Collection

No, Amazon Is Not Giving Away Free AirPods in a Raffle

A collection of emails, texts, and social media posts that advertise illegitimate giveaways.

by Jessica Lee, April 24, 2021

Computer Keyboard, Computer, Electronics

Image courtesy of Getty Images

In addition to calling out sources of false information related to news events, history, conspiracy theories, and folktales, the Snopes newsroom for years has tracked nefarious internet scams that prey on people who have difficulty spotting the differences between legitimate and illicit giveaways.

Below are two dozen examples of emails, texts, and social media posts that aim to convince recipients that they've been chosen to receive free money or discounts — when, in reality, the messages are simply efforts to get their personal information.

If you receive any of these so-called "offers," your best course of action is: 1) don't click on any suspicious links, and 2) delete the messages. You can also report phishing attempts and other scams to the Better Business Bureau.

By Jessica Lee

Jessica Lee is Snopes' Senior Assignments Editor with expertise in investigative storytelling, media literacy advocacy and digital audience engagement.

The someone tried to log in to your account Facebook email scam.

Facebook Scam: 'Someone Tried To Log in to Your Account'

June 30, 2021

The Facebook email scam can often be found in spam folders, where it belongs.

Beware of Forever Stamp Scams

Feb. 16, 2022

Scam offers of deep discounts on Forever Stamps took off around the winter holidays in 2021.

A Norton email renewal refund scam targeted consumers in early 2022 and likely long before.

Norton Renewal Email Scam Lures Victims with Fake Invoice

Jan. 24, 2022

We called the phone numbers listed in the emails. They had nothing to do with Norton or Norton p ...

Pornhub Email Scam Lures Replies with Fake Subscription Confirmation

Feb. 11, 2022

The email's subject line read: "To STOP receiving these emails from us hit reply and let us !!"

McDonald's did not send the scam email about an exclusive reward or gift for a $100 gift card or gift certificate.

McDonald's Email Scam Claims 'You Have Been Selected'

Feb. 14, 2022

An email promising an "exclusive reward" from McDonald's is not a genuine message from the company.

CVS Pharmacy was not giving a confirmation receipt for a special exclusive reward offer because it was an email scam.

CVS Email Scam Promises 'Exclusive Reward' with 'Confirmation Receipt'

Feb. 10, 2022

The "From" email address in this message doesn't inspire much confidence.

A scam email promised a $500 Capitol Capital One Gift Card reward.

The $500 Capital One Gold Card Email Is a Scam

Feb. 10, 2022

"We are pleased to announce you've been selected," the message said.

An email scam promised a $1,000 Venmo gift card but it was not real and should be deleted.

Venmo Email Scam Promises $1,000 Gift Card for Survey

Feb. 10, 2022

If Venmo were to send its users an email, it probably wouldn't come from an email address that w ...

A Costco and T-Mobile email scam promised a gift or exclusive reward and had the subject line we have been trying to reach you please respond.

Costco and T-Mobile Email Scam Promises 'Exclusive Reward'

Feb. 10, 2022

The email scam was notable for its urgent subject line: "We have been trying to reach you - Plea ...

A scam email claimed to give a $100 Lowe's gift card for anyone who took a survey.

Is Lowe's Giving Out $100 Gift Cards by Email?

Feb. 9, 2022

This was not the first time an email scam aimed at U.S. residents led us to a Russian website.

An eBay email scam sends thanks and an order confirmation for a supposed Axel Panel Platform Bed.

What Is the 'Axel Panel Platform Bed' eBay Email?

Feb. 9, 2022

This particular scam has been around since at least 2017.

Lowe's was not offering an exclusive reward for taking a 30-second survey because it was all a scam.

Lowe's Email Scam Promises 'Exclusive Reward'

Feb. 7, 2022

Readers shouldn't waste their time on these kinds of survey scams.

A UPS scam email promised an exclusive reward and included a supposed confirmation receipt however it all just led to surveys and fake offers.

UPS Email Scam Promises 'Exclusive Reward'

Feb. 4, 2022

Readers shouldn't waste their time on these kinds of survey scams.

LinkedIn Email Scam Claims 'People Are Looking at Your Profile'

Feb. 2, 2022

People might be looking at your LinkedIn profile, but the company won't be notifying you of the ...

Facebook scams that promise a payment of $750 in Cash App or CashApp should be avoided.

Avoid These $750 Cash App Scams on Facebook and Instagram

Jan. 27, 2022

We found dozens of the scams within seconds, all with a simple search.

A Facebook scam showed pictures of Ellen DeGeneres and promised $750 or $1,000 Cash App prizes.

Ellen DeGeneres Facebook Scam Promises $750 in Cash App

Jan. 17, 2022

Facebook, which rakes in billions in quarterly revenue, allowed the scam to run on its platform ...

It's false to say that Biden and Congress passed a stimulus for homeowners like Facebook ads claimed whether 3600 $3,600 or another amount.

Beware of '$3,600 Stimulus for Homeowners' Scams

Dec. 7, 2021

It might not be a good sign when the bottom of a brand new website displays a list of "disclaime ...

Citizens with no DUIs in the last three 3 years were not eligible for $610 or $710 refund checks from the government despite what Facebook and Instagram ads claimed.

'No DUIs' Scam Promises $610, $622, $710, or $712 in Savings

Dec. 8, 2021

We reached out to the Better Business Bureau to learn more.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show is not giving away $1,000 Amazon.com gift cards or PlayStation 5 consoles or iPhone devices on Facebook.

'Ellen' Facebook Giveaway Scam Promises Amazon Gift Cards, PS5s, and iPhones

Nov. 23, 2021

Facebook scammers posted pictures from "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" without permission in order to ...

Avoid 'USPS' Email Scam Offering Contest Rewards

June 30, 2021

The scam emails are not official correspondence from the United States Postal Service.

A Walmart hoax on TikTok claimed that a four-digit discount code could be entered at self-checkout.

Does This Walmart Self-Checkout Discount Code Really Work?

June 16, 2021

The idea of looking above Walmart's entrance doors for a four-digit code to later use for self-c ...

Shark Tank did not endorse Keto Burn or a 50lbs in 61 days offer for weight loss.

Don't Bite on 'Shark Tank' Weight Loss Scam Promising '50lbs in 61 Days'

June 30, 2021

Unsolicited emails that appeared as a fake Fox News article led to a Keto Burn scam that had no ...

SCAM ALERT: The 'Coca-Cola Welfare Fund' is Not Giving Away Lottery Money

June 9, 2021

Online posts spread across multiple countries, offering prize money in more than one currency.

No, Amazon Is Not Giving Away Free AirPods in a Raffle

April 24, 2021

If you receive this congratulatory text message from "Amazon" on your phone, don't click that link!

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