What do you get when you cross a premium cookware brand with the name and likeness of a music megastar? A classic giveaway scam. We've been tracking the Le Creuset Taylor Swift giveaway scam this week as it's spread like wildfire across social media and multiple news outlets. Let's dive in for the low-down.
What Is the Le Creuset Taylor Swift Giveaway Scam?
Scams and fake giveaways are common on social media platforms, especially Facebook. Scammers often use the names of popular celebrities or brands to trick people into losing their money or providing personal information, such as credit card details. In this case, AI-generated deepfake videos portray a fake Taylor Swift, who has supposedly teamed up with Le Creuset to commence a PR giveaway campaign.
The AI woman states: "Hey y'all, it's Taylor Swift here [...] Due to a packaging error, we can't sell 3,000 Le Creuset cookware sets. So I'm giving them away to my loyal fans for free."
Needless to say, it is not true --- there is no giveaway team-up between the two parties. It's not known who is behind the scam, but "The most profitable shares" is one such Facebook page that has been spreading the scam. If you come across these ads or this page, stay away. There are red flags regarding this page: created just this month, no admin information, and no likes or followers. The page is clearly just a vehicle for spreading the scam. Below is another ad from the same page, this time just focusing on Le Creuset.
If you have come across a giveaway that seems too good to be true, be skeptical. Legitimate giveaways are typically hosted on verified, official social media accounts of celebrities or brands. To be safe, you should check the official social media accounts of related parties for any announcements or promotions. In addition, be cautious when clicking on links, providing personal information, or making financial transactions. These scams are increasingly common, with the likes of Tom Hanks and Gayle King also targeted for deepfake videos. As the Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns:
"Before you make a purchase, take a minute to reexamine the post and social media account [...] The photos and videos are most likely fake. If you make a purchase, you'll lose money (often more than you expected) on a product that is substandard or doesn't exist."
Protect Yourself from Scams
The truth is, there are lots of scams and scam sites on the internet and they're getting even more difficult to detect with common sense alone. For an easy and reliable method of detecting and avoiding scam sites, check out Trend Micro ID Protection, which offers both free and paid services --- with the latter available as a 30-day free trial.
ID Protection can shield you from scams, fake and malware-infected websites, dangerous emails, phishing links, and lots more! If you come across something dangerous online, you'll be alerted in real time so you'll know to stay well clear.