wafflesatnoon.com » Scams & Deception » The BestBuy Gift Card Text Message Scam, part 2
The BestBuy Gift Card Text Message Scam, part 2
Have you received a text message saying you won a Best Buy gift card? You’re not alone. Unfortunately, however, this isn’t exactly free, and most likely you’ll never see a gift card.
The text we received was from 8325445181, and read:
Your entry last month has WON! Go to BestBuyWin.net and enter your winning code 5555 to claim your FREE $1000 BestBuy gift card within 24hrs.
There is also a variation sending people to bestbuyprizes.net, which is a clone of BestBuyWin.net.
Notice that it’s not actually from “bestbuy.com” but from bestbuywin.net or bestbuyprizes.net. Those domains are not associated with Best Buy! In fact, the betbuywin.net domain was only created last month and bestbuyprizes.net was created about a week later. It should be noted that everyone that we have contacted who has received this text was given the same “winning code” of 5555.
When you visit BestBuyWin.net or BestBuyPrizes.net you’ll be met with a very generic-looking website that says you have 5 minutes to enter your winning code. On either site, entering the code will then take you to bestbuy.rewardhubzone.com. Here, a large graphic greets you with a friendly Best Buy employee and a graphic telling you that you qualify for a $1000 Best Buy gift card. Wait – didn’t the text say we won a gift card?
The Best Buy Gift Card Text Scam
Notice that the graphic says “Participation Required” – which is an important detail.
Again, these sites are NOT associated with Best Buy. In fact, what you have here 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.
Taking a look at the terms and conditions, we see the same “rewards program” terms that we have seen before. In part, they state that you must:
…acquire two sponsor action points from the Top Offers Group, two offers from the Prime Offers Group, and 9 offers from the Premium Offers Group for a total of 13 sponsor offers; (e) and refer three friends to do the same (i.e. register and complete the required number of sponsor offers). Action points are earned when a DailyDealFinder.com user fully completes a sponsor/advertiser offer after accessing the offer by clicking on a link provided on the DailyDealFinder.com website or from the DailyDealFinder.com member area.
This means you will need to sign up for, and complete, 13 programs and get three friends to do the same. Such programs include credit card offers or signing up for services you probably don’t want or need, many of them costing money. Good luck completing 13 of them successfully, too. If you – or one of your three friends – fail to complete any of the 13 offers, you can kiss that gift card – along with any money you spent on these “rewards” offers – goodbye.
I suggest you read this earlier article from a similar Best Buy gift card scam and its followup here. As you’ll see, this is not a new scam, and there is very little variation over time.
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
It’s a bait-and-switch scam. You didn’t “win” anything and there is no $1000 Best Buy gift card waiting for you. It’s merely a rewards program that’s impossible to complete and not even worth the time you’ve spent reading this. Ignore ‘em!
Phone numbers used (These are in addition to the phone numbers listed on earlier articles cited above): Leave a comment if you’ve received this spam from a different phone number!
- 4049565016
- 5613516226
- 6122504590
- 7146166154
- 7146166156
- 7153049180
- 8155799742
- 8325445181
- 8325445434
- 8325446208
- 9098377749
- 9098377761
- 9099377076
- 9099735847
- 9099736491
- 9099377076
- 9098377687
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.
Have you received a text from this place? Let us know what it said.
Filed under: Scams & Deception
I disagree that this is not connected to BestBuy. We recently purchased a computer there and entered their “rewardzone” system. I am certain that they sold our information off of that to whomever is doing the $1000 gift card scam. So BestBuy is responsible, at least peripherally.
CLO your an idiot. You probably respond to phishing attepts don’t you. Phishing attemps try to look like a real thing. But on a side note….Best Buy is GARBAGE!!!!! Don’t pay for Geek Squad just download Malware Bytes for free.
Just curious…Can you elaborate on your issues against Best Buy?
I’m sorry, but you’re wrong about Best Buy being a part of this.
I have NEVER shopped at Best Buy. But, I got a text message on my cell saying that I placed 3rd in a contest I never entered. The text mentions “BestBuyGiveaways.Net”.
Since I’ve never shopped there, and I seriously doubt I’ve been to any affiliated businesses, there’s no reason Best Buy would have any of my information, let alone the number to my prepaid cell. Yet, this scammer sent this garbage to me.
Just because you may have had a bad experience, doesn’t mean the store you went to is responsible for this. It’s just bad timing that the experience and the text happened so close together for you.
BTW – the text I received was from http://www.bbcontest.net
I don’t know who owns the domain, but a whois search told me that the domain is hosted by http://www.kalyhost.com
If you go to Kalyhost.com, they do have a place where you can report abuse (at the bottom of the page). I’m letting them know today about the text I got from bbcontest.net
i agree. i also am a reward zone member. and i received the text shortly after i enrolled. it is the only website i put my actual phone number on, so thats the only way this scam could have gotten my number.
