Bath & Body Works is known for its indulgent body care products, candles, and scoping sales. But scammers are preying on fans, using fake tester programs promising rewards to steal personal information and money.
Fraudsters create convincing websites and ads promoting a phony “Bath & Body Works Tester Panel” that claims to pay participants. However, it’s just a ruse to scam victims and expose them to recurring fees, malware downloads, and identity theft.
This comprehensive guide will unravel how this deceitful con works, identify techniques to recognize it, and provide recommendations to avoid getting duped.
Overview of the Bath & Body Works Tester Scam
The Bath & Body Works tester scam operates by enticing victims with the opportunity to test products like candles and skincare in exchange for monetary rewards. Scammers construct slick websites advertising this fictitious tester panel complete with fake enrollment forms.
In reality, there is no such thing as a Bath & Body Works paid tester program. The criminals simply want to harvest personal data for identity theft and trap victims into recurring credit card charges hidden as “offers” to qualify.
By disguising the ruse as a tester panel, the scammers convince excited users to hand over valuable personal and financial details that lead to compromised privacy and stolen funds. But the promised payouts never come.
How the Scammers Carry Out This Deception
Here are the devious strategies fraudsters deploy to execute this tester scam:
Fake websites – Sophisticated sites mimicking real Bath & Body Works tester programs using the company’s logos.
Social media ads – Promoted posts on platforms like Facebook and Instagram drive traffic to fraudulent enrollment pages.
Pop-up browser ads – Deceptive pop-up ads also redirect users to the fake tester platforms.
Phishing emails – Emails pretending to be from Bath & Body Works customer service offering tester opportunities.
Subscription fees – Victims get signed up for recurring subscriptions disguised as completing “deals.”
Rewards fraud – No shopping rewards are ever provided, despite promises.
The scam evolves but continues deceiving eager victims with the false promise of easy cash as a tester. In reality, it results in stolen funds and compromised personal data.
Breakdown of the Bath & Body Works Tester Scam
Here is an in-depth explanation of how this fraudulent tester program unfolds:
Step 1: Encountering a Fake Tester Ad
The scam starts with the victim coming across a digital ad promoting the chance to become a paid product tester for Bath & Body Works and earn shopping rewards.
The ads appear credible with eye-catching Bath & Body Works imagery and claims of rewarding testers. High pressure tactics create false urgency to sign up fast.
Step 2: Signing Up for the Fake Program
Deceived by the ads, victims click the link to join the tester panel. They are taken to convincing websites made to look like official Bath & Body Works tester portals. The sites have forms to enter personal details.
The data harvesting forms disguise themselves as application pages. But in reality, it’s just a scam to steal user information.
Step 3: Completing Required Deals
After submitting their sensitive data, victims must complete “simple deals” to finish the fake enrollment. This usually involves free trial subscriptions that turn into monthly charges.
Potentially malicious downloads are also required, infecting devices with bugs.
Step 4: No Payment and Ongoing Fraud
Unfortunately, victims complete these deals but never get the shopping rewards promised. Their personal information is now compromised.
Credit cards get unlawfully charged for deceptive subscriptions. Downloaded malware may have infected devices. Identities get stolen to open fraudulent accounts.
In the end, engaging with the scam results in lost money through theft and unauthorized fees. The criminals disappear with victims’ data and profits.
Red Flags to Recognize the Bath & Body Works Tester Scam
Grammatical/spelling errors throughout the website and ad copy
Urgent calls to action insisting you must sign up right now before the offer expires
Requests for sensitive personal information like SSN, bank account numbers, etc.
Lack of contact information for legitimate inquiries or customer service
Poor website design and layout that seems hastily created
No links or mentions of the real Bathandbodyworks.com website
Aggressive pop-up ads redirecting you unexpectedly to the scam enrollment pages
Pages have recently been created according to domain registration records
Low engagement and followers on social media accounts promoting the deal
Comments seem fake or lack critical discussion on the ads and posts
Malware download requirements to access rewards, infecting devices
Credit card required just to “validate your identity” for supposed security
Recurring subscription fees buried in the fine print, never mentioned in ads
No physical business address or phone number to contact for issues
Use healthy skepticism when evaluating tester opportunities and do not provide your personal information easily. Make sure to validate directly with Bath & Body Works if an offer seems questionable.
Avoiding the Fake Bath & Body Works Tester Scam
Here are recommendations to steer clear of this con:
Verify directly on Bath & Body Works’ website – don’t just trust third-party pages claiming affiliation.
Watch for poor grammar/spelling on pages promoting the deal as this signals fraud.
