Beware of the Zijtest.com “Zara Product Reviewer” Scam
Written by: Thomas Orsolya
Published on:
A new scam has emerged online targeting people who love Zara fashion products. Scammers are promoting the website Zijtest.com via spam emails and social media ads, falsely claiming that visitors can become a “Zara product reviewer” and receive shopping credits. This article will expose how the scam works, provide tips to avoid falling victim, and explain what to do if you shared personal information.
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Overview of the Zijtest.com Scam
The scam works like this:
Scam ads on social media or spam emails direct people to the website Zijtest.com. The site uses Zara’s logo and claims visitors can get free products to review.
To “apply”, visitors must click a button and complete a questionnaire. This requires entering an email address and personal details.
After submitting information, victims are redirected via affiliate links to shady websites. These sites pressure people to download unwanted apps, subscribe to useless services, etc.
The scammers earn affiliate commissions from all downloads, subscriptions and purchases made through their links. The victims get nothing in return.
Zijtest.com is a fraudulent site with no association to the real company Zara. Its sole purpose is gathering personal information and redirecting victims to earn affiliate payouts.
This scam is deceptive because it falsely claims people can become Zara product reviewers. In reality, it steals personal information and manipulates victims into installing malware or purchasing useless products/services. Avoid Zijtest.com and beware of similar “free product testing” scams online.
How the Zijtest.com Scam Works
Here is a step-by-step look at how the Zijtest.com scam operates to trick unsuspecting people:
Step 1: Scam Ads Promote Zijtest.com
The scammers behind this scheme utilize online ads to drive traffic to the fraudulent Zijtest.com website. These ads appear on social networks like Facebook and Instagram, or in spam email campaigns.
The ads contain eye-catching images implying visitors can get free Zara products. For example, they may show a photo of Zara clothes with text like “Become a Product Tester for Zara – Get Free Products”. Other ads seen simply say “Zara Rewards” or “Free Zara Products”.
These compelling ads target Zara fans and entice them to click through to Zijtest.com.
Step 2: Zijtest.com Claims You Can Become a “Product Reviewer”
When you arrive at Zijtest.com, the site has the look and feel of an official Zara page. Zara’s name and stylized logo are prominently shown.
The headline says “Become a Zara product reviewer!” and the page claims there are limited spots to qualify.
To apply, it asks you to click a button and complete a short questionnaire. According to the site, if selected, you’ll be notified by email and sent shopping credits to spend on reviewing Zara products.
This creates the illusion that Zijtest.com is run by Zara to recruit product testers. But it’s a total scam.
Step 3: Questionnaire Collects Personal Information
If you click the application button, you are taken to a questionnaire hosted on a different domain name.
The survey asks for your name, email address, phone number, home address, date of birth, interests, and shopping preferences.
After filling out the questionnaire, you must click a button to submit your details.
The scammers behind Zijtest.com use this tactic to harvest personal information from victims. Your data can then be used for identity theft or sold to other scammers.
Step 4: You Are Redirected to Shady Websites
Here is where the scam really starts extracting money from victims.
As soon as you submit the questionnaire, the site automatically redirects you through a series of shady websites. These destinations are part of an affiliate network that pays commissions to Zijtest.com owners.
Typical landing pages include:
Sites offering free ebooks or PDF reports that require an email address to access. This allows them to add you to mailing lists and re-target you with offers.
Mobile app download pages that attempt to get you to install unwanted games, apps, or browser extensions. They earn a bounty for every install.
Sales pages for subscriptions to useless services like horoscope sms alerts, iq training games, etc. Signing up earns them recurring fees.
Online contests that require an email address or phone number to enter. This data gets sold to other marketers.
As you click through each page, the scammers earn affiliate commissions. But you gain nothing from these offers in return.
Step 5: Scammers Profit, You Get Nothing
The purpose of the Zijtest.com scam is to earn affiliate commissions from your clicks, downloads, subscriptions and purchases through their network.
You never get shopping credits or opportunities to review Zara products. The claim of becoming a “product tester” is completely false.
At best, victims waste time filling out surveys and getting bombarded with junk offers. But worse, many end up buying useless services, downloading malware, or having their personal data stolen.
Meanwhile, the scammers behind Zijtest.com profit with every click and conversion. It’s an insidious scam designed to take advantage of Zara fans.
