A convincing Kohl’s scam is circulating on social media again, but there are some telltale signs that users should watch out for.
A fake Kohl’s coupon is circulating on social media again, and the deal is still too good to be true.
The offer, which promises $75 off of a purchase of $80 or more, might look legitimate to the average person scrolling through Facebook — the font, logos and colors seem accurate.
But there are some telltale signs if one looks closely. Take a look at the url on the coupon — instead of directing back to http://www.kohls.com/, the $75 deal is from http://www.kohls.com-customer.com (or some variation).
Online thieves are also notoriously bad when it comes to grammar and math, and this particular coupon scam is no exception. The deal is allegedly being offered to celebrate Kohl’s 56th anniversary. Kohl’s, however, started as a supermarket in 1946 (70 years ago) and opened the first department store in 1962 (54 years ago).
With so many traps set for online shoppers, it can be difficult to keep your personal information and credit card numbers from falling into the wrong hands. Here are a few tips from the Better Business Bureau to help you avoid such pitfalls:
Don’t believe what you see. It’s easy to steal the colors, logos and header of an established organization. Scammers can also make links look like they lead to legitimate websites and emails appear to come from a different sender.
Legitimate businesses do not ask for credit card numbers or banking information on customer surveys. If they do ask for personal information, like an address or email, be sure there’s a link to their privacy policy.
When in doubt, do a quick web search. If the survey is a scam, you may find alerts or complaints from other consumers. The organization’s real website may have further information.
Watch out for a reward that’s too good to be true. If the survey is real, you may be entered in a drawing to win a gift card or receive a small discount off your next purchase. Few businesses can afford to give away $50 gift cards for completing a few questions.
