Don't click link on text with pandemic offer

Everyone loves a deal — including scammers. Con artists often offer too good to be true discounts in the hope price-conscious consumers will jump on these “deals” without doing their research. Recently, BBB Scam Tracker has seen numerous reports of scammers impersonating well-known companies and offering COVID-19 themed discounts.

You receive a text message from a large, reputable company. The message claims that due to the pandemic, the company would like to help people out by offering them an amazing deal. These range from free or discounted services to gift cards and cash.

For example, consumers reported receiving the following text messages using this ploy:

“COVID-19 REFUND. VERIZON COMPANY is giving out $950 to all users of our Verizon service. If yes, kindly text your Verizon.”

“Due to the pandemic, Hulu is giving everyone a free one-year subscription to help you stay at home. Get yours here (link).”

Of course, these messages don’t really originate with that company. They come from impersonators who hope to steal your personal information. If you click the link, you may be prompted to log into a lookalike website that scammers use to get hold of your login ID and password. With that information, scammers can access your accounts and even make purchases using your saved payment methods.

While the latest BBB Scam Tracker reports mention Hulu, Netflix and Verizon, watch out for scammers impersonating other companies too. If one name stops being effective, they’ll quickly switch to another company.

Treat messages from unknown senders with caution. If you receive a message from a number you don’t recognize, be careful. Many companies engage in SMS marketing, but keep in mind consumers must opt in to receive messages. If you haven’t given a company permission to text you, it’s probably a scam.