{"id":231457,"date":"2026-06-18T12:35:05","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T19:35:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=231457"},"modified":"2026-06-18T12:35:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T19:35:05","slug":"this-week-in-scams-fake-shopping-sites-fooling-ai-prime-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/this-week-in-scams-fake-shopping-sites-fooling-ai-prime-day\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Shopping Scams Americans Report Seeing Most: This Week in Scams"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week, McAfee warned that economic pressure and AI are\u00a0creating ideal conditions for online shopping\u00a0scams.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This week, that warning got another real-world example.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

New reporting<\/span><\/a>\u00a0revealed\u00a0that cloned shopping websites have\u00a0appeared in AI-generated search results, potentially directing consumers to convincing fake storefronts designed to steal payment information and personal data.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The incident reinforces what\u00a0<\/span>McAfee’s latest research<\/span><\/a>\u00a0found ahead of Prime Day: shoppers are moving faster, trusting deals more readily, and\u00a0encountering\u00a0increasingly sophisticated\u00a0scams.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before the summer’s biggest shopping events kick into high gear,\u00a0let\u2019s\u00a0get into the sales and Prime Day\u00a0scams\u00a0to be aware of and other cybersecurity news making headlines\u00a0<\/span>This Week in Scams.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Top 7 Shopping Scams to Watch\u00a0for\u00a0This Prime Day<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

McAfee’s\u00a0<\/span>latest research<\/span><\/a>\u00a0found consumers most\u00a0frequently\u00a0encounter\u00a0the following\u00a0scams\u00a0during major sales events:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Fake shipping confirmations and order updates (34%)\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Delivery company impersonation\u00a0scams\u00a0(32%)\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Requests for payment or account information (27%)\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Suspicious account verification alerts (26%)\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Retailer impersonation\u00a0scams\u00a0(25%)\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Fake urgency and expiring deal messages (24%)\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Suspicious discount codes and flash-sale\u00a0offers\u00a0(22%)\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    These\u00a0scams\u00a0work because they exploit moments when consumers are already expecting packages, tracking orders, comparing prices, and making quick purchasing decisions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"McAfee's\u00a0latest<\/div>\n

    Prime Day Shopping Safety Checklist<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

    In McAfee\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>new consumer research<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>40% of Americans surveyed said they would trust a lower priced deal without verifying it.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0That means as costs are climbing, shoppers are less likely to second guess a too-good-to-be-true deal that could be a\u00a0scam.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cWhat the data reflects is that economic pressure has effectively done some of the scammer\u2019s work for them,\u201d says McAfee\u2019s Head of Threat Research Abhishek Karnik.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cWhen consumers are already primed to move quickly and prioritize price over authenticity, it takes far less effort to push them toward a bad click or a fraudulent purchase.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    And reporting that\u00a0<\/span>fake shopping sites have\u00a0appeared\u00a0in ChatGPT results<\/span><\/a>\u00a0shows that\u00a0<\/span>scammers are adapting to ensure they show up wherever consumers search for products, including AI-powered search experiences.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    That means\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0more important than ever for shoppers to know the red flags, common\u00a0scams, and protection measures to find deals safely.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Safety Checklist<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Before making a purchase:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u2713 Verify the website URL<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u2713 Compare prices across multiple retailers<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u2713 Research unfamiliar sellers<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u2713 Be\u00a0skeptical\u00a0of discounts exceeding 50-70%<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u2713 Never trust a shopping link sent by text<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u2713 Use a credit card instead of bank transfer, crypto, or gift cards<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u2713 Check independent reviews<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u2713 Verify shipping alerts directly through the retailer<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Other Scam and Security News This Week<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Nintendo Investigates Third-Party Employee Data Incident<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

    According to\u00a0<\/span>Kotaku<\/span><\/i><\/a>, Nintendo is investigating an alleged data exposure involving\u00a0TinyPulse, a third-party employee survey platform. An extortion group claiming responsibility for the incident says it\u00a0possesses\u00a0employee information and internal communications and demanded a $2 million ransom. Nintendo said its own systems were not compromised and that no customer financial or payment information was accessed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Madison Square Garden Data Allegedly Posted Online<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

    According to\u00a0<\/span>404 Media<\/span><\/i><\/a>, hackers linked to the\u00a0ShinyHunters\u00a0group have allegedly published data stolen from Madison Square Garden after an extortion attempt. Sample files reviewed by the outlet\u00a0reportedly contained\u00a0personal information, talent records, and contact details connected to sports personalities and business operations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Novo Nordisk Reports Clinical Trial Data Breach<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

    According to\u00a0<\/span>Yahoo Finance<\/span><\/i><\/a>, Novo Nordisk\u00a0disclosed\u00a0a data breach involving individuals\u00a0participating\u00a0in clinical trials. The company is currently assessing the scope of the exposure while also managing ongoing supply constraints affecting its GLP-1 medications, including Wegovy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    How McAfee Can Help\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

    With\u00a0<\/span>McAfee+ Premium,<\/span><\/b><\/a>\u00a0multiple layers work together before any damage is done:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n