BBB: Be a smarter shopper on Amazon Prime Days

Canadians are losing a median dollar amount of $102 to online purchase scams, the Better Business Bureau states.
Better Business Bureau
prime
via Amazon

Amazon Prime Day has become an eagerly anticipated sales event in Canada, similar to Black Friday, Cyber Monday or Boxing Day.

During this expected shopping influx on July 11 and 12, BBB serving Mainland BC & Yukon is reminding consumers to stay on the lookout not only for deals, but potential scams to avoid. 

“There is a chance to nab a great deal, as long as you’re not falling for big box impersonators, which include fake websites, misleading emails and fraudulent texts claiming to be from the popular online retailer,” said Aaron Guillen, communications and media specialist of BBB Serving Mainland BC & Yukon. 

“Canadians are losing a median dollar amount of $102 to online purchase scams, according to our latest data. Nearly a third (29.5 per cent) of all reported scams on BBB Scam Tracker in 2022 were about online purchase scams. We don’t want that number to rise higher in the future.”

BBB’s top five tips to be a smart shopper for Prime Day:

  • Verify customer reviews. Does a product rating seem too good to be true with five stars across the board? Be careful. Scammers frequently post positive reviews on their pages, either copied from legitimate sites or created by bots. Scammers are present on all platforms, including Amazon. Check a trusted source for reviews on companies selling through Amazon, such as BBB.org, where customer reviews are vetted before they are posted.
  • Use traceable payment methods such as credit cards. Most financial institutions offer fraud protection with the use of their credit cards, so it’s more likely you’ll be able to get reimbursed after a scam if you have proof of payment. Remember, limit use of debit cards or e-transfers for online purchases. Use your own judgment if a seller is trying to convince you to buy directly from them instead of a trusted website. Have you met this person before? Do you trust them?
  • Avoid making quick purchases while browsing social media. Scammers advertise great deals or hard-to-find products, and they can be very tempting with the quick scan of a fingerprint, passcode to autofill your saved credit card information to checkout. BBB advises the use of the ‘Take 5’ rule. Whether it’s five minutes, five hours, or five days. Buyer’s remorse is a real problem that can play a factor in purchasing anything from a small keychain to a luxury watch.
  • Understand online retail return policies and warranties. Find out if the seller accepts returns or exchanges, and who pays the shipping when an item is returned. Keep a record of what you ordered. What happens when your new gadget stops working? Most electronics and home appliances come with warranties that are to be fulfilled with the manufacturer, not the retailer. 
  • Set a reasonable budget. Make a list of the items you want to purchase and set yourself to a cap of how much you’re willing to spend during your shopping spree. A popular budgeting technique is the 50–30–20 rule,  which recommends putting 50 per cent of your money toward needs, 30 per cent toward wants and 20 per cent toward savings. Many shoppers may end up spending way more than anticipated during a shopping spree because they get needs and wants mixed into the same category. Go to BBB.org to learn more about creating a budget and sticking to it.

Fall for a scam or narrowly avoid one? There is power in telling your story. Report your personal experiences to BBB Scam Tracker, Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or your local police.