Scam report Scam Alerts

Best Buy Survey Scam EXPOSED: Fake Samsung S26 Ultra Rewards

By Lapain Epuran10 min read

A Best Buy survey invitation promises more than a feedback form. A tempting Samsung prize is waiting behind a few questions.

Before starting, check what the invitation promises. A quick questionnaire can look convincing while you are clearing your inbox.

Original illustrative Best Buy survey email offering a Samsung reward through a fictional sender

Overview

A retail survey is the cover for an unrelated prize offer

The Best Buy survey scam uses the retailer’s identity to promote a counterfeit reward page. Best Buy and Samsung are not established as participants in the scheme.

The reported email invites feedback about store promotions and points to a page advertising a Samsung S26 Ultra or another reward.

A documented address is kikane.myridianprizes[.]com. It is not authenticated as a Best Buy promotion simply because the email or page displays familiar retail branding.

The prize creates a reason to keep following instructions

A short questionnaire can make the reward feel earned. The danger is the next request for information, payment, or another action through an unverified claim process.

The counterfeit page was also described as displaying fabricated reviews. Comments inside a prize page are not independent confirmation that anyone received its advertised reward.

  • The famous store name makes an unfamiliar sender seem recognizable.
  • Simple questions make participation feel low-risk.
  • The advertised prize encourages completion of later conditions.
  • Contact details and card information can be more valuable than the survey answers.

Separate the recorded lure from possible later charges

The documented case establishes the fake survey and reward presentation. It does not establish a fixed shipping charge, subscription price, or completed loss for every visitor.

Any later fee or enrollment should be assessed from the actual screen and receipt. A generic survey scam does not prove that a particular recurring contract was created.

The email pictured here is an original illustration with a fictional sender. It depicts the invitation, not an authenticated message or a verified prize shipment.

Why a Few Survey Questions Can Make the Prize Feel Real

You appear to be doing something in exchange

An outright gift can sound suspicious. A reward for feedback seems more like a transaction: the retailer receives opinions, and the customer receives something in return.

That explanation can make a very valuable prize feel less surprising. The reader starts evaluating whether the questions are worth answering instead of checking who organized the promotion.

For example, someone who recently visited a store may assume the invitation follows their purchase. The email does not establish that connection merely by mentioning store experience.

Look for a genuine relationship before taking part. Your memory of a real shopping trip should not supply missing evidence for an unrelated sender.

The meaning of β€œwin” can shift as you continue

A promotional email may suggest you have been chosen, while the next screen describes only a chance to receive a reward. Those are different promises.

Pay attention to that distinction. Completing a form does not make a displayed prize your property, and a celebratory screen does not establish a legitimate competition.

A genuine promotion should identify its organizer and provide understandable rules. Eligibility, selection, dates, and any conditions should not emerge only after personal information is submitted.

Do not treat vague wording as harmless enthusiasm. If the offer changes from a prize to required commercial offers, the decision you are being asked to make has changed.

Reviews can keep you moving when the details stop making sense

Photos, first names, star ratings, and short success stories can make a reward page feel busy and successful. They are easy for a page operator to display.

A comment claiming delivery does not provide a verifiable order history. Nor does a reply asking whether the offer still works establish that an ordinary customer wrote it.

Read the offer without those endorsements. Who promises the reward, what exactly must you do, and which company would receive any payment?

If those answers are missing, a collection of enthusiastic comments cannot fill the gap.

How the Best Buy Survey Scam Works

Step 1: The invitation pairs a familiar retailer with an attractive reward

The email presents a short survey about store promotions. Its recognizable brand and desirable prize provide reasons to open the message and use its button.

The invitation may feel relevant even without a recent purchase, since large retailers run many ordinary promotions. Familiarity with the company lowers the reader’s guard.

However, a brand named in an email is not necessarily its sender. Expand the address and compare the destination with the promotion’s independently verified organizer.

A message landing in the main inbox is not a certificate of authenticity. Mail filters can miss deceptive offers, just as legitimate mail can sometimes be filtered incorrectly.

Step 2: The survey page borrows the look of a store promotion

The linked page carries the reward story into a more convincing setting. A recognizable name, straightforward questions, and retail styling can resemble a campaign landing page.

Read the registered domain rather than concentrating on the page heading. A subdomain containing a plausible word still belongs to the domain beneath it.

