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It's Back! Survey Scam Strikes Again

posted Feb 22, 2015, 6:31 PM by Resty Manapat   [ updated Feb 25, 2015, 9:49 AM ]

It's one of those scams that just keeps reappearing... each time with a new twist. The customer survey scam is back, this time as a phishing email that tries to trick you into collecting reward points.

How the Scam Works:

You receive an email with a version of this subject line: "Your Reward Points are Expiring. Claim Now!" or "Your eBalance Points are Expiring Soon!" The email uses the name of a well-known store. Many brands, from Macy's to Walgreens, have been impersonated. 

You are a frequent shopper at the store, so you click to open the message. The email says that you've been selected to complete a survey about your recent customer experience. Finish the questionnaire, says the email, and you will receive $100 or more in "bonus-points."

It sounds easy, but don't click the link! These survey scams have a variety of tricks. The link may lead to a real survey, which upon completion, prompts you to purchase spammy products such as diet pills and wrinkle cream. In other versions, the form is actually a phishing scam that requests banking and credit card information. Finally, the link may also download malware to your computer. 

How to Spot a Scam Email

In general, it's best not to click on links that come in unsolicited emails. Here are some more ways to spot a malicious email just in case your spam filter doesn't catch it. 

· The email claims to have information about you, but you never signed up for it. Scams often pretend to be personalized for you, but they are actually blast emails. Don't fall for this! If you never signed up for emails from a company, you shouldn't be receiving them.

· Pushes you to act immediately: Scammers typically try to push you into action before you have had time to think. Always be wary of emails urging you to act immediately or face a consequence. 

· Watch for typos, strange phrasing and bad grammar. Scammers can easily copy a brand's logo and email format, but awkward wording and poor grammar are typically a giveaway that the message is a scam

· Hover over URLs to reveal their true destination. Typically, the hyperlinked text will say one thing, but the link will point somewhere else. Make sure the links actually lead to the business' official website, not a variation of the domain name.


SOURCE: Better Business Bureau