Is the Amazon Mother’s Day Giveaway Fake or Real? Don’t Be the Next Victim in 2023

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, scammers have seized the opportunity to launch a new fraudulent scheme targeting people’s desire to win free gifts for their loved ones. One such scam that has gained traction is the Amazon Mother’s Day Giveaway. However, as with many online promotions, it is essential to be cautious and to verify the legitimacy of such offers before sharing personal information or participating. In this article, we will examine the Amazon Mother’s Day Giveaway, whether it is real or fake, and how to protect yourself from falling victim to similar scams.

QUICK LINKS

• How the Amazon Mother’s Day Giveaway Scam works?
• What to do if you receive a message with a link to the Amazon Giveaway promotion?
• How to Spot and Avoid Such Scams?

How the Amazon Mother’s Day Giveaway Scam works?

The Amazon Mother’s Day Giveaway scam is a fraudulent scheme that preys on people’s desire to win free prizes. The scam begins with a message via WhatsApp, inviting people to participate in a Mother’s Day Giveaway promotion. The message contains a link to a fake URL shortener website, such as wa5.ru, which redirects to a landing page designed to look like an Amazon giveaway.

The first page of the giveaway asks the participant to answer a short quiz about Amazon. Once the quiz is completed, the victim is redirected to the next page, which congratulates them for their participation and offers them a chance to win a prize.

The victim is then instructed to click on a box with a ticket inside, which takes them to another page, supposedly revealing their prize. In this case, the prize is an Apple iPhone 14 Pro 256GB. However, to receive the prize, the victim must complete two additional steps.

Once the victim has completed these steps, they are directed to a final page that congratulates them on winning the prize and provides instructions on how to claim it.

Here is a detailed step-by-step breakdown of how the Amazon Mother’s Day Giveaway scam works:

1. The victim receives a message via WhatsApp, inviting them to take part in the Amazon Mother’s Day Giveaway. The message could be from a friend, relative, or a complete stranger.
2. The message contains a link to a fake URL shortener website called wa5.ru, such as “wa5.ru/PRerAPJs/”.
3. Once the victim clicks on the link, they are redirected to a landing page that looks like a legitimate Amazon giveaway.
4. The first page of the giveaway asks the victim to answer a short quiz about Amazon. For example, the quiz may ask if the victim has ever purchased from Amazon or what products they associate with the brand.
5. After the quiz, the victim is redirected to another page that congratulates them on their participation and offers them a chance to win a prize.
6. The victim is asked to click on a box with a ticket inside it, which takes them to another page that supposedly reveals their prize. In this case, the prize is an Apple iPhone 14 Pro 256GB.
7. To receive the prize, the victim must complete two additional steps. First, they are asked to share the promotion with their WhatsApp groups and friends until a blue bar is filled up. This is designed to help the scam go viral and reach more potential victims. The victim is often required to share the promotion with at least 5 groups or 20 friends.
8. Second, the victim is asked to provide personal information, including their delivery address, which is used to steal their identity or sell to other scammers.
9. Once the victim has completed these steps, they are directed to a final page that congratulates them on winning the prize and provides instructions on how to claim it.
10. The victim may also be asked to pay a shipping fee to claim their prize. However, even if people pay the fee, they will not receive anything in return.

In reality, the Amazon Mother’s Day Giveaway is a classic survey scam that aims to trick people into divulging their personal information and spreading the scam to their friends and family. The scammers use URL shorteners and fake landing pages to make their scheme seem more legitimate.

Examples of such scams

Unfortunately, the Amazon Mother’s Day Giveaway scam is just one of many similar scams that are used to trick people into divulging personal information, spreading malware, or making unauthorized purchases. These scams often take advantage of people’s desire for free prizes or exclusive deals, and use social engineering tactics to appear legitimate.

Here are some examples of similar scams that you should be aware of: Amazon Children’s Day PlayStation 5 Giveaway Scam, SHEIN Gift Card Instagram Scam, and Mr Beast Giveaway SCAM.

What to do if you receive a WhatsApp message or social media post with a link to the Amazon giveaway promotion

If you receive a WhatsApp message or social media post with a link to the Amazon giveaway promotion, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself:

• The first and most important step is to avoid clicking on the link. This can help prevent you from being directed to a fake website or downloading harmful software.
• If you are interested in participating in the promotion, it is recommended to verify the legitimacy of the promotion by checking the official Amazon website or social media channels. Legitimate promotions are usually advertised on the company’s official channels, so if you cannot find any information about the promotion there, it is likely a scam.
• If you suspect that the message is a scam, report it to the relevant authorities. For WhatsApp, you can report the message by tapping and holding on the message and selecting “Report” from the menu. For other social media platforms, look for a “Report” or “Flag” option.
• If you receive a suspicious message, it is important to warn your contacts about the scam to prevent them from falling victim to it. You can do this by forwarding the message to your contacts and explaining why you believe it is a scam.
• Never provide personal information, such as your address, phone number, or credit card details, in response to a suspicious message or website. Legitimate companies would never ask for this information in this way.

By following these steps, you can help protect yourself and others from falling victim to the Amazon Giveaway scam and other similar scams.

Threat Summary

Name	Amazon Mother’s Day Giveaway Scam
Type	Phishing Scam
Fake claims	Amazon is giving away free gifts for Mother’s Day.
Scammers websites	wa5.ru (fake URL shortener)
Disguise	Fake Amazon branding and holiday theme
Symptoms	Messages from friends and strangers on WhatsApp
Damage	Loss of personal information, spread of malware, unauthorized purchases
Distribution	WhatsApp messages and social media
Target Audience	Anyone on WhatsApp
Prevention Tips	1) Do not click on suspicious links; 2) Verify the legitimacy of the promotion through official channels; 3) Warn your contacts about the scam; 4) Protect your personal information
Reporting Info	Report suspicious messages to WhatsApp by tapping and holding the message and selecting “Report”

How to spot and avoid such scams?

Here are some tips on how to spot and avoid scams like the Amazon Mother’s Day Giveaway Scam:

1. Be wary of unsolicited messages. If you receive a message or email from an unknown sender, be cautious. Do not click on any links or download any attachments until you have verified that the sender is legitimate.
2. Look out for spelling and grammatical errors. Scammers often use poor spelling and grammar, which can be a red flag. Legitimate companies usually have a team of professional writers who proofread their communications.
3. Check the website address. Before you enter any personal information or payment details, make sure you are on a legitimate website. Check the URL to see if it matches the company’s official website.
4. Verify Suspicious Links with Online Scanners. Use online services such as VirusTotal or URLScan.io to scan the suspicious link before clicking on it. To do this, copy the URL of the suspicious link and paste it into the search bar of the VirusTotal or URLScan.io website.
5. Don’t give out personal information. Be cautious about giving out personal information, such as your name, address, phone number, or email address. Legitimate companies will not ask for this information unless it is necessary to complete a transaction.
6. Be suspicious of offers that seem too good to be true. Scammers often use enticing offers to lure people in. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

By following these tips, you can reduce your risk of falling victim to scams like the Amazon Mother’s Day Giveaway Scam. If you suspect that you have been targeted by a scam, report it to the relevant authorities immediately.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Amazon Mother’s Day Giveaway scam is just one of many deceptive tactics used by cybercriminals to exploit unsuspecting victims. These scams often rely on false promises of lucrative prizes and rely on social engineering techniques to trick users into divulging sensitive information or performing actions that could compromise their security.

Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t let the lure of easy prizes cloud your judgment and always take the time to carefully evaluate any message or offer before taking action. By staying alert and informed, you can help keep yourself and your data safe from the latest scams and threats.