Trend Micro.</a></em></p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-68319","data":{"text":"<p>A post from a Facebook fan page named “Southwest Air Fans.” went viral over the weekend, receiving over 1.4 million comments. Posing as Southwest Airlines, scammers falsely claimed that they are having a “69th anniversary” lucky draw campaign that features 2 round-trip tickets as a reward. Did you see the post?</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageFull","_identifier":"block-68108","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/southwest-3-253b6.png_900x.png"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-68110","data":{"text":"<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">The viral post from the fake Southwest Airlines fan page</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\"> </p>\r\n<h2>How Southwest Air Fans Scam Works</h2>\r\n<p>To participate in the <a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"https://news.trendmicro.com/2021/06/02/travel-scams-101-how-people-get-caught-and-how-to-protect-yourself//">fake giveaway campaign</a>, you must leave a comment below the post. After that, the scammers will guide you to register via a scam website. If you do as instructed, you will end up sharing lots of personal information with the scammers.</p>\r\n<p>Although the fake fan page and the scam website are no longer accessible at the time of writing, more fake copycat Southwest Airlines fan pages are popping up, and they’re using the same tricks:</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageFull","_identifier":"block-68123","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/southwest-4-1aa3e.png_900x.png"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-68125","data":{"text":"<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">A different fake Southwest Airlines fan page</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageFull","_identifier":"block-68138","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/southwest-5-19a13.png_900x.png"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-68140","data":{"text":"<p style=\"padding-left: 200px;\">Another fake Southwest Airlines fan page</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 200px;\"> </p>\r\n<p>The registration link will take you to a page impersonating Southwest Airlines. Once you click on the link to register, you will be led to a random online survey page that says you can claim a reward by filling out personal information. Scammers can record everything and use it to commit crimes such as <strong>identity theft!</strong></p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageFull","_identifier":"block-68153","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/southwest-6-fd61e.png_900x.png"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-68155","data":{"text":"<p style=\"padding-left: 200px;\">A fake Southwest Airlines giveaway page</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 200px;\"> </p>\r\n<p>Below is another fake Southwest Airlines website the scammers try to lead you to:</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageFull","_identifier":"block-68168","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/southwest-7-366a8.png_900x.png"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-68170","data":{"text":"<p>Southwest Airline’s official fan page has already issued a <a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"https://www.facebook.com/SouthwestAir/photos/a.101878958948/10160564542103949//">scam alert</a>, warning everyone not to fall for this fake giveaway scam:</p>\r\n<p> </p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageFull","_identifier":"block-68183","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/southwest-8-82188.png_900x.png"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-68185","data":{"text":"<p style=\"padding-left: 200px;\">Scam alert by Southwest Airlines (official)</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 200px;\"> </p>\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">How to Protect Yourself</h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Free gifts and prizes are always a major red flag.</li>\r\n<li>Be smart with your personal information.</li>\r\n<li>Here are some red flags of fake Facebook fan pages:</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: circle;\">\r\n<li>The fan page’s <strong>name</strong>. The name of the page can look nearly identical to the legitimate one, but there will always be something different, like an extra period or comma, strange capitalization, or missing letters, for example.</li>\r\n<li>A lack of a <strong>blue checkmark</strong>.</li>\r\n<li>The <strong>date</strong> when the page was created. For example, one of these fake Southwest Airlines pages was created on May 23rd — that’s ridiculously young.