Have you won a free gift card? The answer, of course, is "no."
That's not entirely fair: some firms do enter customers into competitions, especially when the holiday season is coming up. But when was the last time you heard of someone winning a $500 Amazon gift card and it wasn't a scam?
Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before clicking any links and becoming a victim of cybercriminals.
1. Is the Email Account Genuine?
Fraudsters use gift card scams because they're evergreen, and can yield a lot of cash without much effort. They don't bother promising gift cards for small stores few have heard of: they aim for the big names like Amazon and eBay! They can guarantee that a large number of recipients are customers of the site and are more likely to fall for the scam.
So, if your inbox says you've got an email from "Amazon Gift Cards", how do you know that it's fake?
Look at the email address it's come from. A lot of people skim this and miss the obvious. In reality, it might read "amzon.com"—something close enough to trick most users. Similarly, you shouldn't trust addresses like "ebaydotcom".
Don't click on the link, or any elements within the email. It could download malicious software to your device.
Scammers sometimes redirect to the genuine site anyway, making victims relax and not realize they've downloaded malware.
2. Are the Images Pixelated?
Scammers don't always use high-quality pictures, so one solid indicator that not everything is as it seems is if images are pixillated, either on your PC or when switching to another device like your smartphone.
This includes logos. Big-name companies won't use pixelated versions of their own brands. If elements appear fuzzy, it's likely the scammer has stolen a low-resolution logo from the internet.
If images won't load, this is another sign the message could be fraudulent, but isn't a certainty. That could simply be due to connectivity issues. However, the opposite is true too: just because pictures are HD, it doesn't mean an email is real.
Take a look on Google and you'll find large files containing all manner of corporate logos. If you can find it online, so can cybercriminals.
3. Are There Spelling and Punctuation Mistakes?
Any company worth its salt will employ a copywriter or editor to make sure their communications are well-written. It's a level of professionalism that scammers don't bother with. You don't need a degree in Creative Writing to recognize poor spelling and grammar. The same applies to supposed competitions via social media and emails, as well as on any websites they link to; in actuality, these are phishing scams.
If a Facebook profile boasts that you can "WIN FREE GIFT CARDS!!!1!!", don't trust it. Sites like eBay don't tend to use hyperbolic punctuation either. If its About page uses similarly questionable copy, don't even bother "liking" the page, especially considering the amount of personal information linked to our social media pages.
Regional differences may apply too: if you're a customer of Amazon UK, for instance, don't expect a message with Americanisms purporting to be from the American Amazon.com.
4. Does It Ask for Unnecessary Personal Details?
Fraudsters don't always rely on victims clicking on links to scam people. Many of us happily volunteer our private details anyway. You might be redirected to a login page that looks a lot like the real thing. You'll enter your username and password—a big mistake. But even if you don't type in your password, that doesn't mean you shouldn't value other details.
If an email directly asks for your private data or redirects you to somewhere that does, it's likely a scam. So ask yourself: why would they need your social security number? Why does it ask for your date of birth? What information does the company it's purporting to be from already have about you? Consider what details a genuine competition actually needs.
Simply "liking" a page on Facebook can be dangerous. "Like" farming scams encourage you to share posts to win gift cards and other free goodies and are especially popular around Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You risk your usernames, financial information, and other personal data stored in associated apps like WhatsApp and Instagram.
5. Is the Message Personalized?
It's lovely that your aunt and uncle have sent you a message about winning a gift card by simply clicking on a link or retweeting a post. Now that you come to think of it, though… why don't they talk like normal human beings?
Cybercriminals use impersonal messages to perpetuate a scam because it'd be a bit too strange if they addressed them all to "Chris" or "Emma". It's also a tell-tale sign that it's not really from someone you care about.
Some scams will be directly aimed at you, using your email address and username to appear personal. But you should still recognize when a relative isn't using their normal syntax. If you read it and something doesn't feel right, trust your instincts.
6. Do You Know of Any Previous Winners?
The answer is, once more, "no". It's incredibly unlikely that your family or friends have won a free gift card via social media. When have you ever known a genuine claim?
Occasionally, companies do offer freebies including cards, so you can't immediately discount them. Some legit companies publicize a list of previous winners as proof that the competitions are authentic. If a service can't prove that visitors benefited from a giveaway, why should you trust them?
There is a difference between genuine winners and the type of comments you'll find on social media. You'll notice fake accounts saying things like, "THANK YOU, WALMART!!! I WON $500 AND HELPED ME PAY FOR XMAS!" Yes, they'll likely be in all capital letters and use poor grammar.
Fraudsters post these in an attempt to verify their scam; instead, they're a sign it's fake.
That's not to say you should ignore Twitter and other social networks. Plenty of feeds highlight scams to alert their followers. Never underestimate disgruntled tweets.
7. Does It Sound Too Good to Be True?
Here's one last tip which should apply to everything you do online: ask yourself whether something is too good to be true. If you've got doubts, listen to your gut.
Gift card scams are particularly popular right now, partly because they're harder to trace than fraud involving credit cards. Don't fall into their traps. Trust your instincts and follow some basic checks to avoid these sorts of scams.
Beware of Scammers Bearing Gift Cards
Your first reaction to news of you winning a gift card should be skepticism. Even legit companies are recognizing that fraudsters rely on gift card scams, so they often find other ways to reward real customers and incentivize sales.
Remember: do not click on links in emails; and stay critical when you visit Facebook and Twitter.
