wafflesatnoon.com » Scams & Deception » Best Buy Gift Card Scam Text Message
Best Buy Gift Card Scam Text Message
Did you get a text saying you won a Best Buy gift card? So did we… and unfortunately, so did many other people – and no one has won anything. It’s a scam. Read on for details.
The text we received was from 702-266-5554, and read:
Congradulations, your entry in last months drawing won you a FREE $1,000 BestBuy Giftcard. Enter ‘WON’ at www.bestbuy.com.bdtz.biz to tell us where to ship it.
Notice that it’s not actually from “bestbuy.com” but from bestbuy.com.bdtz.biz. That’s not Best Buy’s website! In fact, that domain was only created the day before I received the text, on June 3, 2012.
The "Participation Required" is much larger than the size of the text indicates.
If you go there and enter the code, you’ll be redirected to bestbuy.thegiftcarddeal.com. This site is full of Best Buy logos – and again, is NOT associated with Best Buy. In fact, it is merely just another “rewards” program in which you’ll be asked to sign up for a long list of programs which will be nearly impossible to fulfill.
I suggest you read this earlier article from a similar Best Buy gift card scam, as this is an ongoing scam.
By the way, calling the number back will yield a message that the user has not set up their voice mail. How convenient!
This particular site’s terms & conditions reference DailyDealFinder.com. That domain is most likely the original site from which this template was taken. In fact, DailyDealFinder.com was also the culprit behind a March post here for a “free” iPad, based on a similar rewards program. Oddly, the Terms for this site start off:
DailyDealFinder.com
MEMBER INCENTIVE PROGRAM PARTICIPATION TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
Last Modified October 15, 2009
Bottom Line
There is no $1000 Best Buy gift card. It’s merely a rewards program that’s impossible to complete and not even worth the time you’ve spent reading this. Ignore ‘em!
Update:
There is a growing list of numbers and websites being used. You may also get a text from other phone numbers with slightly different websites. They are all the same thing. So below we’re keeping a list of those, which we’ll update as we can. Thanks to commenters for helping keep this updated.
Phone numbers used (Some supplied by commenters below. Please advise of errors):
- 202-256-1538
- 212-203-8447
- 213-300-1645
- 229-339-4659
- 229-848-5086
- 310-406-6039
- 312-369-9836
- 313-405-0647
- 313-412-0455
- 314-277-8732
- 315-480-1372
- 315-708-6489
- 347-205-0235
- 360-362-3208
- 405-227-3277
- 410-336-7781
- 407-376-5626
- 425-286-3588
- 425-408-2065
- 425-492-4105
- 443-756-6418
- 515-259-3085
- 540-406-2023
- 559-281-3113
- 606-262-0187
- 613-720-5853
- 615-828-7528
- 615-828-8647
- 617-306-0517
- 619-663-7159
- 646-725-4550
- 646-884-1859
- 661-496-1422
- 678-451-0563
- 702-217-1426
- 702-241-9902
- 702-266-5554
- 702-280-8924
- 704-502-2563
- 704-915-9430
- 704-964-1459
- 716-208-2284
- 716-208-4365
- 716-380-5351
- 716-440-1300
- 716-479-7106
- 716-704-2862
- 716-704-4169
- 719-216-3823
- 719-237-3453
- 719-244-5662
- 731-589-2661
- 757-288-6359
- 770-557-6851
- 816-804-3240
- 816-832-3887
- 816-896-1278
- 817-944-9824
- 817-965-0038
- 907-570-8421
- 909-213-8861
- 916-396-0249
- 917-689-5490
- 917-689-8152
- 917-690-4365
- 917-690-8513
- 917-691-2557
- 920-750-3492
These are most likely throwaway numbers that aren’t going to be used very long by the spammers. I feel sorry for anyone who signs up for a cell phone and is assigned one of these numbers in the future.
