A new gift card scam has emerged trying to capitalize on YouTube star MrBeast’s popularity. The fraudulent website MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop falsely claims to offer $100 gift cards for major retailers and gaming platforms. This article provides a comprehensive overview of how the MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop scam operates, what to do if you are victimized, and how to stay safe online.
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Overview of the MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop Scam
MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop is a fraudulent website that falsely promises users the chance to claim $100 gift cards for major retailers and platforms from an alleged giveaway sponsored by famous YouTuber MrBeast. However, the site has absolutely no actual association with MrBeast and is merely leveraging his brand popularity to deceive consumers.
The scam website tries to entice victims by showcasing nearly a dozen different $100 card options from coveted brands like Xbox, PlayStation, Steam, Roblox, Amazon, iTunes and more. Images of gift cards bearing the MrBeast logo are displayed alongside the promotional text to further legitimize the too-good-to-be-true offers.
Those who click deeper into the site are shown example eGift card codes and redemption instructions, lending further credibility to the supposed gift card giveaway. However, visitors are then informed additional steps must be completed to unlock the full code required to activate their cards.
This tactic tricks users into believing they have already secured gift card prizes worth hundreds of dollars for free. In reality, MrBeast has no partnership with this sham website. The partial eGift card codes displayed are completely fake and random. They will never result in any awarded prizes since no actual gift card awards exist.
MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop operates on a typical scam business model known as “Prize Redemption.” Users are misled into thinking they are moments away from a valuable reward in order to get them to complete certain profitable actions for scammers running the site.
In the case of this scam, visitors must complete various “Sponsored Activities” before their gift card codes become accessible. These activities include downloads, surveys, subscriptions, app installs, personal information disclosure and more.
Each completed activity earns website operators lucrative affiliate payouts and kickbacks. User data is also harvested in the process and either sold to shady data brokers or used for targeted ad campaigns. The more offers victims complete, the more money scammers stand to gain.
Meanwhile, users receive positively nothing for their wasted time and compromised privacy other than an empty promise of eventual rewards. MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop has no actual gift card inventory or intention of handing out prizes. Its only purpose is deceiving site visitors to generate ill-gotten profits.
The site may ultimately claim the offer is unavailable in certain regions, restart the process or deploy other stalling tactics once victims realize no prizes are coming. But by this point significant user data damage is already done.
Some standout red flags of the MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop gift card scam include:
- Too good to be true rewards bearing a famous influencer’s brand name
- Mandatory completion of unrelated “sponsored activities”
- Suspicious redemption process requiring partial code unlocks
- URL spelling errors and domain mismatches
- No privacy protections and data encryption
- Lack of contact information or customer support access
- Affiliate and sponsored post disclosures buried in small print
Sadly, due to widespread ignorance of common online scams, many consumers fall victim to the false promises peddled by dodgy websites like MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop. Impostor scams grew by a staggering 249% in 2023 alone according to the Federal Trade Commission. Read on to learn how this scam works.
How the MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop Scam Works
Here is a step-by-step explanation of how scammers operate the MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop gift card scam:
Step 1: Scam Website Promises Free Gift Cards
The homepage of MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop claims to offer $100 digital gift cards for major retailers, gaming platforms and payment apps. The site is made to appear as if popular YouTuber MrBeast is personally sponsoring a massive giveaway.
Various card options are displayed, implying users can select their preferred $100 card. In reality, the images are purely for show to make the scam more convincing.
Step 2: Users Select a Gift Card & Enter Fake Code
When users choose a gift card, they are taken to a page displaying an example code made up of letters and numbers. A message then states users must complete a “sponsored activity” offer to unlock the full code required to redeem their card.
This step tricks victims into thinking completing a quick advertiser offer will let them claim an actual $100 gift card with the displayed code. But the partial codes shown are completely random and fake.
Step 3: Complete “Sponsored Activity” Offers
Before showing the full gift card code, users must first complete a “sponsored activity.” Offers may include:
- Downloading and playing mobile games
- Signing up for fishy email newsletters
- Completing dozens of online surveys
- Submitting personal information
- Entering credit card or bank details
- Purchasing monthly subscriptions
These activities allow scammers behind MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop to generate pay-per-action affiliate revenue and collect user data. The more offers victims complete, the more money the scammers earn.
Step 4: Never Receive Any Gift Cards
Once users complete several sponsored offers, they are informed that the gift card prize is “currently unavailable in their region.” Users may be given an option to invite friends to unlock the prize, restarting the scam cycle.
Ultimately, victims never receive any actual gift cards, no matter how many surveys they fill out or apps they install. The website has no mechanism for delivering rewards.
The entire premise of free gift cards in exchange for completing advertiser offers is an outright deception. MrBeast is not affiliated with the website in any way.