You are not supposed to publish websites!
Excuse me, I meant email addresses.
CLO, we’re not sure what you mean by that comment. Can you elaborate?
i am kinda stupid. i tried to believe that it wasnt a scam and actually put in my junk email and filled out some of the crap they were trying to sell, but i didnt put any credit card info. do u think i will be ok?
This sight needs to be under investigation for false advertising. Also, if their lawyers are smart, they would start running, because in some states especially Texas, its against the law to incurr cost on solicitation. Further more, cell phones are paid by the consumer, and they could file class action law suits for false advertisement, and solicitation infringement on and 3rd party disclosure. They need to stop and revise their marketing strategies , because it only takes a few individuals with some very public knowledge to put them out of business, and personally, Americans don’t have time to waste . At least I dont.
Got a text message from an email address this morning very similar to this, from bbcontest.net with a code of OY41, in case you were curious that they changed their tactics!
I got a message from
arragon8@BBContest.Net: Congratulations! You’ve finished 2nd! Your Code is: NL94 bbcontest.net.
3108673459
also had to leave the code 4787
Hey? if this helps… I just received a text from finny2@BestBuyContests.net It reads: Congratulations! You’ve finished 2nd! Your Code is: UP54 bestbuycontest.net
I am glad your page was up! I visited here before filling anything out. (I also just bought a new computer from bestbuy bastards sold my info!)
GOT A TEXT MESSAGE FROM #5157 SAYS- ebaogphpnvdojg@bbgiftcards.net Thanks for your entry, you finished 4th! Your Code is:Is58 bestbuycontest.net i did make a recent purchase at bestbuy but entered no contest.
I received the text last night. 909/973-5847. The code was 6207.
I knew it was fishy from the start. I entered my email cause I had done a lot of business with Best Buy recently.
But what caught my attention was that it said participation required. I didn’t go any further.
Actually I entered my info: Cookie Monster 123 Sesame St
Got a message directed at a Best Buy shopper from 804-382-4841 saying I’d won $1000 gift card and had to redeem it. Went through a few of the steps and it actually looked really legit so I thought maybe they’d pulled my number to put in a contest from an old purchase or something. Called my cousin who works at Best Buy to check though and he confirmed it’s just a scam.
I filled out my info too
on 800notes (website about phone numbers) I read that kids are likely to do this and last year I think about 2 million kids identity was stolen. Didn’t say anything about adults. But yeah, I filled it out until it got to the silver offer thing. I suddenly got a lot of random emails per day on my account I rarely use and “registered” to the scam with. It was a text message from ” zsrnktpaxljl@BBCashCard.net “
Received text from omjfzhm@bbcashcard.net that said “you were selected for 3rd place! Your code is as follows:C0J6″ then had a link to http://www.bbcascard.net when clicked it takes me to IP 111.67.203.41/bb2
this pages is all white but has a code enter spot and a time left to enter i wanted to see what happens so i entered code and was validated and brought to bestbuy.rewardhubzone.com/common/rpa.php?stc=2&oid=1
at this point i checked online to see about this website and found this page about it being a scam
Got the text that i had won $1,000 gift card from Best Buy. I signed on but the second page wants way too much personal info. Called my local Best Buy store and they said this was a scam and they get calls all the time.
from 909-837-7749
Your entry last month has WON! Go to BestBuyContest.com and enter your winning code 6207 to claim your free $1000 BestBuy gift card within 24hrs.
if you are a skeptic like me do like i do, even though they gave me a “winning code” of “6207″, I usually find that if I put any random number in it will pass me on to the next page. Just for kicks I entered the Number 1 , and 8675309 (Jenny’s Number), 7779311 (Morris Day and the Time) and my current annual salary.
pendragon
Just got a text from 19518670875
“Your entry last month has WON! Go to BestBuyDrawing.com and enter your winning code **76 to claim your FREE $1,000 BestBuy gift card within 24hrs.”
OK, I don’t trust, but what the heck. I go to the website, first page looks legit, BB logos, etc. 1,699 Likes on FaceBook. I enter my code and page two looks good, but I hesitate and Google this thing. Glad I did, found this site. I find out about “participation required,” there it was on page 2 and I shut it down.
Thanks
I got the text too from 9519653598. I went to the initial site but was reading the fine print on the bottom and decided it looked fishy, so I Googled it and found out about the scam. This is ridiculous i feel bad for the people who actually fall for it.
THE PHONE NUMBER MINE CAME FROM 8043824836 – 7757 IS THE CODE TO ENTER
404-698-8154
Your entry last month has WON! Go to http://BestBuyPrizes.net/ and enter code 4787 to claim your FREE $1000 Best Buy Gift Card within 24 hours!
