Festival offer, free gift or survey link
A forwarded link offers a free gift or prize for answering a survey, and leads to data theft or payment fraud.
Community reports: 0
How it works
- Around Diwali, New Year or a brand's "anniversary", a forwarded link made to look like it comes from a well-known company promises free phones, gift cards or cash.
- You answer a few easy questions or spin a wheel, always "win", and are told to forward the link to 5 groups or 20 friends to claim the gift.
- The last step asks for a small delivery fee, your card details or a UPI payment, or makes you install an app, and the gift never comes.
What it looks like
Example messages. Numbers and links are masked.
Diwali Gift! Celebrating our 50th anniversary, we are giving free smartphones to everyone. Answer 4 questions to claim: festive-gift-offer[.]in
Congratulations! You won a Rs 5,000 gift card. Share with 5 groups and pay Rs 49 delivery charge to receive it.
Red flags
- A free gift for answering easy questions
- Must forward to groups to claim it
- A strange web address, not the brand's own
- A small delivery fee or card details asked
- Everyone who plays seems to win
The one question to ask
Why would a company give you a costly gift just for forwarding a link?
Already paid or shared details?
If you entered card details or paid, call your bank on the number printed on your card to block the card, then call 1930 and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. If you only gave your name and number, expect more scam calls and never share an OTP with anyone.
1930 · cybercrime.gov.in
Also seen as
- Free mobile recharge or data offer
- Spin-the-wheel festival prize
- Free gift for a well-known brand's anniversary