Websites:
- www.bestbuy.ca.textwon.com
- www.bestbuy.ca.wonacontest.com
- www.bestbuy.com.baqz.biz
- www.bestbuy.com.bdty.biz
- www.bestbuy.com.bdtz.biz
- www.bestbuy.com.bhtk.biz
- www.bestbuy.com.bktz.biz
- www.bestbuy.com.brtz.biz
- www.bestbuy.com.gpgc.biz
- www.bestbuy.com.kzsg.biz
- www.bestbuy.com.mrtj.biz
- www.bestbuy.com.wgmc.biz
- bestbuy.bestbuycards.net
- bestbuy.thegiftcarddeal.com
- bestbuywin.net
Filed under: Scams & Deception
Happy yipee Horay I just received text to claim my prize. thought i would do some checking first. Its Christmas so all the scam artist will be out for sure. hey thanx for the comments no need to run to the best buy store close by.
will noitify my friends
got one as a text message but it wasnt a number it was sent from qlprn@bestbuy2013.net that said you have placed 3rd in our daily drawing! your winning code is Z511 and then there was a link to http://bestbuycardcode.net
i cannot believe this is what some people do in their spare time.. try to scam innocent people
11/28/12 Add another site & # Recv’d from 5014105359 / go to BBgiftgive.net code 7777. Checked here first Thanks
I received text msg from ph num 205-626-9812 Nov 27 6:29pm the website to contact was http://www.bit.ly/WXDt7n. There is no such website.
Where are they getting our cell numbers?
I received a You’ve WON the Best Buy Gift Card for $1000! Get your Gift at http://www.bit.ly/YtVgDG Phoned from 4092768051
Of course there is no answer or web site. Just wanted to let you know they are scamming again!!!!
Just got a text from 605 290 5822 saying I won 1000.00 gift card from Best Buy because I entered a contest at Target last month…Oh well guess I’ll have to ask Santa for the IPad. Thanks for your site
Happy Holiday
Received a similar text from 601-324-4156. Didn’t text or call them back.
Yes l received a text message from this site saying I won 1000 dollar gift card from best buy gave me a winning 17555 and a code 5903 and claim it now today by going to this web site address with this info.and collect my prize no site existed to say the least just a scam
I got a text message on December 8 at 5:10 p.m. It said BestBuy Winner #44283! You have WON a BestBuy Gift Card worth $1000! Enter the code 5715 at http://www.bit.ly/SOxQ8D Only 12 left! it was a total scam. I had to see anymore people fall for this scam.
I received a text message from 830-461-1054 they take off my phone for
texting.
I just got texted the scam third prize code to claim my award from Best Buy from jsbmhitkslkck@bestbuypromos.biz
I just got a message from #5045348573
500.00 gift card from Best Buy
e-mail…www.bit.ly/sxkdeb
good thing I googled it first!!!!
Thank.goodness I goggled!
I received a text on cell stating I had won like many other people. A code 816 was given with winner #113832. The phone no. of sender was4322011094. Stated winnings was a Best Buy $1000 gift. Certificate.
I recieved a text stating I had won like many others. Code 717 and #50816 with website http://www.bit.ly/ VU2evC Phone no. 818 473 9346 winner no. 50 1000,00 cert,
the number i got was 8652643432 code 316 # 90825 this is so stupid wat is this world comming to
I to just received the $1000.00 text mail. Phone number 972-853-1584
12-29-12 @ 5:12 PM
I hope there is a special place in hell waiting for them. LOL
I just got a text from zkyuzywqturxk@BestBuyReward saying I won 2nd place in their contest and to text the number 4155 back to claim prize. Right.
Just got a text from hirxrlurtixcm@bestbuyrewards.mobi saying I won a gift card for 1000.00. When I went to the site I found all of the previous text saying it was a scam. Thanks to all of you. I will tell my freinds.
I just got a text from conyJana6428@BestBuyRewards.biz.
Says I am the random winner. Thanks for your site, I appreciate not wasting my time on this.
no thanks keep your gift card cuz whats for me is for me god says i can hve what so ever i want thanks anyway
Just got 1,000 offer from zedqwic@BESTBUYGIVAWAY.MOBI semd directly to my cell phone as a text. Syartef after i bought new cell phone. I wonder if its from an ap dreveloper
My # 5408 just is this is true. Anyway thanks God bless you
gtfykkfirhvpnm@gmail.com is the latest for this list
http://www.BestBuy.com.PrizeCodes.mobi
I won 3 place and they wanted my 4 digit birth year.
Using 411.com’s reverse phone program
708 317 9032 if it’s a phone number comes back as a landline in Berwyn IL. I thought Best Buy was closing shop the way Borders did last year. Scammers need a new alias.