Kmart issues urgent warning to shoppers over Nintendo Facebook scam

Kmart shoppers have been urged not to fall for a new scam doing the rounds on Facebook, advertising a Nintendo Switch at the store for just $2.95.

Kmart shoppers have been urged not to fall for a new scam circulating on Facebook, advertising Nintendo Switch’s for just $2.95 at the budget retailer.

The fake post includes a photograph of the gaming device, alongside a doctored Kmart price tag declaring it had been reduced from $379.86 to $2.95.

The low price, the caption falsely claims, is due to a contract dispute between the retailer and Nintendo.

“Kmart broke its contract with Nintendo Switch game console to every Australian for $2.95,” the post reads.

One shopper shared the post to popular Facebook group Markdown Addicts Australia, writing that her friend had fallen for the fake deal and lost $700 as a result.

“BEWARE. Another scam page going around, also there is a Dyson one,” the woman wrote.

“Do not fall for it. Friend did and has lost around $700. They just keep taking from your bank.

“Can’t stop it unless u email them and threaten with lawyers.”

Kmart shoppers have been urged not to fall for a new scam circulating on Facebook. Picture: Facebook

Other customers wrote in the comments that they’d also been fooled, with one writing, “I just wanted to buy my boys one.”

“Unfortunately I was one of those people who thought it was real,” she commented.

“I just wanted to buy my boys one. The problem I now have with people trying to get money from my account.”

“I almost did it until I got to the fine print,” a third said, “where it said about taking $54.00 monthly for … well, I dunno what. I stopped there and cancelled. Now they keep sending me emails asking me not to forget them. I’m doing all I can to do just that, forget them!”

Other Facebook users were furious that people had been taken for a ride, writing they had “pity for those people who fall prey to these monsters”.

According to the ACCC’s Scamwatch, phishing scams like the Kmart post often work because they trick consumers into believing they’re dealing with a genuine retailer. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dean Martin

According to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC’s) Scamwatch, phishing scams like the Kmart post often work because they trick consumers into believing they’re dealing with a genuine retailer.

“Phishing messages are designed to look genuine, and often copy the format used by the organisation the scammer is pretending to represent, including their branding and logo,” it said.

“They will take you to a fake website that looks like the real deal, but has a slightly different address. For example, if the legitimate site is ‘www.realbank.com.au’, the scammer may use an address like ‘www.realbank.com’.

“If you provide the scammer with your details online or over the phone, they will use them to carry out fraudulent activities, such as using your credit cards and stealing your money.”

Consumers are encouraged to report any scams to Scamwatch here.