414-323-0446 … stupid text woke me up at 0230 this morning!
i got one today from 804-382-4836
I also received one for Targetprizes.com from this number last night. then later in the night I received one from 985-201-4075. same message to targetprozes.com
Got a message
4047505992: Your entry last month has WON! Go to http:// BestBuyPrizes.net/ and enter code 4787 to claim your FREE $1000 Best Buy Girt Card within 24 hours!
this is a different number but same code as another person.
I called best buy who informed me to call my cell phone provider. When i called my cell phone provider they informed me that its phishing. They then told me to forward the initial message to a number they provided me over the phone, followed by sending the number that sent the scam message. This is how we can stop the scams and block that number from your phone.
I received my text today 2012-11-05-0905 from 804-389-6606 code # 7757. When I got to http://bestbuyrwdz.com/?3333 my code was already listed … decided to Google it and here I am. Thanks for the heads up
Got a text from yefverlqis@bestbuyexclusive.net, and it read: Our contest has concluded,and you have placed 1st!Your code is: NW14 http://BESTBUYEXCLUSIVE.NET, and your comments apply to what happened next, I tried to put an old credit card number,with a negative balance,and it kicked me out,saying I put an invalid entry for my phone and card numbers! ALSO,yesterday i had a man call me to inform me that I won $7,000 from the government to pay off my credit card debt,when i started asking questions he would deflect them,and reassure me that it was a government”something”loan, he was super hard to understand,but said he needed an account number of some kind to deposit the money. He gave me 3 options: checking account,debit card,or pick up the money in person from western union! HAHA! So,of course I told him I’d much rather pick the money up in person,what info did I need to bring to “western Union” and the man hung up! I have recently been shopping around on craigslist,and sending resumes out, but not in excess,,,, AM I UNDER ATTACK? **should I notify some type of authority in case my identity is stolen**** any help?????
The call came from unavailable 970-002???? And they just called again this morning,but different guy on the line, when I told him that I was contacted yesterday and when i asked about “pick up ” info THAT guy hung up on me!jeez these scammers!
on some websites it says This Gift Redemption Program is an independent rewards program for consumers and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any of the listed products or retailers. Trademarks, service marks, logos, and/or domain names (including, without limitation, the individual names of products and retailers) are the property of their respective owners.
It just happened to me but apparently from “Target.” Specifically, the text says: Your entry last month has WON! Go to targetprizes.com and enter code to claim your FREE $1000 Target Gift Card within 24 hours!”
The number was: 985 201-4075
I received a text message this morning from phone number 313-938-7505. The message said to go to bestbuy.rwdzne.com/?7 and enter code “1122″ to claim a $1000 Best Buy Gift Card.
I got one from 5151 qbukatvcfqc@bbcashcard.net it said i didnt have to complete the offers listed and trusted it as soon i got done with doing my info. My tablet quickly jumped offline and i couldnt get bck on. I ignored it and got a call frm 7033485596 it was who claimed to be pch.com and knew about the best buy thing she said im entere into million dollar drawing and trip to mexico?? She said go to bestbuy reward hubzone to claim the1000 dollar gc and all i can pull up is its a scam. I call num back like wtf? And they say they r publishers something magazine selling saying they have nothing to do with that and that they were givin my info frm pch(publishers clearing house) wtf? Pch doesnt do that theyr like the only ones who dont! So im pissed now my info is out there and ive NEVER shopped at best buy or even target! They should be sued for that anx most states say that solicitors cant contact u after 8pm or something let alone be sold ur info and my phone number is metropcs and its new! I didnt know it was still so eady after all the bs atempts to stop this kinda shit. If the gov cared so much about identity theft then why dont they just make the web lke their top notch security sites cheap bastards!!
6083814813 from http://bestbuyrwdzone.com/?s2. Said I’m a rewards card member but though I have shopped there I have never signed up for their rewards program so they don’t have my phone number or email addresss to sell. These scammers aren’t really as smart as you give them credit for, if you enter almost any 10 digit number into your phone and call it you are almost always going to get an answer or a voicemail account of someone whom that message belongs to and if you enter in your name to register it as a new email address how many times will you get a message saying the email address you want is not available? All some one really has to do is think of one name and they will have one hundred different variations to email their scam to, or email look up one area code in the phone book and they could have thousands of victims to text it to. All we have to do is stop and call the store directly to confirm, but 9 times out of 10 if you didn’t enter into a contest (which generally your cashier will tell you if you have at the time of your in store purchase) or you don’t receive a notice by snail mail it’s probably a scam. Scammer tend not to use street addresses because they would either have to buy the names of the people living at those addresses or look up the information themselves which is time consuming because let’s be honest who is going to believe that their winning confirmation is in an envelope addressed to current resident? It would end up in the trash without ever being opened. Internet scams are not only more profitable but easier to make it look authentic without having to send out personalized messages. In fact a lot of the people sending these messages are not the identity theives but people who paid for what they thought was an ” Internet business” and are receiving a generic list of email addresses or phone numbers and a premade message to send these people some even offer them their own web address to help make it harder to trace so they can do it longer before they have to change domains or tactics. It’s a 2 way scam they steal your information and the people who think they are running a legitimate Internet business go down for the identity theft while the real thief is hiding behind a fake domain fake name and a fake address and is selling your information to the highest bidder so it can’t be traced back to them. I was always taught that if it looks too good to be true that’s probably because it is, a little common sense going a long way.
