Posted
on Wednesday, September 3, 2025
in
Identity Theft Prevention
In this week’s scam, you get an email that looks like it’s from a trusted brand, such as Costco or AAA. The email promises a free gift if you fill out a short survey and pay a small shipping fee so that the gift can be delivered to you. The email may create a sense of urgency by claiming that only a few free gifts are left. All you have to do is click a link in the email, which takes you to a website with the survey.
However, the website and survey are fake, and the gift doesn’t exist. The small shipping fee is actually a trick to steal your financial information. If you enter your credit card details on the website, you’ll give your payment information directly to scammers. Then, they can use your card for more expensive purchases or sell your data to other cybercriminals. Even worse, they can use the personal information you entered to steal your identity!
Follow these tips to avoid falling for this phishing scam:
- Legitimate organizations would not ask for your credit card details to cover shipping for a completely free promotional item.
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Instead of clicking links in an email, go directly to the organization’s official website to check if the offer is real. Think before you click!
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Be skeptical of any offer that seems too good to be true, even if it appears to come from a brand you know and trust.
Article provided by:
KnowBe4.com