What to Do If You Fell Victim to the Scam
If you entered personal information at Zijtest.com or clicked through to any other sites, here are important steps to take right away:
Contact your bank/credit card company – If you signed up for a free trial or subscription service, call your bank immediately and explain it was fraud. Ask them to reverse any unauthorized charges.
Watch for credit card fraud – Check your statements closely for any suspicious charges from scammers who now have your card number. Report any fraud to your bank.
Change passwords – Update logins and passwords for any online accounts that use the same credentials you entered at Zijtest.com.
Run antivirus software – If you downloaded any free apps or files, scan your devices thoroughly to detect any malware. Delete anything suspicious.
Place fraud alert – Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports to help protect your identity. This alerts you if someone applies for credit in your name.
Block unwanted emails – Use email filters to block further messages from Zijtest.com or any other sources you now receive spam from.
Remove software – If you installed any unwanted mobile apps, extensions or programs from the scam offers, uninstall them.
Report the scam – File a complaint with the FTC about Zijtest.com and any affiliate sites you reached to help shut them down.
Stay vigilant for any future spam emails, texts, or social media ads promoting free trial offers or opportunities to get paid for product testing. The vast majority are scams similar to Zijtest.com. Protect yourself by ignoring them completely.
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 Zijtest.com Scam
Many people have questions about the misleading claims and tactics used by Zijtest.com. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about this “Zara product reviewer” scam.
What is Zijtest.com?
Zijtest.com is a fraudulent website that has no actual association with the clothing brand Zara. The site falsely claims visitors can sign up to become a product reviewer and receive Zara shopping credits. Its real purpose is to harvest personal information and redirect victims to shady offers that earn affiliate commissions.
How does the Zijtest.com scam work?
The scam website runs sponsored posts and ads directing people to their site. Once there, you are prompted to complete a questionnaire to “apply” as a reviewer. After entering personal details, you are redirected to various websites that pay commissions to the scammers when you sign up for offers. Victims never get to review products or receive shopping credits.
Is Zijtest.com operated by or connected to Zara?
No. Zijtest.com has no relationship to the real company Zara. The scam website simply displays the Zara logo illegally to look official. Its claims of giving away free products in exchange for reviews are completely false.
What happens when you complete the Zijtest.com questionnaire?
The questionnaire asks for personal information like your name, email, phone number, address and more. This data is likely used for identity theft or sold to other scammers. Right after submitting details, you are redirected to shady websites through the scammers’ affiliate network.
What types of websites does Zijtest.com redirect users to?
Typical shady websites you may be redirected to include free ebook offers (that sell your data), mobile app downloads, subscriptions to useless services, online contests, and more. The scammers earn affiliate commissions from any downloads, purchases or sign-ups generated through their links.
Does Zijtest.com send free Zara products if you apply?
No. The claims of sending shopping credits or Zara products to reviewers are completely bogus. It is a false promise used to manipulate victims and steal personal information. You never receive any opportunity to actually test or review products.
Is personal information entered on Zijtest.com secure?
Absolutely not. Any data collected is likely used fraudulently or sold to other scammers involved in identity theft. Never enter any personal or financial details on questionable websites like this.
What should you do if you gave information to Zijtest.com?
Immediately contact your bank about any unauthorized charges, scan devices for malware, place fraud alerts on credit reports, change passwords, block unwanted emails, and report the scam to the FTC.
How can you avoid the Zijtest.com scam?
Be wary of too-good-to-be-true offers, ignore related ads and sponsored posts, don’t click questionable links, protect your personal information, and avoid entering details on sketchy sites promising free products.
The Bottom Line
The website Zijtest.com is a fraudulent site promoting a fake opportunity to become a Zara product reviewer. It lures in victims with the false promise of shopping credits.
In reality, it steals personal information and redirects visitors to shady websites in order to earn affiliate commissions. You never get anything of value in return.
Avoid sponsored posts and sketchy offers associated with Zijtest.com. Be cautious of any site offering free products or easy ways to make money online. Many are ploys to harvest data or push unwanted services on users.
Carefully guard your personal and financial information to avoid falling victim to manipulative scams. And warn your friends and family to stay far away from Zijtest.com.
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.
