An elaborate email phishing scam promising free Le Creuset cookware has been making the rounds, deceiving Kohl’s shoppers into surrendering money and personal information. Masquerading as an official Kohl’s giveaway or promotion, this fraudulent “free gift” offer is a ruse designed to dupe recipients through multiple stages of deception.
In this article, we will unravel the intricacies of this scam to equip readers with the knowledge needed to recognize and avoid it. By examining their manipulative techniques, we can protect ourselves and our hard-earned money from these malicious cybercriminals.
Scam Overview
This con begins with an unsolicited email crafted to impersonate a legitimate prize giveaway from Kohl’s. Using convincing Kohl’s branding and mentions of the prestige Le Creuset brand, it convinces recipients they have been selected to receive a free Le Creuset cookware set.
To maintain perceived legitimacy throughout the scam, victims are directed through a series of deceitful pages mimicking Kohl’s promotional flows. After inputting personal information under the guise of prize redemption, victims are hit with recurring subscription fees disguised as processing costs for the “free” gift.
In reality, recipients are handing over their payment credentials to scammers who have no intention of sending prizes. The ruse allows them to unlawfully siphon funds from victims’ accounts through monthly recurring billing. Worse still, personal data harvested enables additional identity fraud.
How the Scam Works
The Kohl’s Le Creuset scam executes a series of deceptions designed to manipulate perceptions and behaviors at each stage:
The Bait: Official-Looking Emails
Personalized emails arrive in inboxes congratulating recipients on being selected to receive a free Le Creuset cookware set from Kohl’s. The sender name, email address, and domain mimic official Kohl’s correspondence.
Subject lines like “Your Free Le Creuset Gift from Kohl’s Awaits!” immediately grab attention. The email body further sells the ruse with customer-specific greetings, Kohl’s logos, and details suggesting careful selection for this special promotion.
These personalized touches build familiarity and trust, leading recipients to believe the message comes directly from Kohl’s. Of course, the reality is these are forged details from compromised customer data.
The Hook: Click Intriguing Links
Call-to-action links within the email promise to take recipients to the Le Creuset gift claim page. Enticing text implores them to “redeem their complimentary set” within a limited time window, creating urgency and excitement.
In actuality, these links redirect to fake Kohl’s-branded websites controlled entirely by scammers. Everything from web addresses to page design is engineered to uphold perceptions of legitimacy as users are reeled deeper into the scam.
The Trap: Submit Personal Information
Upon landing on scam pages mimicking Kohl’s gift redemption flows, users are prompted to enter personally identifiable information under the guise of prize fulfillment and shipping logistics.
With their data submitted, the trap is sprung. Scammers now possess usernames, passwords, addresses, phone numbers, and other credentials to enable further identity fraud and phishing exploits.
The Catch: Hidden Subscription Fees
After inputting information, victims are shown an order summary with a seemingly negligible $1.95 “shipping and processing fee” to receive their cookware set. However, obscured in tiny fine print are terms enrolling them into recurring monthly subscriptions totaling $79.95.
By this point, scam victims are so invested in redeeming their promised freebie, they gloss over details and complete the fake order. As soon as payment credentials are processed, scammers have ongoing access to charge their cards indefinitely.
The Nightmare: Repeated Unauthorized Charges
In the weeks following, victims report mystery $79.95 charges from unknown third parties. Attempts to cancel are met with resistance, as scammers try prolonging access to accounts. Some victims even have their information sold on to other scammers, multiplying their problems.
Only by quickly recognizing the ruse, urgently alerting relevant institutions, and watching for further activity can victims contain the damage inflicted by this scam’s deception tactics.
How to Avoid This Scam
The complexity of the Kohl’s Le Creuset scam makes it difficult to detect. But these tips can help identify warning signs:
Be wary of unsolicited emails with gift offers, especially requiring personal/financial information. Verify legitimacy directly with Kohl’s.
Check sender addresses and domains – are they from official Kohl’s correspondence?
Don’t click links in emails. Manually navigate to Kohl’s website.
Beware urgency cues pressuring you to act quickly.