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageFull","_identifier":"block-68198","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/southwest-9-031e4.png_900x.png"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-68200","data":{"text":"<ul>\r\n<li>Never click on links or attachments from unknown sources. Use <a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"https://api.link.trendmicro.com/events/landing-page?product_id=4cc29&source=blog&utm_content=southwest-air-fans-scam-anniversary-ticket-giveaway-facebook\%22>Trend Micro Check</a> to surf the web safely (it’s free!).<br /> <br /><a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"https://api.link.trendmicro.com/events/landing-page?product_id=4cc29&source=blog&utm_content=southwest-air-fans-scam-anniversary-ticket-giveaway-facebook\%22>Trend Micro Check</a> is a browser extension and mobile app for detecting scams, phishing attacks, malware, and dangerous links — and it’s FREE!</li>\r\n</ul>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageText","_identifier":"block-68213","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/chase-4-9e55c.png_900x.png","text":"http://<p>After you’ve pinned the Trend Micro Check extension, it will block dangerous sites automatically! (Available on Safari, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge).</p>","reverseOrder":false}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageText","_identifier":"block-68227","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/chase-5-e60ff.png_900x.png","text":"http://<p>You can also download the Trend Micro Check mobile app for 24/7 automatic scam and spam detection and filtering. (Available for Android and iOS).</p>","reverseOrder":false}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-68241","data":{"text":"<p>Check out <a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"https://news.trendmicro.com/2021/07/06/surf-the-web-safely-with-trend-micro-check//">this page</a> for more information on Trend Micro Check.</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Button","_identifier":"block-68254","data":{"text":"Get Trend Micro Check it's free","link":"https://api.link.trendmicro.com/events/landing-page?product_id=4cc29&source=scamadviser&utm_content=southwest-air-fans-scam-anniversary-ticket-giveaway-facebook"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-68268","data":{"text":"<p>As ever, if you’ve found this article an interesting and/or helpful read, please do SHARE it with friends and family to help keep the online community secure and protected.</p>"}}],"sidebarBlocks":[{"_template":"Small\\Content\\Cta","_identifier":"block-157084","data":{"title":"Report a Scam!","consumer":null,"description":"Have you fallen for a hoax, bought a fake product? Report the site and warn others!","image":"https://files.scamadviser.com/thumbs/tell-your-story-8910e.png_200x200.png","button":"Report a Scam!","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/leave-review"}},{"_template":"Small\\Content\\Taxonomy","_identifier":"block-157123","data":{"title":"Scam Categories","taxonomies":[{"id":7,"name":"Scam Alerts (779)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-alerts"},{"id":6,"name":"Scam Trends (240)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-trends"},{"id":8,"name":"Global Scam Country Guide (44)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/global-scam-country-guide"},{"id":3,"name":"News about Scamadviser (39)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/news-about-scamadviser"},{"id":5,"name":"Reliable Sites (27)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/reliable-sites"},{"id":2,"name":"Research & Reports (26)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/research-reports"},{"id":1,"name":"Tips & Support (24)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/tips-support"},{"id":4,"name":"Advice for Companies (2)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/advice-for-companies"}]}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Heading","_identifier":"block-59407","data":{"text":"Help & Info","size":"large"}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157795","data":{"articles":[{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157796","data":{"title":"Tips & Support","link":"","icon":"fa-lightbulb-o","renderAsInertiaLink":false}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157824","data":{"title":"Scam Alerts","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-alerts","icon":"fa-exclamation-triangle","renderAsInertiaLink":true}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157839","data":{"title":"Learn about Scams","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-trends","icon":"fa-tags","renderAsInertiaLink":true}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157854","data":{"title":"Reliable