In May 2024, Facebook and Instagram have been flooded with ads offering consumers a chance to get a free Yeti 65-quart cooler, supposedly from Costco. The ad claims that the offer is part of a testing program for Yeti Tundra 65 Coolers. The link provided, neurotics.info, redirects to a fake Costco Wholesale website that promises free coolers. However, this is nothing but a cleverly disguised scam.
The scam operates by luring consumers to a fake website where they are asked to fill out personal details and provide credit card information. Once the details are submitted, the scam redirects to another fraudulent website, admirableconqueringmeadows.com. Here, buried in the terms and conditions, are hidden monthly charges. The scam is a subscription trap designed to siphon money from unsuspecting consumers under the guise of a giveaway.
A major red flag is the pre-checked terms and conditions box. This is a common tactic used by scammers to ensure that victims inadvertently agree to hidden charges. The terms and conditions link provided initially is always broken. Only a tiny text link at the bottom of admirableconqueringmeadows.com reveals the exorbitant monthly charges associated with the supposed "free" cooler. This small detail often goes unnoticed, leading to unwanted charges on the victim's credit card.
The fake website lists a customer support phone number, 833-831-7259, and an email address, support@admirableconqueringmeadows.com. However, contacting them may result in no resolution. Victims of this scam should immediately contact their credit card company to dispute the charges and prevent further unauthorized transactions.
To help others avoid falling victim to this scam, I have gathered some valuable resources. Below are links to articles from credible publishers that discuss similar scams and provide tips on how to protect yourself:
1. www.nytimes.co...
2. www.washington...
3. www.forbes.com...
4. www.cnbc.com/2...
5. www.bbc.com/ne...
6. www.consumerre...
7. www.wsj.com/ar...
It's essential to stay vigilant and always scrutinize offers that seem too good to be true. Here are some tips to help you avoid falling victim to scams like this:
1. Always verify the legitimacy of offers by visiting the official website of the brand or retailer.
2. Look out for broken links and pre-checked boxes in forms.
3. Read the terms and conditions thoroughly before entering any personal information.
4. Be cautious of requests for personal or financial information, especially from unsolicited offers.
5. Report suspicious ads to the social media platform to help protect others.
Keywords: Yeti cooler scam, free Yeti cooler, Facebook scam, Instagram scam, Costco scam, subscription trap, hidden charges, online scam, fake website, credit card fraud
By spreading awareness about these scams, I hope to protect consumers from falling into these deceptive traps. Always remember to double-check offers and report any suspicious activity to safeguard yourself and others from online scams.
Note: This description was written with the support of ChatGPT. If scammers are using AI to scam people, I'm going to use some AI in my own scam-busting tactics here on my personal RU-vid channel to save potential victims. Also, the thumbnail design was inspired by Steve Ram's RU-vid channel.
27 сен 2024
