Lidl warns shoppers that £45 voucher circulating on Facebook is a FAKE
Similar scams have fooled unsuspecting shoppers from Aldi, SPAR, Tesco and Waitrose
HUNDREDS of supermarket customers could be falling victim to a new Lidl shopping scam, which could plague their computer with viruses.
The fake offer is being shared on Facebook and promises Lidl shoppers a £45 voucher, to celebrate the supermarket's anniversary.
But Lidl on its official Facebook page warned customers that the too-good-to-be-true deal was a scam.
The supermarket wrote: "Dear Lidlers, a number of you have contacted us regarding a post to win a £45 voucher from Lidl via Facebook. Unfortunately this is a scam made to look like a voucher from us."
Lidl advises customers to always check for all the latest news and deals.
Clicking on the link directs you to a survey page, which you are then asked to share on your social media pages.
This then spams all of your friends with the same offer and the vicious cycle continues.
Similar scams have fooled unsuspecting shoppers from Aldi, SPAR, Tesco and Waitrose earlier this year.
This summer, a fake Tesco Facebook page claimed to offer followers the chance to win a £1,000 voucher.
BLOCK IT OUT How to permanently get rid of spam and unwanted emails, texts and phone calls
Meanwhile, National Trading Standards eCrime experts urged customers to steer clear of fake Tesco and Waitrose "anniversary" vouchers, sharing examples on social media.
Shoppers have also been targeted by scammers' fake £85 Aldi vouchers which have flooded Facebook.
The supermarket has deemed the "free coupons" as "fraudulent" and are warning customers not to share their personal details.
How to protect yourself from scams
FIRSTLY, remember that if something seems too good to be true, it normally is.
Check brands are "verified" on Facebook and Twitter pages - this means the company will have a blue tick on their profile.
Look for grammatical and spelling errors; fraudsters are notoriously bad at writing proper English. If you receive a message from a “friend” informing you of a freebie, consider whether it’s written in your friend’s normal style.
If you’re invited to click on an URL, hover over the link to see the address it will take you to – does it look genuine?
To be on the really safe side, don’t click on unsolicited links in messages, even if they appear to come from a trusted contact.
Be careful when opening email attachments too. Fraudsters are increasingly attaching files, usually PDFs or spreadsheets, which contain dangerous malware.
If you receive a suspicious message then report it to the company, block the sender and delete it.
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