Sites","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/reliable-sites","icon":"fa-check-circle","renderAsInertiaLink":true}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157869","data":{"title":"Advice for Companies","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/advice-for-companies","icon":"fa-comment","renderAsInertiaLink":true}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157884","data":{"title":"Research & Reports","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/research-reports","icon":"fa-search","renderAsInertiaLink":true}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-161131","data":{"title":"Global Scam Country Guide","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/global-scam-country-guide","icon":"fa-globe","renderAsInertiaLink":false}}],"buttonText":"See all","buttonLink":"https://www.scamadviser.com/help-info"}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Heading","_identifier":"block-59517","data":{"text":"Popular Stories","size":"large"}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Blogs","_identifier":"block-59530","data":{"items":[{"id":13,"title":"How to Recognize a Scam Website","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/how-to-recognize-a-scam-website","excerpt":"As the influence of the internet rises, so does the prevalence of online scams. There are fraudsters making all kinds of claims to trap victims online - from fake investment opportunities to online stores - and the internet allows them to operate from any part of the world with anonymity. The ability to spot online scams is an important skill to have as the virtual world is increasingly becoming a part of every facet of our lives. The below tips will help you identify the signs which can indicate that a website could be a scam.\r\nCommon Sense: Too Good To Be True\r\nWhen looking for goods online, a great deal can be very enticing. A Gucci bag or a new iPhone for half the price? Who wouldn’t want to grab such a deal? Scammers know this too and try to take advantage of the fact.\r\nIf an online deal looks too good to be true, think twice and double-check things. The easiest way to do this is to simply check out the same product at competing websites (that you trust). If the difference in prices is huge, it might be better to double-check the rest of the website.\r\nCheck Out the Social Media Links\r\nSocial media is a core part of ecommerce businesses these days and consumers often expect online shops to have a social media presence. Scammers know this and often insert logos of social media sites on their websites. Scratching beneath the surface often reveals this fu","buttonText":"Read more","renderAsInertiaLink":true},{"id":4,"title":"How Do I Get Money Back From a Scammer?","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/how-do-i-get-money-back-from-a-scammer","excerpt":"So the worst has come to pass - you realise you parted with your money too fast, and the site you used was a scam - what now? Well first of all, don’t despair!!\r\nIf you think you have been scammed, the first port of call when having an issue is to simply ask for a refund. This is the first and easiest step to determine whether you are dealing with a genuine company or scammers. Sadly, getting your money back from a scammer is not as simple as just asking. \r\nIf you are indeed dealing with scammers, the procedure (and chance) of getting your money back varies depending on the payment method you used.\r\n\r\nPayPal\r\nDebit card/Credit card\r\nBank transfer\r\nWire transfer\r\nGoogle Pay\r\nBitcoin\r\n\r\nPayPal\r\nIf you used PayPal, you have a strong chance of getting your money back if you were scammed. On their website, you can file a dispute within 180 calendar days of your purchase.\r\nConditions to file a dispute:\r\n\r\nThe simplest situation is that you ordered from an online store and it has not arrived. In this case this is what PayPal states: \"If your order never shows up and the seller can't provide proof of shipment or delivery, you'll get a full refund. It's that simple.\"\r\nThe scammer has sent you a completely different item. For example, you ordered a PlayStation 4, but instead received only a Playstation controller. \r\nThe condition of the item was misrepresented on the product page. This could be the ","buttonText":"Read more","renderAsInertiaLink":true}]}}],"meta":{"title":"[Scam Alert] “Southwest Air Fans.” 69th Anniversary Ticket Giveaway on Facebook is a SCAM","description":"A post from a Facebook fan page named “Southwest Air Fans.” went viral over the weekend, receiving over 1.4 million comments. Posing as Southwest Airlines, scammers falsely claimed that they are having a “69th anniversary” lucky draw campaign that features 2 round-trip tickets as a reward. Did you see the