Bargain hunters have been warned to be on their toes today as they shop for the best Amazon Prime Day deals. Security firm McAfee has already warned buyers to be warned of scams seeking to profit from hungry bargain hunters. The company is asking users to be cautious before clicking on ads or links to offers that seem too good to be true, especially those shared on social networking sites or in emails and messages received across platforms. Like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp.
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McAfee revealed a study on online shopping habits which revealed that more than a third (39%) of Britons could not tell if a website was real or fictional. However, half of them said that if the price was lower than a trusted retailer, they would buy it from an online site. even if they weren't completely convinced it was authentic or safe. Twenty percent said they would make an online purchase over an unsecured or public Wi-Fi connection, which could expose their payment information and personal information to cybercriminals hidden in the network. Last year these criminals lost an average of €725 per person in the UK. One respondent stated that €48,000 had been stolen from his bank account. McAfee added that suspicions of him had been raised after the discovery of a phishing kit currently being used in the United States and Japan to lure Amazon customers into divulging their personal information. This kit allows hackers to create Amazon-like phishing emails and invite users to share their login credentials to a malicious website. It has already been used to create more than 200 malicious URLs. "Amazon Prime Day is a minefield for shoppers and offers cybercriminals a great opportunity to take advantage of the ignorant Brits. Good bargain hunters should think before passing on their personal information to get the best possible deal, without getting bitten. Never panic about finding the best deal and take your time before entering personal information," said Raj Samani, McAfee chief scientist and partner. "Consumers should remember that if an ad for a deal sounds too good to be true, okay, think before you click on the link for a discount. The same goes for emails and messages you receive through platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp If a significant discount hits your inbox, it's better to visit the site directly rather than click on a link If you think you've been scammed, McAfee recommends changing account passwords potentially compromised transactions and monitor bank statements for unknown transactions.