In the reported example, the myridianprizes address needs its own explanation. Best Buy branding does not turn that address into an official retail service.

Do not submit a password to check whether a survey is genuine. Verification should come before disclosure, through the real retailer’s established channels.

Step 3: Small answers create momentum toward the claim

Questions about shopping preferences can feel ordinary. After answering several, you may feel that you have nearly finished and should complete the final step.

That momentum matters when the task changes. A request for a delivery address, card, account login, or paid offer is a new decision, not merely another survey answer.

Pause whenever a different kind of information is requested. Consider what the recipient could do with it and whether the original invitation explained that requirement.

Time already spent is not a reason to continue. Leaving before the final screen is better than exposing payment information to justify the effort.

Step 4: The prize story can turn into a fee or information request

Fake-prize schemes often ask for shipping, processing, or another payment before delivering the supposed reward. That is a common pattern, not a verified price in this case.

The FTC’s prize-scam warning explains that being asked to pay to obtain a prize is a major danger sign.

A small charge can expose a full payment-card number and security details. The visible amount is not the only information at risk.

If an enrollment or subscription appears, examine its actual terms and preserve them. Do not assume a one-time-looking payment excludes later charges, or invent recurring billing without evidence.

Step 5: The expected reward can distract from the actual outcome

Someone waiting for a prize may overlook a receipt from an unfamiliar merchant or dismiss a charge as part of delivery. Check what actually happened.

Did the process produce an order confirmation, an enrollment notice, no receipt, or only another promise? Each calls for a different question to the payment provider.

Do not use a second payment to investigate the first. A request for another charge to validate, release, or cancel a prize deserves no automatic trust.

If the page disappears, retain the records you already have. A missing website does not explain whether card information or personal details were previously collected.

How to Check a Best Buy Promotion Independently

Ask the retailer, not the survey’s support box

Open Best Buy’s genuine website yourself and use its established support route. Describe the offer and destination without submitting information through the suspected page.

Best Buy’s Protect Yourself guidance includes an abuse-reporting contact for suspicious offers using the retailer or Geek Squad name.

Do not call a β€œprize department” number supplied solely by the invitation. That would ask the same unverified party to certify its own story.

A real feedback request and a fake reward page can exist at the same time. The existence of genuine customer surveys does not validate this particular offer.

Before accepting any prize terms, identify who selects the winner and who supplies the item. Those may be different organizations, and both roles should be understandable.

Check whether participation is a drawing entry, an advertised purchase, or an enrollment. A button cannot turn those different arrangements into the same promise.

If the organizer cannot explain the arrangement without collecting your card first, leave. You should not have to pay for the information needed to evaluate the offer.

Read payment records as evidence, not promotional copy

If you already entered a card, write down the merchant name, amount, date, and any recurring language visible in the confirmation.

Compare those records with what you believed you accepted. An unfamiliar descriptor is worth asking the issuer about, but the descriptor alone does not establish who operates the website.

Keep screenshots or saved terms privately. Do not post a full card number, address, or confirmation email while warning others about the offer.

Report exact observations. β€œI entered my card but saw no charge” is more useful than assuming the entire sequence produced the same result for everyone.

What to Do if You Have Fallen Victim to This Scam

You do not need to finish the survey or wait for a delivery deadline to act. Start with the information you actually supplied.


  1. Leave the claim process and preserve the invitation.


    Save the sender details, page address, messages, and any confirmation already received. Do not revisit the site to complete a missing requirement.


    Tell anyone you forwarded the offer to that it was not verified. They should avoid using the same invitation.



  2. Contact your card issuer after card disclosure.


    Explain whether you entered the number, authorized a charge, or supplied a verification code. Use the issuer’s app or the number printed on your card.


    Ask about protection, replacement, and dispute options appropriate to the situation. Do not wait for a large charge before reporting exposed payment details.



  3. Check for actual enrollments or recurring payments.


    Review receipts, statements, and any terms you saved. If a real subscription was created, request cancellation through a verified merchant route and keep written confirmation.


    Tell the issuer about unwanted future payments. A card replacement and cancellation of a merchant agreement are not always the same administrative task.



  4. Replace a password if the page requested one.


    Change it through the authentic service, then change it anywhere else it was reused. Review account activity and available multifactor authentication.


    A shipping address alone does not require changing every password. Keep the response specific to the credentials or identity information exposed.



