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Amazon Prime Day Is A Big Event For Scammers, Experts Warn

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5 months ago

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amazon

NEW YORK — Amazon Prime Day is approaching, and experts warn customers to be aware of scammers.

Deceptions like fraudulent emails from people mimicking internet shops like Amazon are not new. However, the Better Business Bureau reports that phishing attempts rise around major sales periods such as Black Friday and Prime Day.

“This is a huge moment on the retail calendar,” Josh Planos, vice president of communications and public relations for the Better Business Bureau, told The Associated Press. “And because of that, it represents an enormous opportunity for a scammer, con artist or even just an unethical business or organization to capitalize on the moment and separate folks from their hard-earned money.”

Prime Day, a two-day discount event for Amazon Prime subscribers, begins on Tuesday and continues through Wednesday. The Better Business Bureau issued a revised caution last week, reminding customers to be wary of lookalike websites, too-good-to-be-true social media ads, and unwanted emails or calls during this month’s sales events.

Amazon Prime Day Is A Big Event For Scammers, Experts Warn

Consumers may need to be more attentive this year than any before. In June, the Better Business Bureau released a study stating that it received a record amount of phishing reports in 2023. Reports have also been rising upward this year, according to the organization.

Meanwhile, Check Point Software Technologies, an Israeli cybersecurity company, said this month that more than 1,230 new Amazon-related websites appeared in June. Check Point reported that most of them were malicious or appeared suspicious.

Scott Knapp, Amazon’s director of worldwide buyer risk prevention, notes two areas where the company has witnessed hoaxes during Prime Day in recent years: Prime membership and order confirmations.

According to Knapp’s emailed statement, more than two-thirds of scams reported by Amazon customers last year claimed to be connected to purchase or account concerns. Knapp explained that people reported receiving unsolicited calls or emails claiming there was a problem with their Prime subscription and requesting bank account or other payment details to reinstate the accounts.

He said that urging customers to confirm an order they did not place is another prevalent approach at this time of year. Scammers may use a costly item, such as a smartphone, to attract attention and request payment details or send a harmful link. They may also attempt to entice customers with promises of a gift or by employing language that generates a false feeling of urgency.

Amazon is working “to ensure scammers are not using our brand to take advantage of people who trust us,” Knapp wrote. The company’s app or website allows customers to authenticate their purchases and verify messages.

Additional scams are out there, but predicting what form they’ll take before this year’s Prime Day is difficult. However, experts observe that the same shopping frauds reemerge year after year.

“Typically, the bones remain the same,” Planos added, citing fake delivery scams, email phishing, and other common approaches. “It’s always a ploy to separate consumers from (their) personal and payment information.”

However, Planos and others caution that online hoaxes are continually changing and becoming more sophisticated. This implies that photographs appear more authentic, text messages sound more convincing, and fraudulent websites resemble reputable shopping places.

According to Amazon’s Knapp, with artificial intelligence “starting to leak in,” frauds targeting e-commerce buyers take the same strategy, but with a machine populating an email or text rather than a person.

According to Federal Trade Commission data, consumers reported losing around $10 billion to fraud in 2023, representing a 14% increase over 2022. According to the FTC, online shopping scams were the second most commonly reported type of fraud, trailing only impostor scams.

Throughout the year, the FTC and the Better Business Bureau educate customers with recommendations on how to prevent scams. The guidance includes rejecting unwanted communications, not exposing financial information to unsolicited callers, and double-checking URLs before clicking – secure websites, for example, will have “HTTPS” in the URL, not “HTTP.”

Scammers frequently encourage you to respond quickly, according to experts. It’s critical to pause and trust your instincts. Experts also encourage customers to report scams to regulators.

Aside from frauds that imitate firms or stores, be wary of counterfeit products and phony reviews on the websites of reputable retailers. Just because you are shopping on Amazon, for example, does not imply that you are purchasing from Amazon. Online shopping giants like eBay, Walmart, and others have extensive third-party markets.

Amazon Prime Day Is A Big Event For Scammers, Experts Warn

According to Planos, the quality and appearance of counterfeit products have improved dramatically in recent years, making the practice harder to control. A decent rule of thumb is to look at the price tag; if the product is sold for less than 75% of its annual market rate, “that’s a pretty big red flag,” he says.