Thoroughly read all fine print before entering info or payment data.
Take pause anytime you must pay for a purportedly free gift.
What To Do If You’ve Fallen Victim
If you suspect you’ve been deceived by the Kohl’s Le Creuset scam email and fake website, take these steps right away:
Step 1: Contact Financial Institutions
Alert your bank and credit card companies immediately to report any fraudulent charges or activity. Provide statements showing the unauthorized transactions and fees. Request they halt any recurring payments to the scammers.
Step 2: Change Passwords
If you entered any account credentials into scam sites, change your passwords immediately. Enable two-factor authentication if possible for an added layer of security.
Step 3: Monitor Accounts Closely
Keep a close eye on your financial accounts and credit reports for any signs of misuse of your information or further unauthorized activity. Report any suspicious transactions or accounts promptly.
Step 4: Contact Kohl’s
Inform the Kohl’s fraud department about the scam to alert them of the misuse of their brand name for phishing. Provide details that could aid their investigations.
Step 5: Report the Scam
File a complaint about the scam with the FTC, FBI, email providers, domain name registrars, and scam reporting sites. Provide as many details as possible to assist authorities.
Step 6: Learn From the Experience
In the future, exercise greater caution with unsolicited emails offering free gifts, especially those requesting financial information upfront. Never provide sensitive data to unfamiliar third-party websites.
Being proactive helps contain damages from the scam and prevent further victimization. Report fraudulent activity promptly and let your experience make you an informed consumer going forward.
Is Your Device Infected? Scan for Malware
If your computer or phone is slow, showing unwanted pop-ups, or acting strangely, malware could be the cause. Running a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is one of the most reliable ways to detect and remove harmful software. The free version can identify and clean common infections such as adware, browser hijackers, trojans, and other unwanted programs.
Malwarebytes works on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Choose your operating system below and follow the steps to scan your device and remove any malware that might be slowing it down.
Malwarebytes for WindowsMalwarebytes for MacMalwarebytes for Android
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Windows
Malwarebytes stands out as one of the leading and widely-used anti-malware solutions for Windows, and for good reason. It effectively eradicates various types of malware that other programs often overlook, all at no cost to you. When it comes to disinfecting an infected device, Malwarebytes has consistently been a free and indispensable tool in the battle against malware. We highly recommend it for maintaining a clean and secure system.
Download Malwarebytes
Download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows using the official link below. Malwarebytes will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software for free.
(The above link will open a new page from where you can download Malwarebytes)
Install Malwarebytes
After the download is complete, locate the MBSetup file, typically found in your Downloads folder. Double-click on the MBSetup file to begin the installation of Malwarebytes on your computer. If a User Account Control pop-up appears, click “Yes” to continue the Malwarebytes installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, the setup wizard will guide you through the process.
You’ll first be prompted to choose the type of computer you’re installing the program on—select either “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” as appropriate, then click on Next.
Malwarebytes will now begin the installation process on your device.
When the Malwarebytes installation is complete, the program will automatically open to the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen.
On the final screen, simply click on the Open Malwarebytes option to start the program.
Enable “Rootkit scanning”.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start, and you will see the main screen as shown below. To maximize Malwarebytes’ ability to detect malware and unwanted programs, we need to enable rootkit scanning. Click on the “Settings” gear icon located on the left of the screen to access the general settings section.
In the settings menu, enable the “Scan for rootkits” option by clicking the toggle switch until it turns blue.
Now that you have enabled rootkit scanning, click on the “Dashboard” button in the left pane to get back to the main screen.
Perform a Scan with Malwarebytes.
To start a scan, click the Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its antivirus database and begin scanning your computer for malicious programs.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now scan your computer for browser hijackers and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Quarantine detected malware
Once the Malwarebytes scan is complete, it will display a list of detected malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. To effectively remove these threats, click the “Quarantine” button.
Malwarebytes will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the program’s quarantine.
Restart your computer.
When removing files, Malwarebytes may require a reboot to fully eliminate some threats. If you see a message indicating that a reboot is needed, please allow it. Once your computer has restarted and you are logged back in, you can continue with the remaining steps.
