I Hate Companies That Cheat People
This SCAM is most dangerous and probably very successful for a few reasons. First of all, let me say, this scam is most likely not perpetrated by Starbucks or has the consent of Starbucks but it more than likely perpetrated by some very ingenious but very deceptive people without ethics, who's main agenda is to deceive people into releasing personal information and consent to solicit.
Why is that so bad? Today, personal info. with consent to solicit is a big money-maker. They are deceiving people so they can sell your info. to companies for direct solicitations - which is hard to do today.
The SKEWED GIFTCARD - IT'S NOT A WIN WIN GIFT FROM YOUR FAVORITE COMPANY.
Here is how I think this particular scam works...
Recently, I received a text message on my cell phone which number is listed and active in the DO NOT CALL list - protected from soliticitations.
Text Message.
"Congratulations....etc, etc. how to win prizes" l suspect this solicitation call came from a recent scam text message I received about winning a $100 Starbucks card. After filling out info. I became suspicious and ended the app. , unfortunately, it appears I filled out enough that now I am receiving these kind of calls daily. The text stated "Devoted starbucks fan, you just won a 100 gift voucher to startbucks!", then listing a website to get your voucher.
Once on their website they request your personal information in order for you to get your $100 giftcard.
What is alarming about this text is the sheer magnitude of how they orchestrated this gift message. I suspect this text message informing me that I had won the $100 Starbucks card originated from a recent Thank You card /petiton I signed supporting a recent decision /action of Starbucks. My guess is that someone within the company had access to the data of people, extracted such list for their scam, or the company promoting the Thank You Letter itself perhaps was set up as a ruse, or they sold the list of names to another agency who is now perpetuating this assault.
Using the list of people who sign the petition /letter the organization then concocted a 'loyalty' statement to lure those dedicated Starbucks customers into believing this text was from a legitimate source. Quite manipulative pyschological speaking.
Once they lure the cust. onto the website, I suspect this insideous organization must have included some legal language to the fact that you consent to releasing such info for future contacts probably under the terms & conditions of accepting the $100.00 gift card. Most people, of course, would just assume it was just starbucks using their info... A quite ingenious way to get people to consent to using their personal info. to bypass the DO NOT CALL legality issues.
These people have used manipulative, methodical steps to trick and deceive and it appears that have done so legally. A hook that can eventually cost consumers in both time (inconvenience) and money if such solititations are purchased and prove to be yet another scam. If you have already been hooked by this scam, don't let any of the companies contacting you reel you in. If you happen to pick up on any of the soliciting calls, tell them you were recently scammed into giving out personal information, therefore, you WILL NOT BUY FROM ANY COMPANY SOLICITING YOU. If enough of these companies receive feedback like that from potential consumers, they may not be so inclined in the future to spend money purchasing consumer information from that company source again.
If you are ever contacted about winning anything, especially if they use the name of a legitimate company, don't assume the notice came from the legitimate company. In this case, the company used the name of 'STARBUCKS' TO LEGITIMIZE THE SCAM. IF THE COMPANY AWARDING YOU DOES NOT FORWARD YOU DIRECTLY TO THE LEGITIMATE COMPANY WEBSITE - CONSIDER IT A SCAM.
- CONSUMER ADVOCATE, GINA
==================================
DO NOT CALL LIST
To Register Your Telephone Number(s)
https://www.donotcall.gov/register/reg.aspx
To File A Complaint Against Company Soliciting You.
https://complaints.donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspx?panel=2
Why is that so bad? Today, personal info. with consent to solicit is a big money-maker. They are deceiving people so they can sell your info. to companies for direct solicitations - which is hard to do today.
The SKEWED GIFTCARD - IT'S NOT A WIN WIN GIFT FROM YOUR FAVORITE COMPANY.
Here is how I think this particular scam works...
Recently, I received a text message on my cell phone which number is listed and active in the DO NOT CALL list - protected from soliticitations.
Text Message.
"Congratulations....etc, etc. how to win prizes" l suspect this solicitation call came from a recent scam text message I received about winning a $100 Starbucks card. After filling out info. I became suspicious and ended the app. , unfortunately, it appears I filled out enough that now I am receiving these kind of calls daily. The text stated "Devoted starbucks fan, you just won a 100 gift voucher to startbucks!", then listing a website to get your voucher.
Once on their website they request your personal information in order for you to get your $100 giftcard.
What is alarming about this text is the sheer magnitude of how they orchestrated this gift message. I suspect this text message informing me that I had won the $100 Starbucks card originated from a recent Thank You card /petiton I signed supporting a recent decision /action of Starbucks. My guess is that someone within the company had access to the data of people, extracted such list for their scam, or the company promoting the Thank You Letter itself perhaps was set up as a ruse, or they sold the list of names to another agency who is now perpetuating this assault.
Using the list of people who sign the petition /letter the organization then concocted a 'loyalty' statement to lure those dedicated Starbucks customers into believing this text was from a legitimate source. Quite manipulative pyschological speaking.
Once they lure the cust. onto the website, I suspect this insideous organization must have included some legal language to the fact that you consent to releasing such info for future contacts probably under the terms & conditions of accepting the $100.00 gift card. Most people, of course, would just assume it was just starbucks using their info... A quite ingenious way to get people to consent to using their personal info. to bypass the DO NOT CALL legality issues.
These people have used manipulative, methodical steps to trick and deceive and it appears that have done so legally. A hook that can eventually cost consumers in both time (inconvenience) and money if such solititations are purchased and prove to be yet another scam. If you have already been hooked by this scam, don't let any of the companies contacting you reel you in. If you happen to pick up on any of the soliciting calls, tell them you were recently scammed into giving out personal information, therefore, you WILL NOT BUY FROM ANY COMPANY SOLICITING YOU. If enough of these companies receive feedback like that from potential consumers, they may not be so inclined in the future to spend money purchasing consumer information from that company source again.
If you are ever contacted about winning anything, especially if they use the name of a legitimate company, don't assume the notice came from the legitimate company. In this case, the company used the name of 'STARBUCKS' TO LEGITIMIZE THE SCAM. IF THE COMPANY AWARDING YOU DOES NOT FORWARD YOU DIRECTLY TO THE LEGITIMATE COMPANY WEBSITE - CONSIDER IT A SCAM.
- CONSUMER ADVOCATE, GINA
==================================
DO NOT CALL LIST
To Register Your Telephone Number(s)
https://www.donotcall.gov/register/reg.aspx
To File A Complaint Against Company Soliciting You.
https://complaints.donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspx?panel=2
By:
DreamWizard
Age:
41-45
,
Female
