ParknShop warns shoppers about new WhatsApp scam featuring fake survey
Supermarket chain says it did not appoint third party to collect customer feedback
Shoppers at ParknShop are being warned not to fall for the latest WhatsApp scam, in which a malicious survey is being distributed via the instant messenger service.
Bargain-hunting customers have been offered gift cards and vouchers worth HK$500 to take part in a survey. However, the Post found the external links in the messages led to various dubious web pages, including fake ParknShop offers, a City’super survey and a Watsons offer.
The supermarket chain denied sending out the survey, adding it would never appoint a third party to collect customer feedback on its behalf.
A statement on the ParknShop website stated: “We would like to alert [our customers] to dubious survey invitations sent through WhatsApp messages recently, inviting the recipients to take part in a survey ... to get a ParknShop giftcard [and] vouchers of HK$500 ... we would like to clarify ParknShop has no connection with these WhatsApp messages or this survey, nor has it appointed any third party to do such survey.”
Last week, scammers attempted to get users to upgrade to WhatsApp Gold, a fake premium service. The software was actually malware designed to steal data and personal information.