Once the scan completes, remove all detected threats. Your Windows computer should now be clean and running smoothly again, free of trojans, adware, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing Malwarebytes Premium to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Malwarebytes for Mac is an on-demand scanner that can destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss without costing you absolutely anything. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free, and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.
Download Malwarebytes for Mac.
You can download Malwarebytes for Mac by clicking the link below.
When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes for Mac Installer which will guide you through the installation process. Click “Continue“, then keep following the prompts to continue with the installation process.
When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click the “Get started” button.
Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”.
The Malwarebytes Welcome screen will first ask you what type of computer are you installing this program, click either Personal Computer or Work Computer.
Click on “Scan”.
To scan your computer with Malwarebytes, click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes for Mac will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for malware.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will scan your computer for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Quarantine”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected. To remove the malware that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Restart computer.
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer.
After scanning, delete any detected threats. Your Mac should now be free from adware, unwanted extensions, and other potentially harmful software.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious program on your computer, you might want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Android
Malwarebytes for Android automatically detects and removes dangerous threats like malware and ransomware so you don’t have to worry about your most-used device being compromised. Aggressive detection of adware and potentially unwanted programs keeps your Android phone or tablet running smooth.
Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.
When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options. This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue. Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step. Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue. Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
You will now be prompted to update the Malwarebytes database and run a full system scan.
Click on “Update database” to update the Malwarebytes for Android definitions to the latest version, then click on “Run full scan” to perform a system scan.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Remove Selected”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. To remove the malicious apps that Malwarebytes has found, tap on the “Remove Selected” button.
Restart your phone.
Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.
When the scan is finished, remove all detected threats. Your Android phone should now be free of malicious apps, adware, and unwanted browser redirects.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious app on your phone, you may want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
After cleaning your device, it’s important to protect it from future infections and annoying pop-ups. We recommend installing an ad blocker such as AdGuard. AdGuard blocks malicious ads, prevents phishing attempts, and stops dangerous redirects, helping you stay safe while browsing online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kohl’s Le Creuset scam email?
The Kohl’s Le Creuset scam email is a phishing email pretending to offer free Le Creuset cookware sets from Kohl’s. It aims to steal money and personal information from recipients.
How does the Kohl’s Le Creuset scam work?
The scam sends an email impersonating Kohl’s, claiming you won a free gift. Clicking links goes to fake Kohl’s websites that get your personal and payment details to enroll you in hidden monthly subscription fees.
What are signs of the Kohl’s Le Creuset scam email?
Warning signs include an unsolicited email, urgent calls to claim a prize, requests for personal information, mismatched links and domains, and fine print subscription fees.
Should I click on links or provide info to get the free set?
No, this is a scam tactic to steal your data and money. Never click unverified links or provide personal/financial information in unsolicited emails.
What happens if I provided my information to the scammers?
Contact your bank and credit card companies immediately to halt payments. Monitor your accounts and credit reports closely for fraudulent activity. Change any passwords reused on scam websites.
How can I avoid the Kohl’s Le Creuset scam?
Be wary of gift offers in emails from unknown senders. Verify legitimacy on Kohl’s official website before providing information. Check for mismatched domains and hidden fees. Report scam emails to Kohl’s.
Where can I report the Kohl’s Le Creuset scam?
Alert Kohl’s, your bank, credit card company, the FTC, and FBI. File complaints about scam emails with your email provider and their domain registrar. Provide details on scam reporting sites.
Conclusion
Scammers will continue dreaming up new variants of cons impersonating trusted brands like Kohl’s. But exposing their deceitful tactics helps neutralize their power to exploit others. Now that you know how to identify these Le Creuset gift scams, you can confidently delete the phishing attempts, warn loved ones, and report these malicious actors. With awareness and care, we can partake in the conveniences of modern life while keeping fraudsters at bay.
Stelian leverages over a decade of cybersecurity expertise to lead malware analysis and removal, uncover scams, and educate people. His experience provides insightful analysis and valuable perspective.
