Amazon Business: The Benefits, the Scams, and How to Stay Safe

Amazon Business is a dedicated platform created to support entrepreneurs, startups, and organizations of all sizes. It offers features like multi-user accounts, bulk purchasing options, and exclusive discounts tailored to meet professional needs.

Signing up is easy if you own a company, whether it's small or large. You'll need to provide business information for verification, which can happen instantly or take a few business days. Once the process is complete, you'll receive a confirmation email, unlocking full access to Amazon Business.

With a verified account, you can connect with hundreds of thousands of sellers offering business-only products, quantity discounts, and time-saving tools designed to streamline operations. As a Business Account manager, you can invite team members to join, and each person added creates a linked business user account under the organization's umbrella, making it easy to collaborate.

As an administrator, you can also oversee your team's activities, including order history, addresses, payment methods, and other account details and manage or close user accounts.

How Amazon Business works: An overview of the benefits

Business-Only Offers

Amazon Business functions similarly to the regular Amazon storefront but with added perks for businesses. It connects you to sellers, including those who reserve certain products—like healthcare, industrial, or lab essentials—for business-only customers, meaning that these exclusive offerings aren't available on regular Amazon.

Business Pricing

Amazon Business customers benefit from exclusive discounts and savings opportunities:

· Daily Deals and Prime Prices: Business Prime offers daily deals and discounts exclusive to business accounts.

· Progressive Discounts: Your savings grow with your order volume over the past calendar year, though these discounts apply only to select products and quantities.

· Repeat Deliveries: You get an extra 5% off for recurring monthly deliveries.

· Negotiable Pricing: For certain products or industries, you can negotiate directly with sellers for better pricing, not listed on the Business storefront.

3. Business Prime Benefits

While creating an Amazon Business account is free, a Business Prime membership unlocks premium benefits:

· Multi-User Accounts: Assign roles like administrators or buyers, making it easier to manage large or frequent orders without confusion.

· Spend Visibility: Use cloud-based analytics tools to track expenses with filters and key performance indicators (KPIs).

· Guided Buying: Set rules for your team, ensuring they purchase from approved sellers or within specific policies.

· WorkDocs: A secure collaboration tool for sharing documents and managing communication.

Multi-User Access and Approval Workflows

With Business Prime, you can grant multiple users access to your account while effectively managing their roles. For example, you can assign users as buyers, administrators, or finance personnel for specific tasks. Additionally, you can set up purchase guidelines and approval workflows to ensure that spending stays within budget.

Insightful Analytics

Amazon Business provides analytics tools to help you track and manage spending effectively - see who's spending what and where and get valuable insights for better financial planning.

Flexible Payment Options

Amazon Business simplifies payments with options like:

· Buy Now, Pay Later: Defer payments when needed.

· Pay by Invoice: Flexible terms with up to 30 days to settle payments.

· Business American Express Card: Earn rewards on purchases.

Tax-Exempt Purchasing

If your organization qualifies, you can enroll in the Amazon Tax Exemption Program (ATEP), allowing tax-exempt purchases directly through Amazon Business.

Consolidated Deliveries

For large bulk orders, Amazon Business sends shipments onto pallets, delivering them to a receiving dock or your doorstep.

Scams to Watch Out For When Using Amazon Business

1. Fake Vendor Invoices

Scammers send fraudulent invoices for items your business supposedly ordered. These invoices often look legitimate, using Amazon branding and mimicking past purchases.

What to Do: Before paying any invoice, log in to your Amazon account and check the "Orders" section. Cross-check the invoice details with your Amazon account's order history. If the invoice isn't listed, it's likely fake.

2. Fake Refund Claims

Scammers pretend to be Amazon representatives, contacting you via unsolicited messages or calls about refunds for wrongful charges. They might ask for remote access to your computer or direct you to a fake website to "process the refund." Once access is granted, they can steal sensitive data or money from your accounts.

What to Do:

Never click on links or call numbers provided in unsolicited messages. Instead, log in to your Amazon account directly via the app or website to verify your order history.

3. Phony Business Prime Membership Renewal

Scammers send emails or messages claiming your Business Prime membership is about to expire. They provide a link to renew, which leads to a fake site designed to steal your payment details.

What to do:

Renew Business Prime directly through your Amazon account, and don't click links in unsolicited emails or texts.

4. Counterfeit Bulk Orders

Scammers create fake listings offering popular bulk items (e.g., office supplies or electronics) at suspiciously low prices. Businesses may receive counterfeit goods, incomplete orders, or nothing at all. Be cautious with Deeply discounted prices on high-demand items and sellers with limited or poor reviews.

What to do:

Stick to reputable sellers with verified reviews. Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true.

5. Account Takeover Scams

Scammers are sending messages that claim your Amazon account has been locked due to suspicious activity. These messages often contain harmful links that can download malware or direct you to a fake login page designed to steal your credentials. If you accidentally provide your login information, scammers can gain access to your Amazon Business account. Once they have access, they can make unauthorized purchases, steal sensitive company data, or lock you out of your account.

What to Do:

Amazon won't notify you of account issues via text. Check your account status by logging in directly through Amazon's official app or website.

6. Fake Tax Exemption Requests

Scammers impersonate Amazon representatives or third-party services, claiming they can help your business enroll in the Amazon Tax Exemption Program. They may charge upfront fees or request sensitive business information.

What to do:

Enroll in the Amazon Tax Exemption Program directly through your account settings.

