Don't Be Fooled By The Latest WhatsApp Message Scam Offering 'Free Adidas Trainers'
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We'd love to think that people are wise enough not to click spurious links sent from unknown numbers, claiming to offer the recipient various expensive items, seemingly free of charge.
However, the occasional Facebook status from old school acquaintances who say something along the lines of, "If u get a msg off me on ere its not me iv bn hackd lol," serves to remind us otherwise.
With that in mind, there is another scam doing the rounds at the moment and this time it's free pairs of Adidas trainers that are being used as bait.
Fraudsters are now circulating the international scam across WhatsApp, offering the recipient one of 3,000 pairs of free trainers in exchange for the completion of a survey.
While we're not sure exactly what happens when the link is clicked, it almost certainly isn't anything good - most likely a phishing scam to harvest personal data such as bank details and passwords.
One thing is for certain, though - it's not from Adidas.
"We are aware of the WhatsApp message that is currently circulating claiming that Adidas is giving away free footwear and would like to caution the public about believing this, as it is definitely a hoax", said Lauren Haakman, Brand Communications & PR Manager of Adidas South Africa.
People have been discussing the scam on social media, warning others that it's not legitimate and not to click on it.
Replying to one of the tweets, Adidas UK said: "Thank you for flagging. That giveaway is not affiliated with Adidas."
Meanwhile, more than 200,000 people per year are being hit by charges for scam text messages they don't know they are being billed to receive.
The messages do not make it clear people are actually paying to receive them - and they are often being billed for weekly or monthly texts, which advertise competitions, gaming services or pornographic content.
70-year-old Peter Carter, a retired brewery engineer from Preston, Lancashire, was recently billed £275 to receive texts from a competition provider.
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He told MailOnline: "These companies are leeches. They should have to bill users directly - in which case only people who wanted to be charged would pay."
He has since been refunded the money.
Labour MP Chi Onwurah, the shadow science and technology minister, said: "Mobile phone operators say they have no responsibility for charges coming across their networks.
"It's time to review what their responsibilities should be and to ensure customers are better protected.
"I have been a victim of this problem myself and had to complain to Ofcom before it was resolved. It should be easier to make a complaint and to be refunded."