  5. Remove permissions or software introduced by the offer.


    Revoke unwanted browser-notification permissions. If you installed an application or extension, stop using it and assess the device before entering more sensitive information.


    Malwarebytes can help check for unwanted or malicious software. It does not cancel subscriptions, recover prize fees, or retract information sent through a form.



  6. Report the fake promotion through genuine channels.


    Use Best Buy’s official reporting guidance, your email provider’s phishing tools, and the appropriate consumer-fraud reporting service in your country.


    Include the actual destination and any payment reference. Keep private documents out of public review posts or social-media warnings.



  7. Expect more offers if contact details were collected.


    Be skeptical of a later delivery agent, refund helper, or another reward sender who repeats details you supplied. Personal knowledge does not prove legitimacy.


    AdGuard may reduce exposure to some malicious advertising. It cannot authenticate a survey invitation or make a payment request trustworthy.


Is Your Device Infected? Run a Free Malware Scan

Slow performance, constant pop-ups, or strange behavior? These are classic signs of a malware infection. A quick way to check is to scan your device with Malwarebytes Free, one of the most trusted malware removal tools available. If you only visited a scam page and didn’t download or install anything, this scan is optional.

The free version detects and removes the most common threats, including:

  • Adware β€” the cause of those annoying pop-ups
  • Browser hijackers β€” unwanted redirects and changed homepages
  • Trojans and spyware β€” hidden programs stealing your data
  • Potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) β€” software you never asked for

πŸ‘‰ Select your device below β€” Windows, Mac, or Android β€” then follow the simple steps to download Malwarebytes, scan your system, and remove any threats it finds. The scan usually takes 5 to 20 minutes.

Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Windows

Malwarebytes is one of the most popular and trusted anti-malware tools for Windows β€” and it’s completely free for removing infections. It catches threats that many antivirus programs miss, including adware, browser hijackers, and trojans. Follow the steps below to scan your PC and remove what Malwarebytes finds.

  1. Download Malwarebytes

    Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows from the official source. The free version is all you need β€” it will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software at no cost.

    Malwarebytes Free for WindowsScans and removes malware at no cost
    Download MalwarebytesOfficial installer for Windows 11 and 10. Your download starts right away.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium
  2. Install Malwarebytes

    When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the MBSetup file. If Windows shows a User Account Control pop-up, click “Yes” to allow the installation.

    Windows File Explorer Downloads folder with the Malwarebytes setup file highlighted
  3. Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes

    The setup wizard will walk you through a few quick screens:

    • Choose where you’re installing the program β€” “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” β€” then click Next.

      Malwarebytes Setup asking you to choose a protection type, with Personal selected
    • Malwarebytes will now install on your device. This usually takes under a minute.

      Malwarebytes Setup installing the program, with the progress at 92 percent
    • When installation is complete, the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen will open automatically.

      Welcome to Malwarebytes screen with the Get started button highlighted
    • On the final screen, click Open Malwarebytes to launch the program.

      Malwarebytes Setup success screen with the Open Malwarebytes button highlighted
  4. Optional: Check for rootkits with a Custom Scan

    You don’t need to change any settings for a normal scan. The standard Threat Scan in the next step is enough for most problems, so you can go straight to it.

    If you also want to check for rootkits, use a Custom Scan. In current versions of Malwarebytes, rootkit scanning is only available there:

    1. On the Scanner tile, click the three-dot menu and select Advanced Scan.
    2. Choose Custom Scan. In its options, check Scan for rootkits.
    3. Select your system drive (usually C:\) as the location to scan, then start the scan. It takes longer than a Threat Scan.
    4. When it finishes, review and quarantine the results as described in the steps below.

    Rootkit scanning isn’t available on Windows devices with ARM processors.

  5. Start the Scan

    Click the blue Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its virus database and start checking your computer for malware.

    Malwarebytes dashboard with the Scan button on the Scanner tile highlighted
  6. Wait for the Scan to Finish

    The scan checks your entire system for browser hijackers and other malicious programs, so it can take 5 to 20 minutes depending on your computer. Feel free to do something else β€” just check back occasionally to see the progress.

    Malwarebytes Threat Scan in progress, listing the scan stages and the number of items scanned
  7. Quarantine the Detected Threats

    When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found β€” malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all of them at once.

    Malwarebytes Threat Scan results listing detected potentially unwanted programs, with the Quarantine button highlighted

    Malwarebytes will now remove the malicious files and registry entries and move them safely into quarantine.

