Scammers are great impersonators. They spoof phone numbers, logos, websites -- you name it.
In a new con that the Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about, they make a scam website look like a Facebook sponsored giveaway.
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“Don’t fall for it,” the BBB says.
How the scam works
You are browsing online with your smartphone, and, suddenly, a popup appears. “Congratulations,” it reads, “you’re today’s lucky visitor.” The prize is a $1,000 gift card, and you can select from a list of famous stores. You only have 2 minutes to claim your prize, so you better decide quickly.
Don’t fall for it! The site looks like Facebook -- scammers used the site’s colors, font, and blue navigation bar -- but there is no affiliation. The con artists also give their phony giveaway another level of credibility, officials said.
They use a technology to insert the model of phone you are using to browse online. In this example, the target is identified as a “loyal Apple customer.”
How to spot a giveaway or gift card scam:
For more information
Facebook is a BBB Accredited Business. Learn more about scams that appear to be from Facebook here.
To report a scam, go to BBB Scam Tracker.