The “Amazon’s Insane Laptop Giveaway” promises you can win a brand-new Dell Inspiron 16 or Dell Inspiration 16 Plus laptop for just $4. However, The offer isn’t real—it’s a subscription trap, if you sign up your info will be compromised. The websites involved in this scam include sprinfracon.com and flumbtrix.com. Here is how it happens.
What Happens When You Click the Ad
Clicking on the ad takes subscribers to a fake Amazon website called sprinfracon.com. There, you’ll be directed to a survey to answer a few questions, and then receive a congratulatory message. If you “win,” you’ll be asked to pay $4 on flumbtrix.com. This is just a trick to get your credit card information and steal your money.
Red Flags
Flumbtrix.com and Hidden Subscription Fees
The website flumbtrix.com, where the subscription trap occurs, was only registered on July 4th, 2024 and set to expire 4th of July 2025. It doesn’t have a terms and conditions page, so you can’t see what charges might be involved after the initial $4. Scams like the “Amazon’s Insane Laptop Giveaway” often hide subscription fees in the fine print.
Hides Owner Info
The website’s owner is using a paid service to hide their identity on WHOIS, making it hard to trace who is behind it. The same registrar is used by several known spammers and scammers, this raises further red flags.
No Proven Record
There are no real testimonials from people who’ve actually won this giveaway. Plus, the site doesn’t get many visitors, which usually means it’s not very trustworthy operation.
Fake Website
The ads claim the laptops are sold by an “Amazon ghost store,” but when you click the link, it takes you to sprinfracon.com, which has nothing to do with the real Amazon store.
Consequences of Signing Up
Personal Information Theft
When users click on deals on flumbtrix.com and sprinfracon.com they’re made to tick a terms and conditions box. By so doing, they give the fraudsters permission to sell their information to big data companies. This info includes – email address, IP address, browser type, cookies, device type, operating system, buying preferences, online behaviors, etc.
Malware
Sephoreview.com and its associated websites are not properly secured. There’s a likelihood that there’s malware program running in the background. Malware is a software that is specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system. It could also be used to steal your personal and financial information which would then be sold to the dark web.
What To Do If You Got Scammed
Cancel your credit card
Immediately call your financial provider and cancel your credit card. By so doing, the credit card details you used for your transaction would become null and void.
Request for a new card
After the old credit card has been canceled, ask for a new card, it doesn’t cost much to get one. Your credit card issuer will issue you a new one with different numbers.
Report the Fraud To Relevant Authorities
Report the scam to relevant authorities and organizations. This includes:
- Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): If you are in the United States, you can file a complaint with the IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov/.
- Your Local Consumer Protection Agency: Contact your local consumer protection agency or the equivalent regulatory body in your country.
- Better Business Bureau (BBB): File a complaint with the BBB if the online store is based in the United States.
Recent Scam In 2024: Sephoreview.com
Samantha