WhatsApp users are being warned about a scam that is offering ‘free crates of beer’ ahead of Father’s Day.
The scam, which has been doing the rounds on WhatsApp, claims there is a Heineken Beer Father’s Day Contest 2022, with ‘5,000 coolers full of Heineken for your Dad’.
The message also contains a photo of a crate of Heineken beers and a link to click through to the website to enter the ‘contest’.
But, as the old saying goes - if something seems too good to be true, it usually is, and that's certainly the case here.
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Anyone who does click the link would be leaving themselves at risk of potentially dangerous phishing scams, spam and malicious websites that steal your personal information, onlinethreatalerts.com warns.
Heineken has confirmed the ‘contest’ is a scam when replying to a question about the message on Twitter, saying: "This is a scam. Thank you for highlighting it to us. Please don't click on links or forward any messages. Many thanks."
This isn’t the first time Heineken has been used in such a scam as back in 2018, a similar message claiming to be giving away free kegs was widely shared on WhatsApp.
The message, which featured an image of a Heineken keg alongside a pint glass, read: “Heineken is giving away 4 barrels (5lt) limited edition to celebrate 140 years.”
After clicking on the message, users would be taken to a fraudulent website which claimed the person had ‘qualified to receive’ four barrels of beer, before telling them to share the message with 20 friends through WhatsApp in order to claim the prize.
In a statement at the time, Heineken said: “Please be advised there is currently a ‘Free Beer’ phishing scam circulating through social networks.
“The promotion states Heineken is giving away free kegs in celebration of its 140th Anniversary, and encourages recipients to share the message.
“This is indeed a scam and is not sanctioned by Heineken.
“Promotions of this type will always be announced via official Heineken channels. We do not advise consumers to click on the link, share personal data, or share the message within their networks.
“When in doubt, please contact the consumer service hotline in your market.
“Note that versions of the scam message may also circulate via Twitter and Facebook. If one of these messages comes your way, do not follow any links that it contains.”
Topics: UK News, Technology, Viral
Claire Reid