Shopping · stamped SCAM

The $30 gift card for your reviewSCAM

A real scam people fell for this year, next to the real thing. The numbers mark the three things to check: hover or tap one to see what it tells you.

Safe
MInbox (3) – Gmail×
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox
✎ ComposeInbox 3StarredSnoozedSent
Search mail
How would you rate your Vortix air fryer?
AAmazon.ca <customer-reviews-messages@amazon.ca>to me10:42 AM

Hi Sam,

Your Vortix 5.7 L air fryer arrived last week. Your review helps other customers decide what to buy.

Tap the stars to rate it on Amazon.ca. It only takes a minute.

Scam
MInbox (3) – Gmail×
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox
✎ ComposeInbox 3StarredSnoozedSent
Search mail
Your $30 gift card for your review
AAfter-Sales Team <vipreward.service88@gmail.com>to me10:42 AM

Hi, thank you for buying our Vortix air fryer on Amazon and for your 5-star review!

We send the $30 gift card through PayPal. Please reply with your PayPal email and the 6-digit code PayPal will text you to confirm.

Please claim your reward within 48 hours. Thank you, After-Sales Team

Always check the code.

A "seller" offers a gift card for your review, then wants your PayPal email and the code PayPal texts you. That code lets them into your PayPal account.

Always checkThe real oneThe scam
1Where it livesIs it the real company's or person's own address or number?

amazon.ca is Amazon's own address.

A free Gmail address that calls itself the "After-Sales Team".

2What it asks you to doCheck firstDoes it want a password, a payment, a call, or a tap?

Tap the stars to rate it. Nothing to send.

Reply with your PayPal email and the 6-digit code from your phone.

3How hard it pushesIs there a deadline, a threat, or a surprise charge?

No reward and no deadline.

A $30 gift card, "claim within 48 hours".

RememberNever send anyone a code from a text message. And a seller who pays for reviews is breaking Amazon's rules already.

Would you have spotted it?

10 pairs like this one, three minutes, a score to share. Then find out who in the family is the easy mark.

Take the testNext scam: The "Airwrap style" styler →