Costco Is Warning Its Customers About These 13 Online Scams
Costco offers shoppers many ways to save money, and sometimes those deals can be found online. But the warehouse chain is raising awareness about several scams floating around the internet right now promising customers free products and coupons.
The fraudulent Costco scams come from fake satisfaction surveys, Facebook Posts, texts, offers, emails, giveaways, job interviews, and more. Typically the creators use these methods to engage in things like credit card theft, capturing login credentials, and identity theft, according to online security provider Norton.
Related: Costco Foods You Should Always Avoid, According to Nutritionists
One Costco scam promises participating in a 30-second survey gets you exclusive rewards amounting to over $500. Another tells customers that since they pay their bills on time, they are eligible for a free Samsung 4K HDTV. And another uses a text with a link to get people to click on a 2% cash reward redemption. To see the full list of the scams with pictures, head to Costco's website.
"These offers are not from Costco Wholesale," the chain says on its website. "You should not visit any links provided in messages such as these, and you should not provide the sender any personal information."
It's not uncommon for these types of scams like the Costco ones to pop up as you browse, but can be quite a nuisance. "These experiences can be costly and, frankly, kind of humiliating," says Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson. "You find yourself wondering why you didn't see it coming."
One deal that's not a scam? Costco is now selling a Nespresso machine! The coffee maker is now available on the website and in warehouses for $169.99. It includes the machine, an Aeroccino3 milk frother, 42 espresso capsules, 2 capsule recycling bags, a descaling kit, and a $35 coupon for Nespresso.com.
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