Beware of the Amazon Children’s Day PlayStation 5 Giveaway Scam

Scammers are using a new tactic to trick people into giving away their personal information and spreading their scams. A fake Amazon Children’s Day giveaway for a PlayStation 5 on the website wa5.ru has been circulating on WhatsApp, enticing unsuspecting users with the promise of a coveted prize. However, the promotion is a scam designed to steal people’s personal information and spread the scam to others. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself from the wa5.ru PlayStation 5 giveaway scam.

QUICK LINKS

• How the Amazon Children’s Day PlayStation 5 Giveaway Scam works?
• What to do if you receive a message with a link to the Amazon Giveaway promotion?
• How to Spot and Avoid Such Scams?

How the Amazon Children’s Day PlayStation 5 Giveaway Scam works?

The Amazon Children’s Day PlayStation 5 Giveaway scam is a fraudulent scheme that lures people into participating in a fake promotion that claims to offer a PlayStation 5 Digital Edition as a prize. The scam typically begins with a message sent via WhatsApp, in which the recipient is invited to take part in the giveaway. The message includes a link, such as wa5.ru/CAsONaiL/, which takes the user to a website that pretends to be affiliated with Amazon.

Once on the website, the user is asked to answer a few questions in a survey to qualify for the prize. The questions are usually straightforward and easy to answer, and the user is likely to be told that they have qualified for the prize. However, to receive the prize, the user is asked to share the promotion with friends and family and provide personal information, such as their address.

The scammer uses this information to either steal personal information or spread malware. In some cases, the user may be asked to download a file or click on a link that installs malware on their device. This malware can then be used to collect sensitive information, such as passwords and banking details.

It is important to note that this promotion is not affiliated with Amazon and is a complete scam. The website, such as wa5.ru, is not an official Amazon website, and the promotion is not associated with Amazon in any way. If you receive such a message, it is best to avoid clicking on any links and report the message as spam.

The text of the scam reads as follows:

amazon
Hola,
Ahora estás participando en el sorteo por el Día del Niño
de Amazon.
Al responder el cuestionario a continuación, ¡tienes la oportunidad de ganar una PlayStation 5 Digital Edition al instante!
Quedan 219 regalos.
Pregunta 1 de 4: ¿Conoces Amazon?

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how the Amazon Children’s Day PlayStation 5 Giveaway Scam works:

1. People receive a message via WhatsApp, which could be from a friend, relative, or even a complete stranger, inviting them to take part in the Amazon Children’s Day PlayStation 5 Giveaway.
2. The message contains a link to a fake URL shortener, such as “wa5.ru“, which takes people to a page on the scammer’s website.
3. The page on the scammer’s website describes the giveaway and asks people to answer a series of questions to participate. The questions are usually straightforward, such as “Do you know what Amazon is?” or “Have you ever shopped on Amazon?”
4. Once people answer the questions, the website congratulates them and prompts them to choose one of several boxes that supposedly contain the prize.
5. No matter which box people choose, the website always declares them a winner of the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition.
6. To claim their prize, people are then asked to complete two final steps. First, they must share the promotion with five WhatsApp groups or 20 friends to help “spread the word” about the giveaway.
7. Second, people are asked to fill out a form with their personal information, including their name, address, and phone number, to supposedly receive their prize.
8. After completing these steps, people are then prompted to wait for a review from the “administrator” of the giveaway, which can take up to 24 hours.
9. However, there is no actual prize, and people who participate in the giveaway end up giving away their personal information to scammers, who can use it for identity theft or other malicious purposes.
10. People may also be asked to pay a shipping fee to claim their prize. However, even if people pay the fee, they will not receive anything in return.

Overall, the Amazon Children’s Day PlayStation 5 Giveaway scam is a clever ploy to trick people into giving away their personal information under the guise of a supposed giveaway. People should be wary of unsolicited messages and links, especially if they promise a prize that seems too good to be true.

Examples of such scams

Unfortunately, the Amazon Children’s Day PlayStation 5 Giveaway scam is just one of many similar scams that are out there. Scammers are constantly coming up with new ways to trick people into giving away their personal information or money. It’s important to be aware of these types of scams and to know how to spot them.

