"Win an iPhone" Pop-up Scam

So, an unexpected window popped-up, just before we were to shut-down the system

It offered an iPhone for pennies on the dollar, so we proceeded, suspecting a scam,
or chance-to-win "bait & switch" ruze…

It claimed some link with MyRepublic (dunno how it worked-out our provider, except
from IP address…?)

Lotsa Q's to answer (most random multiple choice trivia Q's), and - at the end - $3
was displyed beside a recent iPhone. (You could choose more or less storage, &
see that price rise, slightly).

Here's the scammy bit:

In very fine print, the $3 was to buy a 3-day trial membership in a HealthCare plan.
After 3-days, they'd be taking $80 / month.

Dunno if anyone ever got a $3 iPhone, from this scam, but they'd need to give 'em
full credit/debit card details to find out… which, of course, we didn't. :~)

SEEMS "TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE" => IS that.

From the hour of the early AM time it was launched, they were looking to scam folks
who might sleepy enough to miss the Offer details & forget the "Never give 'em your
Visa card details - rule.

Comments

  • +23

    So, an unexpected window popped-up

    Really, you don't use pop-up blockers, and/or go to dodgy sites…

    Not only that, but you proceed to click on said pop-ups?

    I don't think anyone here needs a PSA about dodgy pop-ups. That's not even Internet 101, that's a pre-requisite for Internet 101

    • +1

      he like an adventure….

  • I won a prize for having purchased something at JB HiFi in last year (I had)- my choice of prize still available was iPhone12. Just to verify would I be willing to have $2 on my CC to have this posted. Said yes just to keep going but up came other IP addresses that wanted to sign me up for some ridiculous $$ in order to get 'prize' Needless to say I did give up at this point with no intention of giving CC details.

  • +23

    This is one of the most BOOMER posts I've seen on this site yet.

    Use Ublock Origin so you don't get any of these. These aren't targetted at you specifically, and probably don't care what time it is.

    • +13

      You can tell it's a boomer
      because they have
      formatted their paragraphs
      like this

      • +6

        Nope, that's just IVI

        You must be new around these parts

      • -5

        Racism will get you Nowhere… ;~)

        What? Only Boomers have read
        Newspapers (WSJ or FinTimes)? ;~)

        Flexibility is a Feature of folks, who
        can read both narrow & longer lines,
        Not a Bug… ;~)

        • +2

          Racism will get you Nowhere… ;~)

          Ageism isn't racism…

  • +3

    My Republic posted this 4 days ago on Twitter.

    • +6

      But but… it was specifically late at night for OP

    • +1

      That's likely the one.

      At least MyRep took the time & trouble to Warn Users.

      • we didn't. :~)
        MyRep took the time & trouble to Warn Users.

        How many of “you” are there? 🤔

  • +7

    Sometimes I think people shouldn't be allowed to own a PC unless they sit a basic test on how to use it properly.

    Another example proving that common sense isn't common any more.

    • -2

      There is (or Was) a European Computer Drivers License

      'dunno if it's test-based or a self-education tool.

      Some employers may have ranked applicants, who had one,
      over those who didn't…

  • +2

    Lol

  • +5

    You Will Never
    Guess What IVI
    Did Next!

    • I wait for the day their enter/return button breaks… it's going to cause a rift in the space-time continuum or something

  • Oh dear…

  • +13

    I got scammed into reading this pointless thread.

  • +2

    There's a chance they still got your info. DM me your credit card number and I'll check the database to see if you've been compromised.

    • -1

      Right… No Way, Jose!

  • Cheers for the heads up, Rook.

  • BRO imma have to unsub, i dont want to start 2021 this way, jose
    so long M

  • +1

    something is wrong with
    your computer. i think you
    have been hacked. The
    formatting is all wrong
    you better format your
    computer now. and change
    all your passwords.

    o no, looks like i have been
    infected too

  • Don't tell me that you honestly believe this? You are not going to provide your banking details, are you?
    And who wants that crappy phone anyway!

Login or Join to leave a comment