I got a similar message from (323) 807-9031. The first thing i did was go on the Internet and check if it was real….I’m glad I did.
6073585015 is the latest number they are using
Received a txt on Nov 2, 2012 From number 281-743-3821.
It read…
Your entry has won! Go to bestbuyrwdzne.com/?1 and enter the code “1122″ to claim your $1000 Best Buy gift card! Must claim buy 11/30/2012.
And I have never signed up for anything from/for Best Buy.
My Grandmother recieved a txt similar to this about half an hour ago. Of course, I got online to find out what was going on for her as she has never shopped at BestBuy and only even has a cell phone for safety and convienince. Seems it’s a scam, which doesn’t surprise me one bit. What does bother me is how they got her number.
The txt itself read…
Your Mobile #: (insert her phone number here) has won you a free $1000.00 BestBuy gift card in our holidays draw – goto:bbgiftalert.net and enter winning code: 2222 to clame it.
I received a text from tuqsgxdlqephev@FreeBestBuyCards.net. No telephone number was listed.
Received on Dec 16th – Another number to add to the spam list: 4153080504
mine was to go to bestbuyrwdcntr.com/6/?4 with code 8228 from today.
Weird. I just recvd this message having just purchased a tv from Best Buy about an hour ago. I haven’t purchased from BB in years and this is a brand new phone and # that I haven’t registered with them at any time. Seems suspicious timing.
Congrats Best Buy Shopper You Have Won A $1000 Giftcard! Go to http://bestbuyrwdcntr.com/a/?v and click continue to claim it NOW! From the phone number +1 (614) 359-2820 and I have never shopped at Best Buy. I got the iPad text to I have no idea how they got my number.
Got txt from 980-277-0085 it says, “Winner #26569 you have WON the BestBuy $1000 New Years GiftCard. Enter the code 317 @ http://www.bit.ly/ZKllQP!”
I got one of these texts on my phone yesterday. I use bestbuy a lot for my pc needs. This text def not bestbuy the store. 2 giveaways here. 1. newer cell number and bestbuy doesn’t have it on file. 2. the jumbled letters with the title. My text came in like this: From xjarlmnclmcvbb@bestbuyprizes.mobi. Your # was picked as this months winner! Enter BB75 to claim it via our verification portal here. http://www.bestbuyprizes.mob. OK…UMM claim what?? OH BOY Im this months winner, quick claim it..claim that I won? REALLY. No thx. BTW..there wasnt a phone number with the text, that jumbled mess linked to an email. Just an fyi, if you didnt fill out a contest sheet or sign up for it…YOU CANT POSSIBLY WIN. DUH
BestBuy the store will do contests…usually found on your receipt and its more of a how they doing questionare and a chance to win 50-500 bucks. They would call you. Yes call, not text. Most prizes from stores require you to go in person to your nearest store to verify you are the person who won. You would then fill out something from that store and either be mailed your prize or claim it at the store. Be safe, be wise peeps. If you not sure, call the store for contest details and verify the texts and calls first before you cough up any info about yourself.
I got the same text with the same code to enter. No phone number with text.
They’re still running this scam and now they’re hitting up Sprint numbers by using Sprint’s “email to text” service, so I don’t have a new phone number to report. I’m pretty irritated, since I’ve been on the Do Not Call Registry for years, always updating it when needed, and yet I still get scam calls and texts, at least once a month, sometimes more.
This latest scam reads, with all spelling and capitalization included:
“From: keohk@BestBuyGiveaway.mobi
We’re happy to inform you of your winning our 1000.00 Gift-Card Contest! Please enter your 4 Digit Birth Year at BestBuyGiveaway.mob”
I have to say I’m a little worried if that’s ALL they want. But I didn’t go to their little site to find out.
Received this text: You were selected as the victor of our Holiday Giveaway Challenge. Please tell us where to send it by entering code BB
From: jeroldcurran445091@bestbuygiveaways.mobi Received on January 23. I did not reply