Coupons and Prizes: Too Good to be True?
A popular scam that goes around during the holiday season often come in the form of unsolicited text messages or emails that are offering heavy discounts on common gift items, or that offers to give away or raffle expensive or desirable items. Remember if a deal sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
It works like this: Scammers typically claim that you need to pay fees or taxes before your ‘winnings’ or prize can be released. You may also have to call or SMS a premium rate phone number to claim your prize. If you pay, you will never receive the promised prize and lose every cent that you send. Be careful what personal information you share with as they can use that also to commit identity theft. Why do these scams work? Because everyone loves a discount, and the excitement of winning a prize is a strong draw to click or call!
Keep in mind that you cannot win money, prizes etc. in a lottery or a competition unless you actually entered them, or someone did for you. But a scammer can advertise such an event in emails and on websites and make it appear that it is personal just to you. Be wary of anyone that you don't know asking for your personal information, especially your banking details.