post?","canonical":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-alert-southwest-air-fans-69th-anniversary-ticket-giveaway-on-facebook-is-a-scam","alternates":[{"language":"x-default","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-alert-southwest-air-fans-69th-anniversary-ticket-giveaway-on-facebook-is-a-scam"},{"language":"nl","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/nl/articles/scam-alert-southwest-air-fans-69th-anniversary-ticket-giveaway-op-facebook-is-een-scam"},{"language":"pt","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/pt/articles/alerta-de-burla-fas-da-southwest-air-oferta-de-bilhetes-para-o-69o-aniversario-no-facebook-e-uma-burla"},{"language":"es","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/es/articles/alerta-de-estafa-fans-de-southwest-air-el-sorteo-de-entradas-para-el-69o-aniversario-en-facebook-es-una-estafa"},{"language":"de","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/de/articles/betrugsalarm-southwest-air-fans-69th-anniversary-ticket-giveaway-auf-facebook-ist-ein-scam"},{"language":"fr","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/fr/articles/alerte-a-lescroquerie-southwest-air-fans-loffre-de-billets-pour-le-69e-anniversaire-sur-facebook-est-une-escroquerie"},{"language":"it","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/it/articles/fan-della-southwest-air-lestrazione-dei-biglietti-per-il-69-anniversario-su-facebook-e-una-truffa"},{"language":"uk","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/uk/articles/poperedzennia-pro-shakhraystvo-shanuvalnyky-pivdenno-zakhidnykh-avialiniy-rozihrash-kvytkiv-na-69-y-iuvileynyy-reys-u-facebook-shakhraystvo"},{"language":"ro","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/ro/articles/alerta-de-inselatorie-southwest-air-fans-69th-anniversary-ticket-giveaway-pe-facebook-este-o-inselatorie"},{"language":"ru","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/ru/articles/preduprezhdenie-o-moshennichestve-fanaty-southwest-air-razdacha-biletov-na-69-yu-godovschinu-na-facebook-eto-moshennichestvo"},{"language":"zh","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/zh/articles/zha-pian-jing-bao-xi-nan-hang-kong-fen-si-lian-shu-shang-de-69zhou-nian-zeng-piao-huo-dong-shi-yi-ge-pian-ju"},{"language":"tc","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/tc/articles"},{"language":"ja","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/jp/articles/zha-qi-jing-gao-sausuuesutohang-kong-huan-hueisubutsukudeno69zhou-nian-ji-nian-chiketsutopurezentohazha-qi-dearu"}]},"language":"en","pendingCookieConsent":false,"navigation":{"items":{"data":[{"id":1082,"name":"Report a Scam","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/report-a-scam"},{"id":1028,"name":"Help & Info","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/help-info"},{"id":1080,"name":"API & Data Feed","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/scamadviserapi"}]},"languages":{"current":"en","available":[{"label":"Deutsch","code":"de","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/de/articles/betrugsalarm-southwest-air-fans-69th-anniversary-ticket-giveaway-auf-facebook-ist-ein-scam"},{"label":"English","code":"en","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-alert-southwest-air-fans-69th-anniversary-ticket-giveaway-on-facebook-is-a-scam"},{"label":"Español","code":"es","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/es/articles/alerta-de-estafa-fans-de-southwest-air-el-sorteo-de-entradas-para-el-69o-aniversario-en-facebook-es-una-estafa"},{"label":"Français","code":"fr","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/fr/articles/alerte-a-lescroquerie-southwest-air-fans-loffre-de-billets-pour-le-69e-anniversaire-sur-facebook-est-une-escroquerie"},{"label":"Italiano","code":"it","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/it/articles/fan-della-southwest-air-lestrazione-dei-biglietti-per-il-69-anniversario-su-facebook-e-una-truffa"},{"label":"日本","code":"jp","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/jp/articles/zha-qi-jing-gao-sausuuesutohang-kong-huan-hueisubutsukudeno69zhou-nian-ji-nian-chiketsutopurezentohazha-qi-dearu"},{"label":"Nederlands","code":"nl","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/nl/articles/scam-alert-southwest-air-fans-69th-anniversary-ticket-giveaway-op-facebook-is-een-scam"},{"label":"Português","code":"pt","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/pt/articles/alerta-de-burla-fas-da-southwest-air-oferta-de-bilhetes-para-o-69o-aniversario-no-facebook-e-uma-burla"},{"label":"Romanian","code":"ro","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/ro/articles/alerta-de-inselatorie-southwest-air-fans-69th-anniversary-ticket-giveaway-pe-facebook-este-o-inselatorie"},{"label":"Russian","code":"ru","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/ru/articles/preduprezhdenie-o-moshennichestve-fanaty-southwest-air-razdacha-biletov-na-69-yu-godovschinu-na-facebook-eto-moshennichestvo"},{"label":"繁体中文","code":"tc","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/tc/articles"},{"label":"Ukrainian","code":"uk","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/uk/articles/poperedzennia-pro-shakhraystvo-shanuvalnyky-pivdenno-zakhidnykh-avialiniy-rozihrash-kvytkiv-na-69-y-iuvileynyy-reys-u-facebook-shakhraystvo"},{"label":"简体中文","code":"zh","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/zh/articles/zha-pian-jing-bao-xi-nan-hang-kong-fen-si-lian-shu-shang-de-69zhou-nian-zeng-piao-huo-dong-shi-yi-ge-pian-ju"}]},"search":{"placeholder":"Search