Sketchy merchants can appear on many platforms, including sites like Amazon, “all the time,” according to Planos, who advises consumers to check out organizations on the Better Business Bureau website. Counterfeit products, like other scams, may become more prevalent during peak shopping seasons.

In recent years, Amazon has acknowledged getting rid of millions of fake products in response to mounting demand to combat counterfeit goods. The corporation also claimed to have prevented billions of fraudulent listings from appearing on its website. In 2023, Amazon stated that more than 7 million counterfeit items were “identified, seized, and appropriately disposed of.” The online shop has also launched many cases against fraudulent review brokers.

Amazon emphasizes that users can use its website to report fraudulent reviews and other scams. If a buyer purchases a counterfeit item found by the corporation, Amazon has stated that it will “proactively contact” the client and issue a refund.

SOURCE | AP

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Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics. Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

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Sonic the Hedgehog Dominates Christmas Wish Lists

Published

2 days ago

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2024-12-21

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Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog Merchandise are hot Christmas Items

Sonic the Hedgehog is dominating Christmas wish lists this year. The lovable blue hedgehog is back in the spotlight, from sonic the hedgehog toys and games to sonic the hedgehog coloring pages and movie hype.

Sonic-themed holiday merchandise is on fire, from quirky sweaters to action figures flying off shelves. Sonic the Hedgehog Christmas outfits for kids are selling out fast, making them a go-to gift option for festive fun.

Retailers have been quick to recognize Sonic’s holiday appeal. Special promotions and exclusive items, like the Sonic holiday t-shirts, are everywhere.

Everyone’s stocking up on Sonic merchandise, from big-box stores to boutique retailers.

Online shopping platforms are seeing a surge in searches for Sonic items. Whether it’s Sonic Christmas-themed tops or Sonic the Hedgehog coloring pages, Sonic the Hedgehog toys or Sonic and the Hedgehog 3, the demand is skyrocketing.

Retailers who tap into this trend are sure to see strong holiday sales.

Sonic has been around since the early 90s, but his popularity never wanes. With the release of Sonic 3, fans are more excited than ever.

sonic the hedgehog 4

Sonic the Hedgehog 4

Meanwhile, Paramount Pictures is preparing “Sonic the Hedgehog 4,” with the newest addition in the family-friendly genre set for a spring 2027 release.

The announcement comes as “Sonic 3” opens in theatres on Friday, estimated to gross $55 million to $60 million from 3,800 North American locations.

The sequel is shaping up to be a good holiday season blockbuster for Paramount, which explains the desire in future “Sonic” adventures. On the international front, the film will be released on Christmas Day in 52 markets.

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave “Sonic 3” an outstanding 87% fresh score.

The first two films grossed a total of $725.2 million at the global box office and generated over $180 million in global consumer expenditure through home entertainment rentals and digital purchases.

They also inspired a spinoff Paramount+ series, “Knuckles,” which premiered earlier this year.

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Amazon Strike Called By Teamsters Union 10,000 Walkout

Published

3 days ago

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2024-12-20

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Amazon Strike Called By Teamsters Union
Teamsters members were demonstrating at "hundreds" of other Amazon locations.

An Amazon strike has hit facilities in the United States in an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the corporation for a labour agreement during a peak shopping season.

The Teamsters union told the Associated Press that Amazon delivery drivers at seven facilities in the United States walked off the job on Thursday after the firm failed to discuss a labour contract.

According to the union, Amazon employees in Teamsters union jackets were protesting at “hundreds” of additional Amazon facilities, which the union billed as the “largest strike” in US history involving the company.

The corporation, which employs over 800,000 people in its US delivery network, stated that its services will be unaffected.

It was unclear how many people, including members of Germany’s United Services Union, participated in Thursday’s demonstration. The Teamsters union reported that thousands of Amazon employees were implicated in the United States.

Amazon Strike at 10 Locations

Overall, the group claims to represent “nearly 10,000” Amazon strikers, having signed up thousands of people at roughly ten locations across the country, many of whom have joined in recent months.

The organization has claimed recognition from Amazon going on strike, claiming the firm illegally neglected its obligation to bargain collectively over salary and working conditions.

The Teamsters is a long-standing US union with nearly one million members. It is well-known for securing lucrative contracts for its members at companies like delivery behemoth UPS.

Most of the Teamsters’ Amazon campaigns have concerned drivers working for third-party delivery companies that partner with the tech behemoth.