    Malwarebytes moving the selected detections to quarantine
  8. Restart Your Computer

    Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot. If Malwarebytes asks you to restart, click Yes. Once you’re logged back in, Malwarebytes has finished removing the threats it found.

    Malwarebytes message asking to restart the computer to finish the removal, with the Yes button highlighted

When the scan is done, check whether the problems you noticed have stopped. If they continue, see the options below.

Keep your PC protectedStop the next infection before it starts
If your antivirus let this threat through, it may not be enough on its own. Malwarebytes Premium adds real-time protection that blocks malware, ransomware, and malicious websites before they can infect your computer.See Malwarebytes Premium

If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:

Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Mac

Malwarebytes for Mac is a free on-demand scanner that removes the malware other security software tends to miss β€” adware, browser hijackers, and unwanted programs included. Cleaning an infected Mac with Malwarebytes has always been completely free, and it’s our go-to recommendation. Follow the steps below to scan your Mac and remove what Malwarebytes finds.

  1. Download Malwarebytes for Mac

    Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Mac.

    Malwarebytes Free for MacScans and removes malware at no cost
    Download MalwarebytesOfficial installer for macOS. Your download starts right away.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium
  2. Open the Malwarebytes setup file

    When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the setup file to begin the installation.

    Double-click on setup file to install Malwarebytes

  3. Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes

    The Malwarebytes for Mac Installer will guide you through a few quick screens. Click “Continue” and keep following the prompts until the installation completes.

    Click Continue to install Malwarebytes for Mac

    Click again on Continue to install Malwarebytes for Mac

    Click Install to install Malwarebytes on Mac

    When the installation is complete, Malwarebytes opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click “Get started“.

    Malwarebytes needs Full Disk Access to check your whole Mac. When it asks, open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access, turn on Malwarebytes (it may be listed as Malwarebytes Protection), and confirm with your password or Touch ID. Then return to Malwarebytes. On macOS Monterey and earlier, this setting is in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy.

  4. Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”

    Malwarebytes will ask what type of computer you’re installing it on. Click either Personal Computer or Work Computer, whichever applies.
    Select Personal Computer or Work Computer mac

  5. Start the Scan

    Click the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its detection database and begin checking your Mac for malware.
    Click on Scan button to start a system scan Mac

  6. Wait for the Scan to Finish

    Malwarebytes will scan your Mac for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This can take a few minutes, so feel free to do something else β€” just check back occasionally to see the progress.
    Wait for Malwarebytes for Mac to scan for malware

  7. Quarantine the Detected Threats

    When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all the threats at once.
    Review the malicious programs and click on Quarantine to remove malware

  8. Restart Your Mac

    Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files it found. Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot β€” if Malwarebytes asks you to restart, allow it. Once you’re logged back in, check whether the problems you noticed have stopped. If they come back, save the scan report and ask for help in our forum.
    Malwarebytes For Mac requesting to restart computer

If the problems you noticed continue after the scan, see the options below.

Keep your Mac protectedStop the next infection before it starts
If your Mac got infected, its built-in protection may not be enough on its own. Malwarebytes Premium for Mac adds real-time protection that blocks malware and adware before they can infect your Mac.See Malwarebytes Premium

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 scans your phone or tablet for malware, adware, and potentially unwanted apps. The free version scans only when you start a scan. Real-time protection, which checks apps automatically, is part of the paid Premium version.

  1. Download Malwarebytes for Android.

    You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.

    Malwarebytes for AndroidScans your phone and removes malware at no cost
    Get Malwarebytes for AndroidOpens Google Play in a new tab.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium for Android
  2. Install Malwarebytes for Android on your phone.

    In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.

    Tap Install to install Malwarebytes for Android

    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.
    Malwarebytes for Android - Open App

  3. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process

    When Malwarebytes opens, it walks you through a short setup. Tap Get started and follow the prompts. If you see an offer for a trial or a paid plan, read it before you accept. You can skip it and keep using the free scanner.

    Malwarebytes will ask for permission to access the files on your phone so it can scan them. Tap Allow, or turn on the permission in the Android screen that opens, then return to Malwarebytes.

  4. Run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android

    On the main screen, tap Scan now. In some versions, you open the menu, tap Scanner, and then tap Run a scan.

