SINGAPORE - If you have a received a message telling you that FairPrice is giving away gift cards worth $400 each for its 45th anniversary, do not click on the link included.
It is a scam, the supermarket chain said in a note on its Facebook page on Tuesday (Jan 9).
A copy of the message that a Straits Times reader received via WhatsApp reads: "Fairprice celebrates its 45th anniversary and gives each gift cards worth 400SGD each! I have just received one from here: http:// fairprice. com /anniversary".
The scam was also being perpetuated via social media channels.
The supermarket chain said in an updated note on Tuesday that it was alerted to a new online survey scam hosted on multiple unofficial sites that impersonate FairPrice.
"Please be wary that this message was not created nor endorsed by us," said FairPrice on its Facebook page. "We advise customers to ignore the site and avoid sharing the link."
The supermarket chain's official site is www.fairprice.com.sg. The scam is an iteration of a previous one, which FairPrice warned customers about in November.
That scam offered $1,000 free FairPrice gift vouchers with an unverified link via WhatsApp.
Other versions of scams impersonating FairPrice date back to as early as January last year.
NTUC Fairprice Co-operative was founded by the labour movement in 1973.
The police on Tuesday night shared FairPrice's note on Facebook, asking the public to be on their guard against the scam.
"Beware of phishing websites that may look genuine and always be careful when you are asked to disclose your personal information or bank account details online," wrote the police.
They advised the public to visit www.scamalert.sg for more information on scams.
SINGAPORE: An online survey promising to reward customers with a S$400 NTUC FairPrice gift card is a scam, the supermarket chain said on Tuesday (Jan 9).
"We were alerted of a new online scam that was hosted on multiple unofficial websites impersonating FairPrice," it wrote in a note on Facebook.
"The site claims to reward customers with a SG$400 gift card voucher in celebration of our 45th anniversary. Please be wary that this message was not created nor endorsed by us," it added.
Screengrab of an online survey purporting to give out FairPrice gift cards. (Photo: Facebook/NTUC FairPrice)
NTUC FairPrice has advised customers to ignore the site and avoid sharing the link.
The scam is the latest to involve the chain, which has posted advisories in the past on fake surveys and emails promising rewards such as supermarket vouchers.
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Several Singaporeans have reported receiving a link to a website claiming to offer an NTUC FairPrice gift card worth $400 in return for doing a survey.
The website claimed that FairPrice was giving away the gift cards in commemoration of its 45th anniversary, and participants would be eligible for a card if they send the link to 15 other friends, and took part in the survey.
Stomp contributor Raymond was among of the people who received the link on Tuesday (Jan 9) at around 10am,
Dismissing it as a scam, Raymond did not believe it until he received the link from many of his ex-schoolmates and even his manager.
He became curious and went down to the Downtown East Fairprice supermarket at around 11.15am to verify the information.
Raymond said he spoke to the branch manager who called the headquarters and confirmed that that survey did not originate from FairPrice.
Said Raymond:
"The public should verify the information before sending to other people.
"The problem starts because you receive it from someone you trust, like old friends and just follow the instructions blindly. "
Stomp contributor Casey also received several messages from several people whom he had not been in contact with for a long time, causing him to become suspicious.
Said Casey:
"The message has been circulating on social media, Whatapp.
"I've been receiving several of this message even from several people whom I've not been in contact for a long long time!"
To address the issue, NTUC FairPrice has posted an official statement on their Facebook page.
The statement reads:
"PSA: Dear Shoppers, we were alerted of a new online survey scam that was hosted on multiple unofficial websites impersonating Fairprice.
"The site claims to reward customers with a SG$400 gift card voucher in celebration of our 45th Anniversary. Please be wary that this message was not created nor endorsed by us. We advise customers to ignore the site and avoid sharing the link."
The post featured screenshots of the scam site, and even comments citing that the offer was real.
FairPrice reminds customers to be wary of the scams and urged them to share the information with their friends and family to avoid falling prey.
January 09, 2018 5:27 PMSINGAPORE - If you have a received a message telling you that FairPrice is giving away gift cards worth $400 each for its 45th anniversary, do not click on the link included.
straitstimes.singapore - NTUC FairPrice 45th anniversary gift card message is a scam, supermarket chain warns