Amazon denies that it is liable as an employer in those circumstances, which is a point of legal contention. In at least one case, labour officials have taken a preliminary stance in favour of the union.

Stalled Contract Negotiations

Amazon employees at a major warehouse on Staten Island in New York have also chosen to join the Teamsters. Their warehouse is the only Amazon facility in the United States where labour officials have formally recognized a union win.

However, the Amazon strike is because contract negotiations have not progressed since the 2022 vote. It was not one of the areas scheduled to go on strike on Thursday.

Amazon, one of the largest employers in the United States, has long received criticism for its working conditions and has been the target of activists seeking to gain traction among its employees.

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Amazon Encounters Numerous Strikes As Unions Aim At The Holiday Shopping Surge.

Published

3 days ago

on

2024-12-19

By

Amazon

(VOR News) – Thousands of Amazon employees at various sites across the country were scheduled to go on strike on Thursday in an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the retail behemoth to acknowledge its unionised workers in the United States.

The walkout is expected to concentrate on seven Amazon locations across the country during the holiday purchasing surge and may be the most significant union action against Amazon in the nation’s history.

The business announced on Thursday morning that there had been no effect on operations. It also stated that it is “continuing to concentrate on fulfilling customers’ holiday orders.”

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters maintains that it represents more than 10,000 Amazon employees and contractors in aviation centres, warehouses, and delivery centres.

Amazon has refused to acknowledge the union for many years.

The retail giant, which employs approximately 1.5 million individuals, excludes contractors and part-timers. A strike has been initiated by delivery couriers and warehouse employees at seven distinct locations in order to exert pressure on the company to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement that would encompass modifications to compensation, amenities, and working conditions.

Picketing was intended for New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Skokie, Illinois.

Also, the Teamsters assert that they are establishing picket lines at “hundreds” of additional warehouses and delivery centres by encouraging non-unionized workers to picket under U.S. labour law, which protects workers’ ability to take collective action to further their interests.

“Amazon workers are exercising their power,” Randy Korgan stated to NPR.

“They now realise there is a pathway to take on a corporate giant like this – and that they hold the power.” Amazon responds by accusing the Teamsters of fabricating information regarding the strikes, asserting that the participants are “entirely” outsiders rather than employees or subcontractors of the corporation.

Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that “the reality is that they were unable to secure sufficient support from our employees and partners and have invited external parties to harass and intimidate our team.” For more than a year, the Teamsters have been intentionally misleading the public by claiming to represent “thousands of employees and drivers.” They do not.

The Teamsters did not provide a specific duration for the strike; however, they informed NPR that it would extend beyond one day. Workers would receive $1,000 per week in strike money, as per the union.

Teamsters President Sean O’Brien issued a statement in which he stated, “If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can attribute it to Amazon’s insatiable greed.” We established a firm deadline for Amazon to attend the meeting and treat our members equitably. They disregarded it.

The Teamsters granted until December 15 to convene with its unionised employees and develop a collective bargaining agreement.

Amazon has opposed all unionisation efforts in court, asserting that unions were not advantageous to its employees and emphasising the compensation and benefits that the organisation currently provides.

Amazon has been accused of discriminatory labour practices on numerous occasions, including the termination of labour organisers. Furthermore, it has disputed its official status as a contract employer.

Teamsters organize Amazon delivery couriers and other employees.

In June, Amazon established its first unionised warehouse in Staten Island, New York, two years after making history by voting to join the fledgling Amazon Labour Union, which is also affiliated with the Teamsters.

The union is one of the most influential in the United States and Canada, with 1.3 million members. On Thursday, the German United Services Union declared that Amazon employees in Germany would participate in a strike in conjunction with their American counterparts.

In the past, Amazon has experienced demonstrations in Germany and Spain that were related to the holiday season in order to advocate for improved wages and working conditions.

“The holiday season has arrived.” Delivery is anticipated. Patricia Campos-Medina, the executive director of Cornell University’s Worker Institute, asserts that “this is the moment in which workers have control over the supply chain.”

The Teamsters have reported that Amazon’s profits have increased both during and after the pandemic. The corporation is currently valued at over $2.3 trillion, with net income of $15 billion in the most recent quarter alone. It is the second-largest private employer in the United States, following Walmart.

SOURCE: NPR

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