Kmart issues an urgent warning to shoppers about a Nintendo Facebook scam making the rounds online
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Remember, folks – if a bargain seems too good to be true, it probably is! Kmart customers have been urged not to fall for a recent scam circulating on Facebook’s marketplace. The item listing claims to sell a Nintendo Switch for the dirt-cheap price of $2.95 at the retail store.
The dodgy post included a snap of the popular gaming device alongside a forged Kmart price tag. The fake tag read that the price had been slashed from $379.86 to $2.95.
In an attempt to make sense of the massive discount, the caption falsely claimed that it was due to a contract dispute between the retailer and Nintendo
“Kmart broke its contract with Nintendo and is giving away a Nintendo Switch game console to every Australian for $2.95,” the fraudster wrote.
One shopper shared the post to a well-known Facebook group, Markdown Addicts Australia, detailing how her friend had fallen for the scam and lost $700 as a result.
“BEWARE: Another scam page going around, also there is a Dyson one,” the woman warned. “Do not fall for it. My friend did and has lost around $700. They just keep taking from your bank.”
“Can’t stop it unless you email and threaten them with lawyers.”
The circulating post. Image Credit: Markdown Addicts Australia
While another chimed in saying: “I almost did it until I got to the fine print where it claimed to take $54.00 monthly for… Well, I don’t know what. I stopped there and cancelled. Now they keep sending me emails asking me not to forget them. I’m doing all I can to do just that, forget them!”
However, the majority seemed to show no empathy for those who fell victim to the scam.
“If you think you’re gonna get a switch for $2.95, you pretty much deserve to be scammed.” one user said harshly.
“I'd really love to meet the people who fall for things like this, I've got a great used car to sell to one of them......” another teased.
“No disrespect to your friend, but how anyone falls for this garbage is beyond me… It’s not even slightly believable.” a third added.
Despite this, a handful of users expressed their frustration over the comments, arguing that the victims shouldn’t be the ones to cop the blame.
Be careful, everyone! Image Credit: Dallas Morning News
“Just remember there are people out there who have disabilities, lower IQs, elderly, and young people who would fall for this. Don’t always be so quick to judge people for f**k’s sake.” argued a user.
“This is just as infuriating as these comments. These scammers target people with cognitive impairments, old age, and so on. They prey on vulnerability. These victims aren't gullible or naive, they get purposely targeted by predators.” explained another.
“Pity for those people who fall prey to these monsters.” chimed a third.
According to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC’s) Scamwatch, phishing scams such as the Kmart post are pretty effective as they manipulate consumers into thinking that they’re dealing with a genuine retailer.
“Phishing messages are designed to look genuine, and often copy the format used by the organisation the scammer is pretending to represent, including their branding and logo,” they said.
“They will take you to a fake website that looks like the real deal but has a slightly different address. For example, if the legitimate site is ‘www.realbank.com.au’, the scammer may use an address like ‘www.realbank.com’,”
“If you provide the scammer with your details online or over the phone, they will use them to carry out fraudulent activities, such as using your credit cards and stealing your money.”
If you ever come across a dodgy Facebook listing, a suspicious email or text, or a fake website, consumers are highly encouraged to report them immediately to Scamwatch.
What are your thoughts on the story? Share them with us in the comments.
Learn how you can stay safe from scams by watching the video below:
Video Credit: Google for Education
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