Got forwarded this message on WhatsApp claiming ASDA is giving away £250 free vouchers for their “68th anniversary” with a code QY-45Y3-Q8W32. Tried the code myself and it doesn’t work at all.
But the bigger problem is how the message itself is designed to trick you.
Avoid qy-45y3-q8w32, This Is Scam
The entire text is hyperlinked, so when you try to copy the voucher code or even just tap the message to read it properly, you’re actually clicking through to whatever dodgy site they’ve linked behind it. I tested it on a secure browser and it leads straight to one of those popup-allowing scam pages that bombard you with fake virus warnings and permission requests.
Why This Makes No Sense
Think about it for a second. ASDA have just experienced Black Friday and Cyber Monday with advertised deals that were executed in their official channels. And what is their reason to begin giving out vouchers of 250 pounds in random WhatsApp forwards? They wouldn’t. No retailer operates that way since they would be bankrupt in a week in case they really gave 250 pound to all people who requested it.
The bit about the 68 th anniversary is supposed to sound believable that you would not ask questions to it, but ASDA does not mark anniversaries by sending strangers hundreds of pounds via messaging apps.
What You Should Do
There is no need to tap anywhere on the message, as it is clickable. Keep it to yourself and stop it to your mates under the assumption that you are doing them a favor. Block the one who has sent it to you in case it was sent by an unknown number and, if it was sent by one of your acquaintances, inform them that their account could be being hacked or that they have become victims of the same.
In case you have already clicked through and given any browser permissions, you should change your settings and deny notification access to any sites that are not familiar.
FAQ:
Nope, avoid clicking this message link.