a website...","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/check-website"}},"footer":{"consumerSection":{"title":"For Consumers","items":{"data":[{"id":37,"name":"Report a Scam","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/leave-review"},{"id":1048,"name":"How to get your money back","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/how-to-get-your-money-back-from-a-scam"},{"id":1078,"name":"ScamAdviser App & Browser Extension","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/download-browser-extension-app"},{"id":1058,"name":"How to Recognize a Scam Website","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/how-to-recognize-a-scam-website"},{"id":1072,"name":"Check a site for me","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/check-a-site-for-me"}]}},"businessSection":{"title":"For Businesses","items":{"data":[{"id":1017,"name":"Claim your Website","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/claim-your-site"},{"id":1085,"name":"API & Data Feed","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/scamadviser-api"},{"id":1025,"name":"Install Our Logo","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/install-our-logo"},{"id":1015,"name":"Become our Partner","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/become-a-partner"},{"id":1023,"name":"Advertise on ScamAdviser","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/advertise-on-scamadviser"}]}},"aboutUsSection":{"title":"About Scamadviser","items":{"data":[{"id":20,"name":"About Us","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/about-scamadviser"},{"id":14,"name":"FAQ","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/faq"},{"id":1012,"name":"In the Press","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/in-the-press"},{"id":13,"name":"Contact","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/contact"}]}},"subFooter":{"items":{"data":[{"id":16,"name":"Privacy Policy","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/privacy-policy"},{"id":17,"name":"Terms & Conditions","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/terms-conditions"},{"id":1061,"name":"Imprint","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/imprint"},{"id":28,"name":"Disclaimer","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/disclaimer"},{"id":18,"name":"Content Guidelines","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/review-guidelines"},{"id":1039,"name":"Notice and Take Down","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/notice-and-take-down-procedure"},{"id":1040,"name":"Sitemap","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/sitemap"},{"id":1016,"name":"Copyright","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/copyright-notice"}]}},"initiativeText":"ScamAdviser is a member of"},"socials":[{"url":"https://www.facebook.com/sadviser/","icon":"facebook-square"},{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCERAPMuOxhqOg6WqIDR1G2w","icon":"youtube"},{"url":"https://twitter.com/scamadviser","icon":"twitter-square"},{"url":"https://www.linkedin.com/company/scamadviser","icon":"linkedin-square"},{"url":"https://t.me/scamadviser_scammybot","icon":"telegram"},{"url":"https://wa.me/31612902070","icon":"whatsapp"},{"url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/scammy-chatbot","icon":"university"}]},"url":"/articles/scam-alert-southwest-air-fans-69th-anniversary-ticket-giveaway-on-facebook-is-a-scam","version":"a3ff320966d79a93c0459cfef9ba8f6a"}">
A post from a Facebook fan page named “Southwest Air Fans.” went viral over the weekend, receiving over 1.4 million comments. Posing as Southwest Airlines, scammers falsely claimed that they are having a “69th anniversary” lucky draw campaign that features 2 round-trip tickets as a reward. Did you see the post?
The viral post from the fake Southwest Airlines fan page
How Southwest Air Fans Scam Works
To participate in the fake giveaway campaign, you must leave a comment below the post. After that, the scammers will guide you to register via a scam website. If you do as instructed, you will end up sharing lots of personal information with the scammers.
