asos voucher scam: reviews and complaints online

Introduction

ASOS is a hugely popular online fashion retailer beloved by style lovers around the world. However, unfortunately their popularity has led to some deceptive scammers attempting to take advantage of unsuspecting customers by spreading various ASOS voucher scams. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at some of the most common ASOS voucher scams circulating online, how they work, and tips to help you avoid becoming a victim.

What are ASOS Voucher Scams?

ASOS voucher scams involve fraudulent promotions or advertisements claiming to offer free ASOS gift cards or vouchers in exchange for completing tasks like surveys, offers, or games. However, the vouchers offered do not actually exist. The scams are designed to steal personal information from people or generate revenue through misleading ads and affiliate marketing schemes.

Some common variations of ASOS voucher scams include:

• Fake social media promotions from accounts posing as ASOS, promising large voucher prizes for sharing or interacting with posts. These promote phishing surveys or sites.

• Pop up or banner ads on websites or in search results claiming you’ve “won” a £750 ASOS voucher for completing a short quiz. The quizzes often ask for banking or payment details.

• Messages on platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or SMS saying you’re eligible to receive a voucher if you click a link and fill out a survey. These links download malware or route you to phishing pages.

• Posts going viral among friends on Facebook with images of large vouchers and claims anyone can get one by commenting and sharing the post to a certain number of friends.

In all cases, no genuine voucher is ever provided. The scammers’ aim is to steal personal data for fraudulent purposes like identity theft or install malware on devices. They also generate affiliate revenue from advertising and leading users to potentially dangerous websites.

How Do They Work?

Let’s explore how a typical ASOS voucher scam works through an example:

You see a Facebook post from what appears to be the official ASOS account. It says they’re giving away 750 £ASOS vouchers to celebrate a store milestone. All you need to do is comment your favorite product and share the post.

Curious, you comment and share as requested. Within minutes, you get a private message from the “ASOS” account saying you’ve won. To claim your voucher, all you need to do is fill out a short survey about your shopping preferences on the link provided.

The link takes you to a website with ASOS branding where you’re asked for some basic info like name, email and postcode to “verify” your identity. You provide it, thinking no harm since it’s just name and location.

Next, the page asks for your date of birth, phone number, and last 4 digits of your credit card “to process the voucher”. Sensing this may be a scam, you back out. But it’s too late – your personal details are now in the hands of criminals.

They could use the info to:

• Generate targeted phishing emails appearing to be from retailers to steal full credit cards or login credentials.

• Add your phone number to lists sold for spam calls and texts.

• Attempt identity fraud using bits of collected data from many victims.

That’s a simplified version of how these scams infiltrate social networks and steal user information for fraudulent purposes while pretending to be a legitimate competition.

Most Targeted Platforms

Certain online platforms tend to be more heavily targeted by ASOS voucher scammers due to their large userbases and ability to spread quickly. Some of the most common include:

Facebook

With billions of active users globally, Facebook remains prime real estate for scammers to generate shares and comments from unaware victims. Fake accounts impersonating brands can easily spread scams before being caught.

Instagram

Much like Facebook, Instagram’s visual format makes images of alleged “won” vouchers very appealing and widely shared. Scammers leverage trends to make posts seem authentic.

WhatsApp

Messages directly to users on WhatsApp are hard to ignore and feel personal. Scammers send links and images claiming eligibility for vouchers to trick contacts into clicking.

SMS/Text Messages

Receiving a text about a prize can feel exciting and cause users to let their guard down. Links in these messages often install spyware to harvest more data from the phone itself.

Search Engine Results

Poorly optimized sites and ads aimed at keyword searches like “ASOS vouchers” appear legitimate but link to phishing pages masquerading as legitimate brands.

Being aware of which platforms scammers prey on most can help you spot suspicious activity and messages proposing “too good to be true” deals elsewhere online. Maintain healthy skepticism of any unsolicited offers regardless of source.

Spotting Red Flags

With scams evolving rapidly, it can be difficult for even savvy online users to discern legitimate opportunities from fraudulent schemes. Here are some key red flags to watch out for that indicate an ASOS voucher offer could be a scam:

• Unsolicited messages or posts about winning/being eligible for a prize or voucher. ASOS doesn’t contact users randomly like this.

• Requests for personal details upfront before supplying the supposed “won” voucher code. Real competitions don’t require banking or identity details.

• Spelling/grammar errors on websites, posts or messages linked from ads or profiles. Legit brands maintain high quality content.

• Not being able to find any other information about the supposed promotion through official ASOS channels or search. Scammers operate alone.

• Unfamiliar URLs in links that don’t match the stated brand name being advertised (e.g. asos-vouchers(.)giveaways123(.)info). Avoid sketchy domains.

• Urgent calls to action like having limited time to claim prizes or complete registration. This pressures users into making rushed decisions.

• Overuse of exclamation points, emojis and emphasis on large cash values being given away “free.” Authentic ads are more matter-of-fact.

Learning to spot even one or two suspect details can protect your personal information and money from being stolen by social engineering scams. Always verify claims with brands directly if unsure.

How To Protect Yourself

Now that we’ve looked at common ASOS voucher scams and flags to watch out for, here are some practical tips to avoid being victimized:

• Never provide personal or financial information in response to unsolicited messages or on unfamiliar websites. Only use official brand websites and apps.

• Hover over links before clicking to check the destination URL. Be very wary of shortened or unfamiliar domains rather than the expected brand name.

• Search official brand social media profiles and websites to verify any ongoing contests rather than rely on messages alone. Many scams claim promotions that don’t exist.

• Use caution when clicking promoted ads or search results, especially those promising vouchers or cash. Scammers pay to rank fraudulent pages highly.

• Monitor bank and card statements regularly for any unauthorized charges. Report suspicious activity to your provider immediately.

• Enable two-factor authentication wherever available to block unauthorized access if login credentials are ever compromised.

• Consider using a secure password manager to generate strong, unique passwords for every online account. This prevents credential stuffing if a single site is breached.

• Be wary of unsolicited messages on any platform from contacts sharing “amazing offers” that seem too good to be true. Check with them privately if concerned and warn them of scams spreading online.

With vigilance, common sense and healthy skepticism, you can greatly reduce the risks of falling prey to social engineering scams masquerading as authentic voucher promotions from brands like ASOS. Stay safe online and remember – if it sounds too amazing to be true, it usually isn’t.

Conclusion

While online shopping and browsing should be enjoyable experiences, it’s crucial to remain aware that cybercriminals constantly evolve new social engineering tactics targeting user trust. ASOS voucher scams effectively leverage the brand’s popularity but contain unnecessary dangers if personal details are provided.

By spotting key red flags, verifying opportunities directly with companies and protecting online accounts proactively, you can stay one step ahead. With caution and due diligence, genuine customers of retailers worldwide can continue enjoying great deals while avoiding the risks of fraudulent phishing schemes. With awareness, ASOS voucher scams need not defeat Internet users who maintain a rightful level of healthy distrust for unsolicited online offers.