Warning to customers over Woolworths text message scam
A warning has been issued to shoppers after scammers posing as Woolworths sent out text messages attempting to lure people to a website requesting personal information.
Several customers reported receiving the same message on Thursday, with one clicking through to a website with disturbingly similar features to the supermarket’s chat feature.
The message claimed the recipient’s last purchase at Woolworths had automatically entered them into a draw, which they had placed second in.
They then had the option to click a link, which based on one person’s report, directed them to a site where they were addressed by a virtual guide named Suzy.
Those who received the text all seemed to have been addressed by their correct name.
The shopper that entered the website to be addressed by “Suzy” was welcomed to the fake “Woolworths interactive prize universe”.
“I’m your virtual guide Suzy and I’ll be helping you to claim the prize you won today,” the robot said.
It then requested the woman confirm if they had her correct name.
The shopper closed the page before progressing further, and took to the Woolworths Facebook page to warn others, writing: “a scammer is doing this”, and sharing images from her experience.
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A short time later another woman reported receiving the same message.
“For your information. I’m guessing this is a scam considering I don't shop at Woolies,” she wrote, uploaded a photo of the message she received.
A third also recalled the same thing, and asked the retailer if it was the one running the competition.
“Are you (Woolies) running a competition? I just received a message re second prize in a NY draw. I’m thinking it’s spam,” she wrote.
Woolworths confirms text message is a scam
Woolworths confirmed the messages were from a scammer and had not been distributed from an official source connected to the supermarket.
“We can confirm this is not an authorised message from Woolworths and is not affiliated with us in any way. We encourage our customers to be vigilant of online and text phishing scams, which seek to imitate well-known brands to collect personal information.
“We will never ask our customers for their personal or banking details in unsolicited communications. We report scams to the ACCC's SCAMWatch and regularly update our Scam Alerts page on our website to help keep customers secure online.”
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