Lululemon’s wildly popular athletic apparel has cultivated an enthusiastic following ready to shell out premium prices for leggings, tops, and more. So when an opportunity pops up promising $750 in Lululemon gift cards for product reviews, eager fans take notice. But the enticing SweatHaul.com website is a fraudulent affiliate marketing scheme, not a rewards program. This comprehensive guide will uncover how this scam really works so you can avoid manipulation.
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Understanding the Deceptive SweatHaul Scam
At first glance, SweatHaul.com appears to offer an amazing chance to score free Lululemon gear. The site prominently displays the brand’s logo and promises visitors can become a product tester to earn a massive $750 digital gift card.
To get started, you simply click “Apply Now,” quickly enter some basic personal details like your email, and complete a couple of “deals.” These deals involve taking surveys, signing up for free trials, downloading apps, or watching videos.
In exchange, SweatHaul claims they’ll send a $750 Lululemon gift code for online or in-store use. But despite appearances, this website has absolutely zero affiliation with Lululemon.
In reality, SweatHaul.com is an elaborate affiliate marketing scheme disguised as a rewards program. By enticing Lululemon fans with free gear, scammers generate illicit commissions and harvest data from completed “deals.” Meanwhile, victims are left empty-handed.
When exposed, this ruse serves as a reminder to be wary of unbelievable brand offers requiring upfront activity. Let’s break down exactly how SweatHaul operates so you can stay vigilant.
How the SweatHaul Lululemon Scam Works
Now that you understand the general premise, let’s walk through how this deceptive SweatHaul.com scam unfolds:
1. You Encounter the SweatHaul.com Website
The scam begins when a social media ad, email, search result, or text link leads potential victims to the SweatHaul.com website.
The site appears at first glance to be an official Lululemon domain. It uses the brand’s assets without permission to feign legitimacy. However, SweatHaul.com has zero actual ties to Lululemon.
Upon arriving, users see promises of a $750 Lululemon digital gift card in exchange for becoming a product tester. Given Lululemon’s premium prices, this seems like an amazing deal.
2. You Click “Apply Now”
Enticed by free Lululemon gear, users click the prominent “Apply Now” button to get started.
3. You’re Redirected to Complete Additional “Deals”
Users are then redirected via affiliate links to third-party websites like Captha.club to complete extra “deals.”
These deals typically include signing up for subscriptions, taking surveys, downloading apps, or watching videos. Each completes earns affiliate commissions for scammers while users still haven’t received any reward.
4. You Provide More Personal and Financial Information
Completing the required deals necessitates handing over more personal and financial information.
Signing up for subscription offers often requires inputting credit card information. Downloaded apps request access to contacts, messages, and more data. Surveys collect location, demographic, and interest data.
This sensitive information enables financial fraud and expands scammers’ ability to profile and target victims.
5. No Gift Card Arrives After Completing Deals
After investing time and information completing “deals,” users await their promised $750 Lululemon gift code.
But unsurprisingly, no reward ever materializes. SweatHaul.com is not associated with Lululemon and never intended to actually send gift cards. The entire premise is a ruse to manipulate shoppers into generating affiliate commissions.
6. Scammers Vanish or Try Again
Having successfully swindled commissions and data, the SweatHaul scammers disappear. The website may be abandoned now that they’ve gotten what they want.
In some cases, victims report receiving more texts or emails weeks later with the same fake Lululemon gift card offers. Persistent scammers may reuse stolen contact lists to replicate their scam.
Without caution, these online scams can escalate to take advantage of thousands more unsuspecting victims.
What to Do If You Are a SweatHaul.com Victim
If you suspect you’ve fallen prey to the SweatHaul.com ruse, take these steps immediately to protect yourself:
Report It – File a scam complaint with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and notify Lululemon about the brand misuse.
Monitor Accounts – Check bank statements and credit reports closely for any signs of personal information misuse. Enable text/email alerts.
Change Passwords – If you reused SweatHaul passwords anywhere else, change them now. Use a password manager to ensure unique and complex credentials.
Warn Contacts – Let friends, family, and social media connections know about this scam website so they can avoid it too. Preventing further victims will undermine these schemes.
