The $100 Starbucks Gift Card Scam
If you’ve seen an ad on social media or received an email promising a free $100 Starbucks gift card, you’re right to be suspicious. This offer, which often asks you to “give feedback on new menu items,” is a persistent scam designed to steal your personal information and, in some cases, your money.
This article breaks down exactly how the scam works, the red flags to look for (using examples you may have seen), and what to do if you encounter it.
How the $100 Starbucks Gift Card Scam Operates
The scam is a multi-step phishing attempt to harvest your data. It preys on people’s love for coffee and the trustworthiness of the Starbucks brand.
Here is the typical process:
1. The Lure: The “Free” Offer
You first see an enticing ad, like the one below, on a platform like Facebook, Instagram, or in a text message. It uses the official Starbucks logo and tempting language to get you to click.
2. The “Process”: A Fake Survey
Once you click “Get Now,” you’re taken to a webpage that explains “How it Works.” This page looks plausible but contains the scam’s hidden traps. The steps are usually:
- Complete a quick survey: This is a low-effort first step to get you invested in the process. The questions are simple (e.g., “How often do you visit Starbucks?”).
- Enter your basic info: This is the first major red flag. The form asks for your full name, email address, phone number, and sometimes even your home address.
- Complete 3-5 deals: This is the core of the scam. To get your “gift card,” you are required to sign up for several “deals” from third-party advertisers. These are often costly, hard-to-cancel subscription services for things like credit reports, diet pills, or streaming sites.
- Check your email for the checkout code: After you’ve completed the deals (and given your credit card info to multiple services), you’ll either receive nothing or a fake code that doesn’t work.
By the time you realize there is no gift card, the scammers have your personal information (which they can sell) and you may be locked into expensive monthly subscriptions.
Red Flags of This Phishing Scam
- It’s “Too Good to Be True”: Starbucks is a business. They are not giving away $100 gift cards for a simple survey. This is the #1 rule of spotting scams.
- It Requires “Completing Deals”: This is the biggest giveaway. A legitimate company will never force you to buy other products or sign up for paid trials to receive a reward.
- It Asks for Sensitive Personal Information: You should never have to provide your full name, phone number, and home address for a simple survey.
- It’s Not on the Official Starbucks Website: Check the URL in your browser’s address bar. Is it
Starbucks.com? Or is it something likestarbs100.com? Scammers use fake URLs to look official. - A Sense of Urgency: The ad often uses language like “Offer ends today!” or “Only 17 cards left!” to pressure you into acting quickly without thinking.
What to Do If You See This Scam
- DO NOT click the link.
- DO NOT fill out the survey or provide any personal information.
- DO report the ad immediately on the social media platform you saw it on.
- DO delete the email or text message.
What if you already filled it out?
- Cancel the “Deals”: If you signed up for any trial offers, contact those companies immediately and cancel them. Check your credit card statement for any pending charges.
- Secure Your Email: Be on high alert for more phishing emails. Since they now know your email is active, you will likely receive more spam.
- Run a Virus Scan: Run a complete malware and virus scan on your computer, as these sites can sometimes install malicious software.
How to Get Legitimate Starbucks Rewards
The only safe and legitimate way to get rewards from Starbucks is through their official Starbucks Rewards program. You can sign up on their official website or by downloading the official Starbucks app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Stay safe, and remember: if an offer seems too good to be true, it always is.
