A post being shared on Facebook claims that American supermarket chain Publix is giving everyone a free $80 coupon to celebrate the company’s 75th anniversary.
The post features an image that appears to depict one of the $80 coupons. Clicking the post opens a website that supposedly allows you to claim your free coupon.
When you first arrive on the bogus claim website, you will be asked to complete a short survey about Publix. The site will then pretend to validate your answers before declaring that you are a winner of a coupon. In fact, every visitor is declared a winner regardless of which answers they choose.
Next, you will be instructed to share and like the site on Facebook as well as add the comment “Thanks #Publix”. By doing so, you are helping the scammers promote their fake giveaway across Facebook.
After liking, sharing, and commenting you will be told to click a “verify” button to claim your coupon.
The “Verify” button opens further suspect websites that offer the chance to win prizes in exchange for registering and providing your name and contact details. But, these sites will give your information to dodgy marketing companies, who will then inundate you with unwanted emails, phone calls, text messages, and letters peddling a variety of dubious products and services.
But, no matter how many sites you give your details too, you will never receive your $80 Publix coupon.
By the way, Publix was founded in 1930, so it is not celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2019 as stated in the scam post.
The post is very similar to a $75 Publix coupon giveaway scam that was distributed around September 2018.
A Screenshot of the scam post:
