According to this Facebook Post, US department store chain Kohl’s is giving everyone who shares a link a $100 coupon to celebrate its anniversary.
The post, which features an image depicting the supposed free coupon, urges you to click to get this “birthday offer”.
However, the post is fake. It has no connection to Kohl’s and no coupons are being given away.
If you click on the post, you will be taken to a scam website that asks you to answer a few questions about Kohl’s. The site will then pretend to verify your answers and inform you that you have “qualified” for the prize. But, in fact, all visitors are told that they have won the coupon no matter what answers they give.
Next, you will be instructed to share the site and add the comment “Thank-you”. By doing so, you are helping the scammers to promote the fake giveaway across Facebook.
After sharing and commenting, you are told to click the “receive the voucher” button.
Instead of being able to claim your coupon, you will be taken to a dodgy website that asks you to supply your name and contact details, ostensibly to get a chance to win further prizes. But, the personal information you provide will be shared with various marketing companies who will subsequently bombard you with unwanted promotional phone calls, text messages, and emails.
And, you will still not get to claim your free coupon.
Scams like this one are very common on Facebook. The “anniversary giveaway” claim is a favourite scammer trick.
If you see one of these bogus giveaway posts, don’t be tempted to participate. You have no chance of winning the promised prize. And you may risk your privacy and security by sharing your personal information with online scammers.