McDonald’s Father’s Day Promotion Scam on WhatsApp: Beware of Fake 2x Big Mac Combo Offers

As Father’s Day approaches, scammers have devised a cunning plan to exploit our love for dads and our craving for freebies. The McDonald’s Father’s Day Promotion scam is making the rounds, targeting unsuspecting individuals through WhatsApp messages. Operating under the guise of a giveaway, this deceptive scheme directs users to a website called linkgo.is, which poses as a legitimate URL shortener. However, behind the facade of a simple promotion lies a web of deceit, aiming to trick users into revealing personal information and potentially subscribing to unwanted services.

Stay one step ahead of these fraudsters by understanding their tactics and learning how to protect yourself. Read on to uncover the truth behind the McDonald’s Father’s Day Promotion scam, including the role of the deceptive website linkgo.is, and discover crucial tips to safeguard yourself from falling victim to such deceitful schemes.

QUICK LINKS

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

How the McDonald’s Father’s Day Promotion Scam works?

The McDonald’s Father’s Day Promotion scam is a fraudulent scheme that preys on individuals during the Father’s Day season, using deceptive tactics to trick them into divulging personal information and potentially falling victim to financial losses. This scam bears resemblance to a previously reported scam, the Guinness Father’s Day Giveaway, highlighting an alarming trend of fraudsters exploiting holiday-themed giveaways.

The scam unfolds in several stages, each designed to manipulate victims and create a false sense of legitimacy. It begins with victims receiving WhatsApp messages, often from both known contacts and strangers, inviting them to participate in a giveaway associated with McDonald’s Father’s Day Promotion. These messages contain URLs such as linkgo.is/GoBGaTzQ/, which direct users to the scam website linkgo.is. It is important to note that linkgo.is is a fraudulent site created by scammers to carry out their deceptive activities.

Upon reaching the linkgo.is website, victims encounter a page masquerading as a legitimate promotion. They are prompted to complete a questionnaire, consisting of seemingly harmless questions regarding their status as McDonald’s customers. The reward promised is 2x Big Mac® Combo Meals for themselves and their fathers. This initial stage aims to engage victims and make them believe they have a genuine chance of winning.

After answering the questionnaire, victims proceed to the next stage, where they are informed that their responses have been successfully verified. They are then presented with a task that requires them to select a box to claim their prize. The scam employs psychological techniques by allowing three attempts, ensuring that victims succeed on the second try. At this point, victims receive a congratulatory message, proclaiming their victory in winning 2x Big Mac® Combo Meals.

To redeem their alleged prize, victims are instructed to share the promotion with their WhatsApp groups and contacts. This step encourages the rapid spread of the scam to a wider audience, increasing the chances of more individuals falling victim to it.

Once victims complete the sharing process, they are redirected to a deceptive page with critical information presented in small white letters on a black background. The text states, “This is a special offer for a limited period of 3 days which comes with a $14.98 welcome gift card to explore and buy products on one of our affiliates’ websites. By acquiring this membership, the user will be automatically enrolled in our affiliate membership services. The membership fee amount is $23.86, which will be automatically deducted every 14 days unless stopped or canceled. You can cancel the service at any time with a 30-day cancellation period or pay $7.59 for immediate opt-out. This campaign will expire on Jul 20”.

Below this text, victims see an order summary, prominently displaying “Delivery $1.8” and “Order total $1.8”. This misleading presentation aims to give victims the impression that they are only paying for the delivery expenses associated with their supposed winnings.

Further down the page, victims are prompted to provide personal and credit card details through a form. Believing that they are finalizing the delivery process for their prize, victims unknowingly subscribe to an expensive and unwanted membership without any option for free cancellation.

The McDonald’s Father’s Day Promotion scam exploits people’s enthusiasm for giveaways and their desire to celebrate Father’s Day. By leveraging WhatsApp messages and deceptive websites like linkgo.is, scammers lure victims into participating in a fraudulent promotion. The scam progresses through several stages, including a questionnaire, an interactive task, and the illusion of winning 2x Big Mac® Combo Meals. However, the final stage reveals the true intention of the scammers, as victims are misled into subscribing to an expensive membership under the guise of covering delivery costs.

Examples of such scams

Scammers are becoming increasingly adept at exploiting special occasions and popular brands to deceive unsuspecting individuals. In addition to the McDonald’s Father’s Day Promotion scam, numerous similar schemes have surfaced, targeting people’s desire for freebies and their emotional connections to well-known companies. These scams employ tactics such as fake giveaways, enticing surveys, and deceptive websites to trick victims into sharing personal information or subscribing to unwanted memberships.

Here are some examples of similar scams that bear resemblance to the McDonald’s Father’s Day Promotion scam, highlighting the diversity of their approaches and the need for heightened awareness: Mr Beast Giveaway SCAM, Gordon Ramsay HexClad Cookware Giveaway Scam, and Amazon Mother’s Day Giveaway Scam. By familiarizing ourselves with these examples, we can better protect ourselves and others from falling victim to such deceitful practices.

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

If you receive a WhatsApp message or social media post with a link to the McDonald’s Father’s Day 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 McDonald 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 McDonald Promotion scam and other similar scams.

Threat Summary

Name	McDonald’s Father’s Day Promotion Scam
Type	Phishing Scam
Fake claims	Claiming to offer 2x Big Mac® Combo Meals through a Father’s Day Promotion
Scammers websites	linkgo.is (fake URL shortener)
Disguise	Fake URL Shortener, Impersonating McDonald’s
Symptoms	Unsolicited WhatsApp messages inviting users to participate; False promises of winning the prize
Damage	Financial loss, Unauthorized subscription
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 McDonald’s Father’s Day Promotion 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 McDonald’s Father’s Day Promotion Scam. If you suspect that you have been targeted by a scam, report it to the relevant authorities immediately.

Conclusion

The McDonald’s Father’s Day Promotion scam, along with similar deceptive schemes, highlights the growing sophistication of online fraudsters in exploiting special occasions and popular brands for their own gain. These scams prey on people’s desire for freebies and their emotional connections to well-known companies, using tactics like fake claims, deceptive websites, and social engineering techniques to deceive victims. The consequences of falling victim to these scams can range from financial loss to unauthorized subscriptions and compromised personal information.

It is crucial for individuals to remain vigilant, exercise skepticism, and verify the legitimacy of promotions before sharing personal information or engaging with suspicious links. By staying informed and adopting preventive measures, we can protect ourselves and others from becoming victims of these deceitful practices.

If you encounter such scams, it is important to report them to WhatsApp, local authorities and relevant anti-fraud organizations to help combat online fraud effectively.