IN SHORT: Messages doing the rounds online claim that Albany Bakeries is giving away gifts to celebrate its 55th anniversary and encourage users to click on suspicious-looking links. But all signs point to a scam.
“I thought it was fake, but I actually got the bonus,” starts a message sent to us by subscribers on WhatsApp.
The message claims that Albany Bakeries, a popular bakery brand in South Africa, is giving away gifts to celebrate its 55th anniversary.
It also urges users to click on a suspicious-looking link: “You’ve got to try it out!”
The same claim has also been circulating on Facebook, even in groups with tens of thousands of followers here and here.
Africa Check has debunked numerous giveaway scams aimed at gaining wider reach or stealing personal information.
These posts are no different.
Broken WhatsApp link and fake comments
The first clue that the messages are a scam is that they ask users to click on the link, using terms like “but I actually got the bonus” and “you’ve got to try it out”. Scammers often do this to earn revenue based on how many times the link is shared or how many clicks it gets.
Then there’s the link itself.
The WhatsApp link leads to a broken website displaying error code 404, meaning the page cannot be found. This could be because the page has been deleted, or it could be the result of a mistake as they rush through the design process.
But the Facebook links take users to a simple-looking website that tries to mimic Albany Bakeries. The website asks users to fill in personal information. This could be a tactic known as phishing, in which scammers attempt to trick users into providing personal information for fraudulent purposes.
The website also includes “comments” from other users, but they appear to be fake, used to make the offer seem legit.
The company posts all promotions on its official website and verified social media accounts.
Tips for scam-busting
Online offers that seem too good to be true may be tempting, but it’s important to pause before sharing or clicking on such links. Here are some tips for spotting such scams:
- No official website: Be wary of simple-looking websites with many banners and colours. Always check if the giveaway link takes you to the company's verified website; if not, ignore it.
- Fake comments: Look out for websites that contain fake testimonials. These are often added to make the site seem legit.
- Asking users to share: Users are often told that sharing a link gives them a good chance of winning the prize, but this is just a tactic to gain reach.
For publishers: what to do if your post is rated false
A fact-checker has rated your Facebook or Instagram post as “false”, “altered”, “partly false” or “missing context”. This could have serious consequences. What do you do?
Click on our guide for the steps you should follow.
Publishers guideAfrica Check teams up with Facebook
Africa Check is a partner in Meta's third-party fact-checking programme to help stop the spread of false information on social media.
The content we rate as “false” will be downgraded on Facebook and Instagram. This means fewer people will see it.
You can also help identify false information on Facebook. This guide explains how.
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