Here are some examples of similar scams to watch out for: Robux Giveaway Scam, SHEIN Gift Card Instagram Scam, and Mr Beast Giveaway SCAM.

What to do if you receive a WhatsApp message or social media post with a link to the Amazon giveaway promotion

If you receive a WhatsApp message or social media post with a link to the Amazon giveaway promotion, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself:

• The first and most important step is to avoid clicking on the link. This can help prevent you from being directed to a fake website or downloading harmful software.
• If you are interested in participating in the promotion, it is recommended to verify the legitimacy of the promotion by checking the official Amazon website or social media channels. Legitimate promotions are usually advertised on the company’s official channels, so if you cannot find any information about the promotion there, it is likely a scam.
• If you suspect that the message is a scam, report it to the relevant authorities. For WhatsApp, you can report the message by tapping and holding on the message and selecting “Report” from the menu. For other social media platforms, look for a “Report” or “Flag” option.
• If you receive a suspicious message, it is important to warn your contacts about the scam to prevent them from falling victim to it. You can do this by forwarding the message to your contacts and explaining why you believe it is a scam.
• Never provide personal information, such as your address, phone number, or credit card details, in response to a suspicious message or website. Legitimate companies would never ask for this information in this way.

By following these steps, you can help protect yourself and others from falling victim to the Amazon PlayStation 5 Giveaway scam and other similar scams.

Threat Summary

Name	Amazon Children’s Day PlayStation 5 Giveaway Scam
Type	Phishing Scam
Fake claims	Offering a chance to win a PlayStation 5 in exchange for completing a survey and sharing the scam with friends on WhatsApp
Scammers websites	wa5.ru (fake URL shortener)
Disguise	Fake Amazon branding and holiday theme
Symptoms	Messages from friends and strangers on WhatsApp
Damage	Personal information theft, malware installation, financial losses
Distribution	WhatsApp messages and social media
Target Audience	WhatsApp users in Spanish-speaking countries
Prevention Tips	1) Do not click on suspicious links; 2) Verify the legitimacy of the promotion through official channels; 3) Warn your contacts about the scam; 4) Protect your personal information
Reporting Info	Report suspicious messages to WhatsApp by tapping and holding the message and selecting “Report”

How to spot and avoid such scams?

Here are some tips on how to spot and avoid scams like the Amazon Children’s Day PlayStation 5 Giveaway Scam:

1. Be wary of unsolicited messages. If you receive a message or email from an unknown sender, be cautious. Do not click on any links or download any attachments until you have verified that the sender is legitimate.
2. Look out for spelling and grammatical errors. Scammers often use poor spelling and grammar, which can be a red flag. Legitimate companies usually have a team of professional writers who proofread their communications.
3. Check the website address. Before you enter any personal information or payment details, make sure you are on a legitimate website. Check the URL to see if it matches the company’s official website.
4. Verify Suspicious Links with Online Scanners. Use online services such as VirusTotal or URLScan.io to scan the suspicious link before clicking on it. To do this, copy the URL of the suspicious link and paste it into the search bar of the VirusTotal or URLScan.io website.
5. Don’t give out personal information. Be cautious about giving out personal information, such as your name, address, phone number, or email address. Legitimate companies will not ask for this information unless it is necessary to complete a transaction.
6. Be suspicious of offers that seem too good to be true. Scammers often use enticing offers to lure people in. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

By following these tips, you can reduce your risk of falling victim to scams like the Amazon Children’s Day PlayStation 5 Giveaway Scam. If you suspect that you have been targeted by a scam, report it to the relevant authorities immediately.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Amazon Children’s Day PlayStation 5 Giveaway scam is just one example of the various online scams that exist today. These scams are designed to deceive unsuspecting victims and steal their personal information or money. It is essential to remain vigilant and skeptical when receiving unsolicited messages or emails offering free giveaways or other too-good-to-be-true offers. Always double-check the legitimacy of the source and avoid clicking on any suspicious links. By staying informed and aware, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from falling prey to these scams.