A gift card scam text is going around that tries to lure you in with a very inviting offer – it's basically an offer of free money. The text appears to come from the well-respected company Target, but it doesn't.
One FOX 5 viewer got the text and called immediately.
"I thought I'd better call Channel 5 news and let them know so they can put the word out," said viewer Linda Honey. "It said, 'Congratulations. You have won a $1000 gift card from Target."
Yes, a Target gift card for $1,000.
"I thought, wow. My mind started turning over. I was deciding how I was going to spend it, who I was going to give a little to," said Honey.
What a windfall, if it were the real deal. Here is the actual text a FOX 5 co-worker received: "Congratulations, your entry in last months drawing won you a FREE Target giftcard. Enter '404' at www.target.com.tlsv.biz and tell us where to ship it!"
It was the same text Honey received.
Here's the first red flag: It says your entry in last month's drawing got you this winning text. Chances are you didn't enter a contest. That's when Linda Honey first soured on this sweet, would-be prize.
"I thought, Wait a minute. It might not be true," said Honey.
She did the smart thing, and called Target to check it out. The retail giant told her just what they told the I-Team: The retailer is not in any way affiliated with the text. And if you get it, do what Linda Honey did -- call Target customer service to verify it.
Here's a Facebook warning from someone else: "I just got scammed. The web address to 'claim' my gift card was target.com, so I trusted it."
It looks real, but it's not. When you click the link you're then asked to give up personal information. Do what Honey did instead of falling for it, she deleted it because she quickly figured out what's at stake.
"Probably lose money, their identity, peace of mind," said Honey.
The spam text is also circulating with other big-name companies attached to it. Just delete it if you receive it. Target has a newsletter with some other great information concerning this scam. You can read it by clicking here.
Monday, May 20 2013 6:44 AM EDT2013-05-20 10:44:05 GMT
Maria Boudet is a teen who had been living in foster care. She worked hard and earned a college scholarship. But the scholarship was revoked when Boudet's life-long wish was answered; she was adopted.
Maria Boudet is a teen who had been living in foster care. She worked hard and earned a college scholarship. But the scholarship was revoked when Boudet's life-long wish was answered; she was adopted.
Friday, May 17 2013 6:31 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:31:42 GMT
For decades, Atlantans have woken up to Tom Sullivan on their radios. But you might not know that he's also somewhat of an expert eBay seller, and he's got quite a story to tell.
For decades, Atlantans have woken up to Tom Sullivan on their radios. But you might not know that he's also somewhat of an expert eBay seller, and he's got quite a story to tell.
The FOX 5 I-Team found a pattern of payments and perks to one family by the local district attorney's office, and it's a pattern that has critics crying favoritism.
The FOX 5 I-Team found a pattern of payments and perks to one family by the local district attorney's office, and it's a pattern that has critics crying favoritism.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 10:32 PM EDT2013-05-16 02:32:39 GMT
A local man says Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Reed's ex-girlfriend got him fired from his city job. The man told the FOX 5 I-Team about the federal whistleblower lawsuit he's filed and why he wants the city to pay up.
A local man says Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Reed's ex-girlfriend got him fired from his city job. The man told the FOX 5 I-Team about the federal whistleblower lawsuit he's filed and why he wants the city to pay up.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 6:39 AM EDT2013-05-15 10:39:34 GMT
Summer is a break for kids, but you still need to keep them busy. So you sign them up for camp, hoping to keep the kids entertained at a safe camp and all at an affordable price.
Summer is a break for kids, but you still need to keep them busy. So you sign them up for camp, hoping to keep the kids entertained at a safe camp and all at an affordable price.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 5:04 AM EDT2013-05-15 09:04:58 GMT
The amount of money many of us pay in taxes in a given year is often times larger than any purchase we'd make. Where does that really money go? Well, there is a way to find out.
The amount of money many of us pay in taxes in a given year is often times larger than any purchase we'd make. Where does that really money go? Well, there is a way to find out.
Monday, May 13 2013 10:41 PM EDT2013-05-14 02:41:06 GMT
Some $5 billion in Medicare money each year goes to pay for ambulance rides to a doctor. An industry insider claims a lot of those rides are a waste of your tax dollars.
Some $5 billion in Medicare money each year goes to pay for ambulance rides to a doctor. An industry insider claims a lot of those rides are a waste of your tax dollars.
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