An offer that offers people a chance to win “free crates of beer” for Father’s Day, has been revealed to be a hoax.
The WhatsApp scam promotes the “Father’s Day Contest on Heineken Beer 2022” and says that “5,000 coolers filled with Heineken beers” are available to claim.
The message also included a picture of a pack of Heineken beer.
It appears to come to WhatsApp users via a contact and includes a link to click through to the beer company’s website to enter the contest.
However, clicking on links carries the risk of exposing them to phishing scams, spam and potentially malicious websites that steal personal information.
Heineken posted a notice on its Twitter account, saying: “This is a scam. Thank you for highlighting it to us. Please do not click on links or retweet any messages. . Thank you very much.”
A WhatsApp spokeswoman said the platform protects users’ private messages through end-to-end encryption, but she added: “We can all play a role in keeping Keep your account safe by staying alert to the threat of scammers.
“We recommend that people never share their six-digit PIN with others, not even friends or family, and recommend that all users set up two-step verification for added security. “
She said the company encourages users to report any suspicious messages to them.
The general advice is to always be suspicious of messages from an unknown number, no matter how tempting the offer.
And it’s always best to check the brand’s official website and social media channels to see if there’s any mention of the promotion.