Learn From It – Use this as motivation to be more discerning and cautious moving forward. Never provide payment or personal information to unfamiliar third-party websites.
Remaining vigilant and questioning suspicious offers helps disrupt these criminal enterprises thriving on consumer data and trust.
Is Your Device Infected? Check for Malware
If your device is running slowly or acting suspicious, it may be infected with malware. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is a great option for scanning your device and detecting potential malware or viruses. The free version can efficiently check for and remove many common infections.
Malwarebytes can run on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Depending on which operating system is installed on the device you’re trying to run a Malwarebytes scan, please click on the tab below and follow the displayed steps.
Malwarebytes For WindowsMalwarebytes For MacMalwarebytes For Android
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Windows to remove malware
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 for Windows
You can download Malwarebytes by clicking the link below.
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.
Your computer should now be free of trojans, adware, browser hijackers, 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:
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Mac to remove malware
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.
Your Mac should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
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.
Scan your phone with Malwarebytes for Android to remove malware
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.
Your phone should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About the SweatHaul.com Scam
1. What is SweatHaul.com?
SweatHaul.com is a fraudulent website that claims to offer $750 Lululemon gift cards in exchange for completing surveys and “deals.” It uses Lululemon’s brand without permission to appear legitimate. In reality, there is no reward – it is an affiliate marketing scam.
2. How does the SweatHaul.com scam work?
The site entices visitors by promising a $750 Lululemon gift card for becoming a “product tester.” Users must click “Apply Now,” take a survey, then complete additional “deals” via affiliate links. These deals earn commissions for scammers while users get nothing.
3. What happens when you click “Apply Now” on SweatHaul.com?
Clicking “Apply Now” starts a brief survey collecting your email and info. Then you are redirected via affiliate links to secondary scam websites to complete survey “deals” requiring personal data and sign ups.
4. What “deals” does SweatHaul.com want you to complete?
Each deal earns affiliate money while building profiles on victims.
5. What personal information do they obtain?
SweatHaul collects:
– Full names – Email addresses – Phone numbers – Home addresses – Credit card details – Passwords
This enables identity theft and future targeting.
6. What happens after completing the deals?
After handing over all personal information and completing “deals,” users never receive the promised $750 Lululemon gift card. SweatHaul is not associated with Lululemon.
7. Why do they claim Lululemon gift cards specifically?
Scammers leverage Lululemon’s popularity – a $750 gift card offer is highly enticing to fans. Dangling the brand makes the scam more irresistible.
8. How can I identify the SweatHaul.com scam?
Warning signs include:
– Unbelievable gift card offers – Requests for personal information – Redirects to questionable third-party sites – Unauthorized use of brand names – Vague “deals” language
9. What should I do if I find SweatHaul.com?
Avoid entering any information or clicking buttons. Report the site to Lululemon and warn others it is fraudulent. Enable ad blockers as well. Check bank statements for any unauthorized charges.
10. How can I avoid this scam type in the future?
Be wary of unsolicited brand offers requiring information or payments. Verify legitimacy through official brand channels and look for valid contact info. Avoid clicking affiliate links with free rewards. Use unique passwords everywhere and monitor accounts closely.
The Bottom Line on the SweatHaul Scam
In summary, SweatHaul.com is an elaborate affiliate marketing scheme disguised as an official Lululemon rewards program. By falsely promising $750 gift cards for completing deals, scammers can generate illicit commissions and steal user data when no reward is ever provided.
When exposed, this scam demonstrates why we must think critically about online brand offers and exercise caution when asked for information or payments. If an opportunity seems too good to be true, approach with skepticism rather than blindly clicking.
By revealing how these scams operate, consumers can recognize warning signs and avoid enabling these deceptive practices. Being an empowered user who questions unbelievable deals is the best defense against those looking to profit on deception. Don’t let visions of free leggings cause you to sweat over scam websites.
How to Stay Safe Online
Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:
Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.
It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.
Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.
Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.
Be careful when installing programs and apps.
Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."
Install an ad blocker.
Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.
Be careful what you download.
A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.
Be alert for people trying to trick you.
Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.
Back up your data.
Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.
Choose strong passwords.
Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.
Be careful where you click.
Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.
Don't use pirated software.
Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.
To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.
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.