Although the fake fan page and the scam website are no longer accessible at the time of writing, more fake copycat Southwest Airlines fan pages are popping up, and they’re using the same tricks:
A different fake Southwest Airlines fan page
Another fake Southwest Airlines fan page
The registration link will take you to a page impersonating Southwest Airlines. Once you click on the link to register, you will be led to a random online survey page that says you can claim a reward by filling out personal information. Scammers can record everything and use it to commit crimes such as identity theft!
A fake Southwest Airlines giveaway page
Below is another fake Southwest Airlines website the scammers try to lead you to:
Southwest Airline’s official fan page has already issued a scam alert, warning everyone not to fall for this fake giveaway scam:
Scam alert by Southwest Airlines (official)
How to Protect Yourself
- Free gifts and prizes are always a major red flag.
- Be smart with your personal information.
- Here are some red flags of fake Facebook fan pages:
-
- The fan page’s name. The name of the page can look nearly identical to the legitimate one, but there will always be something different, like an extra period or comma, strange capitalization, or missing letters, for example.
- A lack of a blue checkmark.
- The date when the page was created. For example, one of these fake Southwest Airlines pages was created on May 23rd — that’s ridiculously young.
- Never click on links or attachments from unknown sources. Use Trend Micro Check to surf the web safely (it’s free!).
Trend Micro Check is a browser extension and mobile app for detecting scams, phishing attacks, malware, and dangerous links — and it’s FREE!
http://
After you’ve pinned the Trend Micro Check extension, it will block dangerous sites automatically! (Available on Safari, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge).
http://
You can also download the Trend Micro Check mobile app for 24/7 automatic scam and spam detection and filtering. (Available for Android and iOS).
Check out this page for more information on Trend Micro Check.
As ever, if you’ve found this article an interesting and/or helpful read, please do SHARE it with friends and family to help keep the online community secure and protected.
Report a Scam!
Have you fallen for a hoax, bought a fake product? Report the site and warn others!
As the influence of the internet rises, so does the prevalence of online scams. There are fraudsters making all kinds of claims to trap victims online - from fake investment opportunities to online stores - and the internet allows them to operate from any part of the world with anonymity. The ability to spot online scams is an important skill to have as the virtual world is increasingly becoming a part of every facet of our lives. The below tips will help you identify the signs which can indicate that a website could be a scam.
Common Sense: Too Good To Be True
When looking for goods online, a great deal can be very enticing. A Gucci bag or a new iPhone for half the price? Who wouldn’t want to grab such a deal? Scammers know this too and try to take advantage of the fact.
If an online deal looks too good to be true, think twice and double-check things. The easiest way to do this is to simply check out the same product at competing websites (that you trust). If the difference in prices is huge, it might be better to double-check the rest of the website.
Check Out the Social Media Links
Social media is a core part of ecommerce businesses these days and consumers often expect online shops to have a social media presence. Scammers know this and often insert logos of social media sites on their websites. Scratching beneath the surface often reveals this fu
So the worst has come to pass - you realise you parted with your money too fast, and the site you used was a scam - what now? Well first of all, don’t despair!!
If you think you have been scammed, the first port of call when having an issue is to simply ask for a refund. This is the first and easiest step to determine whether you are dealing with a genuine company or scammers. Sadly, getting your money back from a scammer is not as simple as just asking.
If you are indeed dealing with scammers, the procedure (and chance) of getting your money back varies depending on the payment method you used.
PayPal
Debit card/Credit card
Bank transfer
Wire transfer
Google Pay
Bitcoin
PayPal
If you used PayPal, you have a strong chance of getting your money back if you were scammed. On their website, you can file a dispute within 180 calendar days of your purchase.
Conditions to file a dispute:
The simplest situation is that you ordered from an online store and it has not arrived. In this case this is what PayPal states: "If your order never shows up and the seller can't provide proof of shipment or delivery, you'll get a full refund. It's that simple."
The scammer has sent you a completely different item. For example, you ordered a PlayStation 4, but instead received only a Playstation controller.
The condition of the item was misrepresented on the product page. This could be the