What to Do if You Are Victimized by the Scam
If you have fallen prey to the free gift card scam by providing sensitive information or completing offer wall activities on MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop, take the following steps right away:
Step 1: Contact Your Bank or Credit Card Company
If you submitted any financial information or activated paid subscriptions, immediately reach out to your bank or credit card provider. Report any charges you did not approve or do not recognize. Consider blocking future charges from unknown third parties as well.
Step 2: Change All Account Passwords
Change the passwords on any online accounts for which you used the same or similar login credentials on the scam website. Use unique, strong passwords for each account going forward. Enabling two-factor authentication provides an extra layer of security as well.
Step 3: Run an Antivirus Scan
Download and run a thorough antivirus scan to check your device for any malware that may have been installed by files or apps downloaded from the scam site. Quarantine or remove any detected threats.
Step 4: Investigate Unknown Email Subscriptions
Check your email account inbox and spam folder for any emails regarding subscriptions you don’t remember signing up for. Click unsubscribe at the bottom of these emails to halt any recurring orders or payments.
Step 5: Place Fraud Alert on Your Credit
Consider placing an initial 90-day fraud alert via one of the three major credit bureaus. This will require creditors to verify your identity before opening any new accounts, making it harder for scammers to exploit your information.
Step 6: Report the Scam Website
File detailed complaints about your experience on the FTC Complaint Assistant form and via the reporting functions of sites like BBB.org. Provide all known details about the scam offers and website so the appropriate authorities can investigate further.
Step 7: Spread Awareness of the Scam
After taking self-protective actions, post details about the scam website on social media channels to make more consumers aware. Scammers rely on public ignorance. Arming people with information can help deter further victims.
Frequently Asked Questions About the MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop Scam
The fraudulent website MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop falsely promises $100 gift cards for completing surveys and downloads. If you have encountered this scam, you likely have many questions. This FAQ covers common inquiries about MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop to help consumers avoid being defrauded.
Is MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop endorsed by MrBeast?
No. MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, is a popular YouTuber known for expensive stunts and charity. However, Mr. Beast is not associated with MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop in any way. The site dishonestly uses his brand to pretend affiliation.
Does MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop actually give out free gift cards?
Absolutely not. The site showcases gift card images and fake codes to convince visitors rewards exist. But no real gift cards are ever dispensed, regardless of surveys completed. It is a fraudulent scam throughout.
Why must I complete sponsor offers to receive my gift card?
Mandating unrelated “sponsored activities” lets scammers make money from your data while providing nothing in return. No legitimate giveaway requires unrelated actions to secure already won prizes.
Can I trust download links or subscriptions on MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop?
No. Downloads likely contain malware, while subscriptions facilitate recurring hidden charges. Avoid installing anything or entering payment details on scam websites.
Is it safe to enter my personal information on MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop?
Submitting any sensitive data on untrustworthy sites puts you at risk of identity theft. Never share financial details, contact info or account credentials on unverified domains.
Does MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop have a valid privacy policy protecting user data?
No. Deceptive websites like MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop rarely uphold data protection laws or securely store information. Assume your data will be misused or sold if providing it.
Can I report or sue MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop for scamming me?
You can file detailed scam reports via the FTC, BBB, IC3 and social networks. You likely cannot sue outright, but reporting assists investigations to get scam sites shut down.
How can I recover losses or stolen data from the MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop scam?
Unfortunately, consumers rarely recover losses from online scams directly. You can report unauthorized charges to banks to attempt reversing payments and monitor your credit. Avoid further damage by changing passwords and checking credit reports.
The bottom line is MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop operates solely to misuse consumer data and generate illicit revenues – not distribute free rewards. Protect yourself by increasing scam awareness, checking site reputation carefully and never supplying information to untrustworthy domains.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, the supposed free gift card giveaway offers promoted on sites like MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop seem too good to be true because they are completely illegitimate. Keep the following facts in mind to avoid falling victim to this and similar gift card scams:
- No legitimate website will make users complete endless surveys or offers in exchange for a prize they supposedly already won. This tactic is a well-known scam red flag.
- MrBeast has no affiliation with MrBeastsFreeGifts.shop or any other website promising free gift cards on his behalf. Any such claims are falsified.
- Check domain details carefully before entering info on giveaway websites. Scammers often employ lookalike domains that closely resemble a brand but redirect elsewhere.
- If submitting data to a questionable website, don’t reuse the same credentials on other accounts. Expect your details to be compromised, not secured.
- Think twice before downloading anything or activating unknown subscriptions during online offers. It’s likely just a scheme to infect devices with malware or generate illicit profits.
Stay vigilant against online scams by double checking where you input personal details and only participating in unambiguously legitimate offers posted by official brands. After all, everyone would love $100 in free gift cards – which is exactly why MrBeast remains such an enticing lure to exploit consumers with a well-crafted con.