  5. 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.
    Malwarebytes scanning Android for Vmalware

  6. Remove the detected apps.

    When the scan has been completed, you will see a list of the threats that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. Next to each detected item, tap the menu icon (three dots), then choose to uninstall the app or delete the file. Android then asks you to confirm. Tap OK or Uninstall to remove the app.

  7. Restart your phone.

    When the detected apps are removed, restart your phone if Malwarebytes asks you to. Then check whether the problems you noticed have stopped.


If the problems you noticed continue after the scan, see the options below.

Keep your phone protectedStop the next infection before it starts
Malwarebytes for Android Premium adds real-time protection that blocks malicious apps and scam links before they can harm your phone.See Malwarebytes for Android

If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:

A factory reset erases everything on your phone. Your apps, photos, files, and settings are deleted, so use it only if the problem continues after the steps above and after you’ve asked for help. Before you reset:
  • Back up your photos, videos, files, and messages, for example to your Google account or a computer.
  • Make sure you know your Google account email and password. The phone asks for them after the reset. If you changed the password recently, Google recommends waiting 24 hours before you reset.
  • On a Samsung phone, also make sure you know your Samsung account password.
  • If you use an authenticator app for two-step verification, move your accounts to another device or save your backup codes first.
On a Google Pixel, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset). On a Samsung Galaxy phone, go to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset. Menu names differ on other phones, so check your manufacturer’s support site.

Stay Protected: Block Ads and Malicious Sites

No scan can prove a device is completely clean, so it helps to block threats before they reach you. Most infections start with a malicious ad or a fake download button β€” so blocking them at the source is your best defense.

We recommend AdGuard, which blocks malicious ads, phishing pages, and dangerous redirects before they can reach you.

πŸ‘‰ Download AdGuard and browse safely

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Best Buy Samsung survey reward genuine?

The counterfeit offer described here is not an authenticated Best Buy promotion. Do not provide payment or account information through its claim process.

A genuine promotion should be confirmable outside the invitation, through the retailer or a clearly identified authorized organizer.

Does answering a survey mean I won the advertised prize?

No. Questions, congratulations, and a product picture do not establish a legitimate drawing or an entitlement. Read the actual rules before participating.

Is every survey mentioning Best Buy a scam?

No. This warning concerns an impersonating prize offer. Judge the specific sender, organizer, destination, and conditions rather than the brand name alone.

Is a shipping fee safe if it is only a small amount?

The small amount does not protect your card details. A demand to pay before receiving a supposed prize is a strong reason to stop.

No fixed shipping price has been verified for the historical page covered here. Respond to the actual payment or disclosure that occurred.

Does this offer definitely create a subscription?

That is not established. Check the screen you used, any enrollment terms, the merchant receipt, and your statements before describing a charge as recurring.

What if I completed questions but entered no sensitive information?

Stop, report the invitation, and avoid follow-up links. Survey participation alone is not proof that a bank account or device was compromised.

If you also installed software, allowed notifications, or entered credentials, address those additional actions separately.

The Bottom Line

Do not claim the advertised Samsung reward through this fake Best Buy survey. Verify promotions directly with the retailer before sharing information or authorizing a payment.

If you already entered card details or accepted an enrollment, contact the issuer and check the actual records. More survey steps will not make the promise reliable.

Make your next click a safer one.

Spotting a scam is a good start. These tools can add protection when you browse, open messages, or download software.

Affiliate links We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. How we’re funded

MalwarebytesSCAM & MALWARE PROTECTION

Scam awareness. Malware protection.

Malwarebytes combines device protection with tools for checking suspicious messages and links, so you have more information before you act.

  • Scam Guard for suspicious messages
  • Real-time malware protection with Premium
Explore MalwarebytesExplore features on the official website
AdGuardAD & TRACKER BLOCKING

Less clutter. More control.

AdGuard filters intrusive ads and trackers, helping reduce unwanted interruptions and giving you more control over your browsing.

  • Blocks intrusive ads and pop-ups
  • Filters trackers while you browse
Explore AdGuardExplore features on the official website

Features vary by device and plan. These tools add protection; they do not guarantee that a website or offer is trustworthy.

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Written by

Lapain Epuran

Lapain Epuran investigates product scams, from supplements sold with miracle-cure claims to gadgets pushed through misleading ads. She has more than 10 years of experience in investigations and checks each product's claims, seller and refund terms before giving a verdict.

4,196 articlesWriting since 2024
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