Have you gotten an email stating that you may "answer & win a brand new Le Creuset" from Kohl's or Target? If so, you're not by yourself. Numerous customers have reported receiving similar emails since October 2022, promising a Le Creuset upon completion of the poll.
I decided to follow along to find out what the gentlemen behind the email are up to and how they plan to gift me this amazing cooker after receiving the same target unlocked winner email last week. First of all, the email wasn't sent from the @target.com domain, which is the official Target email address. The strange-looking address was a warning sign in and of itself.
I was instructed to click on the attachment that was included in the email. But when I did, the questionnaire included eight questions instead of the one that was supposed to be there, plus a line that said "free shipping."
Upon completing the survey, I was prompted to pay $4.96 for postage. This surprised me a lot because I had just been told, "Free shipping." Still, I did not find it surprising. One of my favorite maxims is "if it seems too good to be true, it probably isn't."
These con artists will take all of the money out of your bank account as soon as you give them your credit card details. This is due to the fact that they are not the official Target or Kohl's firm and that you will not receive a free gift from them.
In the meantime, opening the text's accompanying link runs the risk of infecting your phone with malware.
READ ALSO:
Why It’s a Scam
- The email doesn’t come from an official email address
- It uses tinyurl.5ru, a known problematic link shortener which often directs to malicious websites
- There are complaints online about this exact email
Meanwhile, if you’ve already clicked on the link you should Install an anti-phishing software. This will scan your device and protect it from any virus attack.
How to Respond to Phishing Texts Similar To These
You shouldn't click on any links included in these emails or messages, no matter how appealing they may seem, or provide personal information.
Ignore such messages at first, and then search online reviews on it.
Tags
Review