Kmart scam: Aussie shoppers hit with fake text messages in cruel hoax

Kmart customers have been warned to stay vigilant as a convincing new SMS scam has begun doing the rounds, attempting to trick people into handing over some of their hard-earned cash. Scamwatch said it had been made aware of a concerning text message that intends to trick people into thinking they’ve won a prize.

According to the cyber safety website, the scam goes a step further and addresses you by name, and in some cases it may also list your friends’ names – making the hoax seem more legitimate. If you receive the text message, Scamwatch advises customers to not click on any links or open attachments, confirming once again that it is run by scammers and should not be trusted.

“Watch out for an sms phishing scam that’s impersonating Kmart,” Scamwatch said in a statement. “The text claims you’ve won a prize and is addressed to you by name. It may also list your friends’ names. Don’t click on any links or open attachments – it’s a scam.”

Watch out for an sms phishing scam that’s impersonating Kmart. The text claims you’ve won a prize and is addressed to you by name. It may also list your friends’ names. Don’t click on any links or open attachments – it’s a scam. https://t.co/qOuLGBFrDS

— NASC Scamwatch (@Scamwatch_gov) August 20, 2019

Meanwhile, a customer who received the scam text message took to social media to warn others, by sharing a photo of the text. The text scam read: “Lucky you, Verity. Congrats to our 3 Kmart customers who won: 1. Grace 2. Verity 3. Isla” – before giving a link to click on to redeem the prize.

According to a report in 7News, another customer took to a closed Facebook group and asked for advice on the following scam text message: “Dear Roselyn. One of the Kmart stores is looking for you. You have won a prize in our Prize Draw. Answer a few questions and you will be presented with several exclusive reward offers (worth at least $60).”

The text messages that claim you’ve won a prize, known as phishing scams, usually prompt people to provide personal details to prove that you are the correct winner, according to Scamwatch. In most cases, the scammer will take your money and fail to deliver the prize.

The company said if someone asks you to pay money up-front in order to receive a prize, it’s almost always a scam, adding if you haven’t entered a competition, you can’t win it. The website warned to never send money or give credit card or online account details to anyone you don’t know or trust. If unsure, it’s best to contact a company directly or to visit them in person to address the issue.

Meanwhile, it comes after Woolworths customers were recently hit by a worrying Facebook scam promising free groceries. At the time, a warning had been issued to Aussie shoppers about an unauthorised Facebook page which is seemingly offering “free groceries” to committed customers.

The scam page, made to appear as if it is affiliated with popular supermarket chain Woolworths, caused concern among the community with thousands of customers falling for its devious tricks. As part of the scam, the page posted a message to followers, claiming that the supermarket would hand out an entire year’s worth of free groceries to one shopper who simply comments the word “done”.

“For our birthday, we have decided to give one person who shares and comments ‘done’ below by June 27th one year of free groceries,” the post read. The post received over 1,700 comments and 830 shares with the majority of followers believing it was a credible site and thought they were in for a chance at a win.

Woolworths was made aware of the scam page and confirmed it is not connected to the supermarket and is a trick site set up to gain access to customers personal details.

“We can confirm that this is not an authorised Woolworths Facebook page and is not affiliates with us in any way,” a spokesperson explained. “We have contacted Facebook to ask for the page to be taken down promptly.”