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
heres another number 919 749 2876 raleigh nc
I just got the message …
Here’s another number 719 244 5662
received text 06/05/12 from 716-704-4169
Just got a text from 9198993944
Here is another number 1-716-704-2862
It is a scam just like you said…here is the number they text me682-201-1754. It makes me sad people can be so heartless.
Got another from 407-413-1865
Texted by +1 (540) 406-7574
1-229-339-4659 enter code 5776 I just received this code New York
Just received texted by 1-229-339-4659 Long Island New York
6062620187. <–another one… Washington, DC
heres another number: 425-408-2065
Another number to add to the list — 907-570-8421 in Alaska
another #1-443-756-6418 LOUISIANA
another# 17192373453 miami,florida sat,june 9 2:19 am.
I got one of these texts from 719-244-5662 on June 8, 2012
Hey so I sign up thinking it was no big deal, but now after reading this and numerous site, should I be worry on my information i gave?
Your entry last month was WON! Go to…and enter your code “91144″ to claim your $1,000 Best Buy Giftcard!
This message came to me via a text message from 770-557-6851
I got one that said “your entry last month won! go to .. and enter winning code 6655 to claim your free $500 Target gift card..
The number it came from was 704-915-9430
213_300_1645
i got one from June 6 and i just didn’t pay attention to it. it says $100 gift card with code 9776. the number was 229-848-5086.
another number 540-406-2023
My text I received today 6/25/12: You have WON the $1000 BestBuy Card drawing. Get your prize now at http://www.bestbuy.bestbuycards.net/?id=ycwfpckhrb. Phone Number was: 619-663-7159 I didn’t call the number or go to the website cause I was pretty sure it was a scam.
Hope this helps someone else
phone number 313-405-0647
another number 704-502-2563
jun. 26
enter number 980
i received the same text from phone number 202-256-1538
Heres a number they called me from (410) 336-7781
Baltimore, MD
This is very strange. I recently completed a REAL best buy survey with chance of winning a $1000 gift card. I gave them my phone number but then I got the scam text saying I won. I then went to bestbuy.thegiftcarddeal and wrote down my adress and my name(a green check mark appared next to the info boxes after I wrote my info down). My anti- virus software caught 4 virus’s on the site and I quickly quit out. Will my personal info be saved even if I didnt press enter and how worried should I be about the virus’s from this site??? thank you
617-306-0517 can be added to the list. Just received text and got on line to research it before responding. Thanks for info.
Add 916-396-0249 to the list!! Sacramento, CA area.
Mine came from: 405-227-3277
and another one…….13104066039
678-451-0563
I just received this text from 515-259-3085. Said to type “CONFIRM” for my $1000 gift card. SO glad I don’t automatically trust this stuff when I get it. I’m sure some poor person did though
.
+1 (719) 216-3823
here 6614961422
#3157086489…my entry won a $500 gift card, from Target, enter winning code 6655. Glad I decided to look it up and see that its a scam since the url at first appears legitimate.
314-277-8732
I got one from 1-315-480-1372 add it to the list if you wish
thanks though, as I was fairly certain it was a scam, but im glad I was informed beforehand 
Got one from 816-896-1278.
another one – 9092138861
got it from 716-208-4365
1(816)804-3240
got it from 347-205-1190
1(626)327-5407
612-206-6876
I received an text on 072112 that I won a $1000 gift card. The phone # received from is 9192795867.
612-206-4669
Best buy you’ve won $1000 from 919-397-4044
7/23/12 11:19 am text fm 5042088762 says enter “504″ at http://www.bestbuy.com.tbtt.biz for a $1000 gift card. No site.
Sorry. Site is now up and it’s only a promotion.
910-294-0548