A countdown to divert your attention
Whoever clicks on the link “Reply now” takes over the management of a website which uses the logo and name of Delhaize with complete impunity. “We would like to offer you a unique opportunity to receive a brand new Tupperware 36 Piece Set! To claim, simply complete this short survey about your experience with Delhaize.”
Spelling errors should arouse suspicion, but the fraudulent page is relying on a devious ploy to divert your attention: the countdown. At the bottom of the page, a counter runs inexorably and lets you believe that you have 6 minutes and 30 seconds to complete the formalities and win the coveted prize.
A questionnaire in 10 questions to reinforce the illusion
After clicking on “Start the investigation”10 multiple choice questions dedicated to Delhaize stores follow one another. Example : “How did you first hear about Delhaize?”
It’s just window dressing, to make you believe that you are indeed participating in an official operation of the supermarket chain.
Once the questionnaire is completed, the page thanks you and offers to claim your reward, while treacherously adding “Please note that if you leave this page without claiming your reward, we have no choice but to give another visitor the chance to participate in our rewards program.”
The purpose, an obscure subscription billed at €63 every two weeks
The trap continues to close as soon as the visitor clicks on “Claim reward” : “Congratulations! We have reserved (1) Tupperware 36 Piece Set exclusively for you. Enter your shipping address. Pay only shipping to receive your prize. Your prize will be delivered in 5-7 business days.”
One click on “Continue” and surprise, the visitor is parachuted onto another site. It seems that it is necessary to pay €2 to claim delivery of 36 Tupperware items.
The truth is elsewhere, further down the page. These €2 will open access to a mysterious loyalty club, then billed… €63 every two weeks. Or €126 per month.
“This is a special offer which allows you to benefit from full access to our loyalty club for 3 days for just €2. After this period, the full subscription at the current rate (€63.00) will be automatically charged to your payment method every 14 days until canceled […] With our loyalty club, you benefit from the lowest prices in the world and the best experience […] Shop from our 30,000 high-end products.”
Flee this site with a Cypriot domain name as quickly as possible
In short, it’s time to take charge. And above all not to fill out the form “Fill in your information” and even less to encode your banking information at the same time.
In the final count, all the clues and all the links lead to a Cypriot site supposed to sell competitively priced “automotive components”of the “care products” or even “electronic books”.