Do not enter personal info on unfamiliar sites offering the program.
Avoid sketchy downloads required to get rewards, as they likely contain malware.
Read the fine print for any free trials to prevent unwanted recurring charges.
Use antivirus programs and monitor devices used on suspicious platforms.
Check privacy policies on data harvesting forms to ensure proper security protocols.
Report fake ads/emails to raise awareness and get them removed.
Stay proactive and skeptical when assessing offers that appear too good to be true. Do your homework to confirm legitimacy directly through Bath & Body Works’ official channels.
What to Do If You Already Got Scammed
If you unfortunately fell for the fraudulent Bath & Body Works tester scam, take these steps right away to limit the damage:
Contact your bank immediately to dispute charges. Report any unauthorized credit card charges or suspicious activity. Have them reverse the transactions and issue new cards.
Place fraud alerts and order credit reports. Alert the credit bureaus to watch for theft. Carefully review reports for any accounts opened fraudulently.
Change passwords on all accounts. Update passwords everywhere you reuse them. Make them long and complex. Enable two-factor authentication as well.
Scan devices for malware. Run full antivirus scans to remove any bugs downloaded from fake tester sites. Wipe devices that may be compromised.
Monitor accounts closely for suspicious activity. Watch statements for signs of identity theft. Sign up for text/email alerts from financial institutions.
Cancel recurring subscription charges. If signed up for deceptive “deals”, cancel immediately to avoid further billing. Get evidence showing you canceled.
Submit complaints to the FTC. Reporting helps authorities track down scammers and build cases against them. Provide details on how you got targeted.
Educate yourself on common online scams. Learn the typical red flags so you can stay vigilant moving forward and not get deceived again.
Warn loved ones about the scam. Share on social media or directly with friends so they know to avoid it. Report fake ads and pages you encountered.
The earlier you act, the better chance you have to limit financial and identity theft damages. But also take time to learn how to recognize similar scams going forward to protect yourself.
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 About the Fake Bath & Body Works Tester Scam
1. What is the Bath & Body Works tester scam?
The Bath & Body Works tester scam is a fraudulent scheme where scammers create fake websites and ads promoting a non-existent rewards program for product testing in exchange for gift cards or shopping credits.
2. How do the scammers attract potential victims?
Scammers use social media ads, pop-ups, spam emails, and fake websites advertising a lucrative Bath & Body Works product testing opportunity. The ads promise rewards for trying out products.
3. What happens when victims sign up through the scammers’ links?
Victims are taken to convincing fake sites and asked to enter personal information and complete “deals” to enroll in the fake tester program. The scammers then steal their data and money.
4. What methods do the scammers use?
Tactics include fake Bath & Body Works-branded websites, phishing emails, social media ads, pop-up ads, malware downloads, and subscription fee scams, among others. They adapt their methods often.
5. What types of data do victims end up providing?
Scammers trick victims into giving names, emails, physical addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, passwords, and sometimes financial information like credit card numbers.
6. Are there any legitimate Bath & Body Works tester programs offering rewards?
No. Bath & Body Works does not currently have any public product tester programs rewarding participants with gift cards or shopping credits. Be suspicious of any ads claiming otherwise.
7. What are signs of the Bath & Body Works tester scam?
Bad grammar/spelling, high-pressure tactics, asking for personal info immediately, links going to odd URLs rather than the real site, required downloads, and more.
8. What should I do if I shared my information?
Change passwords, monitor accounts, check for identity theft, scan devices for malware, watch out for recurring fees, and report the scam.
9. How can I avoid this scam moving forward?
Verify offers on the real Bath & Body Works site, avoid entering personal data on unfamiliar sites, use antivirus software, learn red flags of scams, don’t download from random links, etc.
10. Where can I learn more about spotting and avoiding online scams?
Reputable cybersecurity blogs, technology websites, consumer protection agencies, and fraud awareness advocates on social media. Also, the FTC and FBI websites.
The Bottom Line
The Bath & Body Works tester scam preys on excited fans by promising easy rewards through a fake program that doesn’t exist. Any real rewards initiative from an established brand would never demand personal data or financial activity upfront.
Apply healthy skepticism when faced with tester opportunities that seem too good to be true. Do your due diligence to confirm directly with the company, watch for red flags, avoid entering information on random sites, and secure your data in case of exposure. Staying informed is the best way to avoid tester scams seeking to capitalize on unsuspecting consumers.
Thomas is an expert at uncovering scams and providing in-depth reporting on cyber threats and online fraud. As an editor, he is dedicated to keeping readers informed on the latest developments in cybersecurity and tech.
