Woolworths warns of gift card scam emails

WOOLWORTHS has warned its customers to be on the lookout for this dodgy email going out to customers this morning.

Don’t fall for the latest scam targeting Woolies customers. Picture: Joel Carrett/AAP

WOOLWORTHS has warned customers to be on the lookout for an email scam offering customers a $2000 gift card in the wake of the double-billing fiasco.

Earlier this month, a processing error by payments provider Cuscal caused a number of Woolworths customers to charged again for purchases made nearly six months ago.

A number of customers took to Facebook on Tuesday to report emails appearing to be from the supermarket with the subject line, “We are delighted to inform you of your victory”, using the Woolworths logo.

“You may have been overcharged by Woolworths,” it reads. “And we are very sorry for that. As a part of the settlement we are offering you and 52 other Woolworths regulars a Gift Card worth $2000 to use on tons of great discounts at Woolworths.

“See what’s available in your area. Treat yourself to a highest quality dinner on Woolworths behalf. Spend the provided Gift Card at your local Woolworths. To claim your Gift Card simply click on the link below.”

A scam email sent to Woolworths customers.

Some expressed concern that older customers might be affected. “There [are] going to be a lot of people caught in this scam,” Belinda Mason wrote. “They can put out an ad or something. So many elderly will get caught.”

A spokesman said: “Woolworths has no affiliation with this scam. We have reported this scam to the ACCC’s Scamwatch and have advised our social media team. If customers believe they are being targeted we encourage customers to delete the post immediately and report it to us on 1300 767 969.”

ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said often when consumers clicked the links in these scam emails, they were asked to fill in a long survey. “They’ll want your name, Medicare number, passport number, drivers licence, which is all information they can sell on the dark net,” she said.

“We’ve had over 1000 complaints since January of Woolworths gift card scams. They do [fall for them]. We had about 10 reported losses which came to around $1500.

“But I don’t think people realise how valuable their personal information is and what can be done with it. I think I’d rather lose $1000 than all my personal info. You’ve got weeks, sometimes months to untangle that.”

Scamwatch last week warned of a surge in fake Coles gift card scams and Qantas travel prize scams. Woolworths has also posted in-store warnings about fake ATO phone calls.

A scam warning displayed in Woolworths.

“Woolworths is warning our customers to be aware of false calls made by persons claiming to be from the ATO, Director of Public Prosecutions or any other government agencies or businesses,” the notice reads.

“These scammers demand customers to purchase iTunes or other gift cards to pay fake debts otherwise face imprisonment, deportation, or threaten to make your financial situation public. Government agencies will never demand payment with gift cards.”

Last month, Consumer Affairs WA warned that iTunes gift cards were increasingly being used by scammers as the preferred payment method, with victims being tricked into making purchases worth thousands of dollars.

“Most of the victims are seniors who may not understand what iTunes cards are, but are told by scammers that they are an acceptable payment method and they feel obliged to follow instructions from people they believe are in authority,” Acting Consumer Protection Commissioner David Hillyard said.

“Once the victims provide the card numbers, the scammers are presumably able to onsell the vouchers to convert them into cash.

“People need to be aware of this tactic by scammers and inform their elderly relatives, friends and neighbours about it so they will think twice when called by scammers and asked to purchase iTunes cards in response to a variety of pretences.

“We would also urge shop assistants to question customers who request to purchase large amounts of iTunes gift cards and alert them to the fact that they could be a victim of a scam and make them think twice about their actions.”

Woolworths is due to report its full-year results on Wednesday. Rival Coles last week posted its first fall in profits since Wesfarmers bought the business in 2007.

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