Photo: JLauer (Shutterstock)
We’ve all taken those brief surveys where you get a $10 gift card for a movie theater or a BOGO coupon for Chipotle. But what about a free $325 Yeti cooler for taking a Dick’s Sporting Goods survey? Sounds like a steal, right? That was the latest strategy implemented by a new email scam that hooked people in and stole their information.
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What made this specific email scam special was the fact that it was able to reach many people by getting around Gmail’s spam filter, which exposed more people to this type of scam than usual. Luckily, whether it’s a Yeti cooler or AirPods headphones that’s being showcased, there are some simple ways to not fall prey to these type of scams.
How did the Yeti cooler scam work?
The email used an advanced coding technique to fool Gmail’s spam filter into thinking it was a legit email with important information. Then it asked people to take a survey that asked for your sensitive information, and finally asked you to input your credit card information to pay for the cooler’s shipping.
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That’s why you should never rely on spam filters to do the work for you—instead, arm yourself with some tools to identify these kinds of scams. As Dick’s Sporting Goods warns in their security alert, the goal of the scammers is collecting your sensitive information for monetary gain.
How can I tell if an email is a scam?
Check the email domain to see if it’s from the official business
All companies have an email domain that they use for their communications and promotions that is usually on their “contact us” page on their official website. This domain usually closely resembles the name of the company itself. So if you’re getting an email from deswasdabsdsbdbsr@criwaspothefi.ml, you can be certain it’s a scam and not Dick’s Sporting Goods emailing you.
Go to the company’s website to check if they are advertising the offer
It goes without saying that if Dick’s Sporting Goods was giving away $325 Yeti coolers for taking a survey, they would really want you to know about it and advertise it on their website, as well as other social media sites. So do a little of extra work and check their social media handles or even call them to make sure the offer really is on the table.
Also, if you follow along on the suspicious email, and you’re sent to a website, check if that website is actually from the original company. Google the website of the company and see if the URLs match. If it says anything but the name of the company, in this case www.dickssportinggoods.com, it’s very likely a scam.
Never give your credit card info for things that should be free or are unverified
Most scams aren’t happy with just your address, name, email, and other sensitive information. They also want your credit card information. Luckily, the only way for them to get that from you is if you willingly give it to them. As a rule of thumb, never give away your credit card information for anything that should be free or is unverified.
Be suspicious of anything that asks for your information
Yes, there are legit surveys online that are going to want to know your name or your address for reasons regarding the nature of the survey. But be diligent and avoid them if possible. Most surveys are anonymous these days anyway, so if you’re being asked a bit more than you’re used to, that’s a red flag. Also keep in mind that if you win a contest you never signed up for, it’s probably a scam.
If it’s too good to be true, it probably is
If a deal seems too good to be true, give yourself some time and space to think if what you’re looking at makes sense. Ask a trustworthy friend or family member who is not involved in the situation if they think what you’re about to do seems like a scam. (If you have to ask, it’s most likely a scam.)
What to do if you sent money for the Yeti cooler?
If you gave your credit card or other sensitive information to the Yeti cooler email or the websites they linked to, the most important thing to do is immediately call your bank to ensure your account is monitored for fraud, and follow any actions they recommend.
