SCAM TEXTS

Costco Survey Reward Scam

A text says to complete a 30-second Costco survey for a $100 reward. The “reward” asks you to pay shipping, which is how they take your card number.

What It Looks Like

Costco: Congratulations! Complete a 30-second survey to claim your $100 reward card before it expires: [link removed]

The wording, amounts and company change, but the pattern stays the same.

How to Tell It's Fake

  • Store rewards don't arrive as surprise texts.
  • “Just pay shipping” is how these take your card number.
  • You can't win something you didn't enter.

How to Check for Real

Costco doesn't text surprise rewards. There's nothing to claim. Never use the link or phone number in the message.

If You Already Tapped or Paid

  1. Call the number on the back of your card and say it was used on a scam site. They can cancel it and send a new one.
  2. Watch your statements for charges you don't recognize, and dispute them.
  3. Don't pay any “fee” the site asks for again, and ignore follow-up texts.

Acting in the first hour gives you the best chance of stopping charges.

Report It

  • Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM). It goes to your phone carrier, who uses it to block the sender.
  • Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
  • Then delete it, and block the number.

Not Sure About a Text?

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