7. Unauthorized Order Approvals

Scammers exploit accounts with multiple users and weak permissions by posing as administrators or buyers. They approve unauthorized purchases, often for high-value items.

What to do:

Regularly review your account permissions and user activity. Use Amazon Business's approval workflows to set spending thresholds and require administrator oversight.

8. Fake Payment Disputes

Fraudsters impersonate Amazon customer service or sellers, claiming there's an issue with a recent payment. They direct you to provide sensitive information or issue refunds via non-secure methods.

What to do:

Verify payment disputes directly through Amazon's app or website. Avoid sharing sensitive details over the phone or email.

9. Supply Chain Phishing Attacks

Scammers send fake emails impersonating a trusted Amazon supplier or partner, requesting updated billing or shipping information. This tactic is designed to intercept payments or redirect shipments.

What to do:

Contact your suppliers directly using verified contact details to confirm any requested changes.

10. Phony Business Prime Membership Renewal

Scammers send emails or messages claiming your Business Prime membership is about to expire. They provide a link to renew, which leads to a fake site designed to steal your payment details.

What to do:

Renew Business Prime directly through your Amazon account.

How to Report Scams to Amazon

If you suspect someone is trying to scam you, report them.

Log In to your account -> Go to Customer Service-> Choose Security and Privacy Options.

Under the Help page, look for the option to report suspicious activity by selecting Security and Privacy > Report Something Suspicious.

Select the type of suspicious communication you encountered, whether it was an email, text message, or phone call. Share as many details as possible, such as the sender's email address, phone number, and screenshots of the communication, to help Amazon investigate and take action.

How to Protect Your Amazon Business Account

· Bookmark the Official Amazon Site: Save the official Amazon website on your desktop to minimize the risk of entering the URL incorrectly or falling for fraudulent websites. Whenever possible, use the official Amazon mobile app.

· Use Safe Payment Methods: Opt for credit cards instead of debit cards, as they offer better fraud protection. Always make payments directly on the Amazon platform, and if someone requests payment outside of Amazon, terminate all contact immediately.

· Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a code sent to your phone or email each time you log in.

· Inspect Emails Carefully: Always check the sender's address and look for typos or inconsistencies in communication claiming to be from Amazon.

· Use a Strong, Unique Password: Avoid reusing passwords across accounts. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords securely.

· Verify Sellers: Stick to verified sellers with good ratings and reviews. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

· Regularly Monitor Your Account: Check purchase histories and account activity frequently to spot anything unusual early.

· Don't immediately believe any claim someone makes about your Amazon account. For example, if someone tells you the account is frozen or sends you an unfamiliar invoice, don't panic. Instead, log in to your account with the Amazon app and check your order history and notifications.

· Educate Your Team: If others in your business have access to the account, make sure they know how to recognize scams, follow security protocols, and use a VPN.

Bitdefender Ultimate Small Business Security is here to help you with comprehensive protection designed specifically for small businesses. Here's what it offers:

Email Protection. Scans and blocks phishing emails, suspicious links, and fake invoices and prevents employees from accidentally clicking on malicious links.

Scam Detection. Scam Copilot monitors emails, texts, and chats for fraud. It alerts you and your employees when a scam attempt is detected, providing real-time guidance on how to handle it.

Password Management. Password Manager automatically generates strong, complex passwords that meet security best practices.

Secured Remote Work. The VPN protects your team from unsafe public Wi-Fi networks (like those in coffee shops or airports). Ensures all communication between remote employees and your business systems is fully secure.

Device Protection: Detects and blocks malware in real-time, including viruses, ransomware, and spyware on all laptops and smartphones.

Monitoring of Your Business's Digital Identity. Monitors your business's online presence for potential data leaks, unauthorized use of your business name, and exposure of sensitive information, even on the dark web, alerting you to any breaches.

Check out the plans here.

FAQs

How can I tell if a seller on Amazon Business is legitimate?

Check the seller's ratings, reviews, and return policies before making a purchase. Verified sellers often have consistent positive feedback and detailed product information. Be wary of sellers with few or no reviews, especially if their prices are significantly lower than market value. Stick to trusted sellers and avoid deals that seem too good to be true.

What should I do if I receive a suspicious email claiming to be from Amazon Business?

If you get an email that looks suspicious, don't click on any links or open attachments. Instead:

Log in to your Amazon account directly through the app or official website. Check your notifications and order history to confirm any claims and report the email to Amazon.

What's the difference between traditional Amazon and Amazon Business?

Traditional Amazon is tailored for individual consumers, offering a vast selection of products for personal use, along with benefits like Prime Video and Music. In contrast, Amazon Business is designed for organizations, providing features such as multi-user accounts, bulk purchasing options, business-only pricing, and analytical tools to streamline procurement processes. It caters specifically to the needs of businesses, educational institutions, and other organizations.

What's the difference between Amazon Prime and Business Prime?

Amazon Prime and Business Prime offer distinct features tailored to different types of users:

Amazon Prime is designed for individual consumers and offers benefits like free two-day shipping, access to Prime Video, Music, and exclusive deals.

Business Prime, on the other hand, is specifically for organizations and includes features that streamline business operations.

These benefits include:

· Free shipping for business orders.

· Spend visibility tools for tracking expenses.

· Guided Buying to enforce purchasing policies.

· Multi-user accounts to allow teams to shop collaboratively.