Don’t Get Burned: Uncovering the Starbucks Reviewer Scam
Written by: Thomas Orsolya
Published on:
Starbucks is the world’s largest coffeehouse chain known for its signature drinks, snacks, and loyal customer base. However, scammers are exploiting Starbucks’ reputation to execute an elaborate fake product reviewer scam.
Fraudsters create convincing websites promoting a phony “Starbucks Product Reviewer Program” that claims to reward participants with $100 gift cards. But it’s nothing more than a ruse to steal personal information and money from victims.
This comprehensive guide will unravel how this deceitful con works, identify techniques to recognize it, and provide recommendations to avoid getting duped.
This Article Contains:
Overview of the Starbucks Product Reviewer Scam
The Starbucks product reviewer scam operates by enticing victims with the chance to review drinks and foods in exchange for $100 gift card rewards. Scammers construct slick websites advertising this fictitious opportunity complete with fake enrollment forms.
In reality, there is no such thing as a Starbucks reviewer rewards initiative. The criminals are simply leveraging the brand’s reputation to harvest data for identity theft and expose victims to recurring fees, malware, and account hacking.
By disguising the ruse as a paid reviewer gig, the scammers convince excited users to hand over valuable personal details that lead to compromised finances and privacy. But the promised rewards never come.
How the Scammers Carry Out This Deception
Here are the devious strategies fraudsters deploy to execute this reviewer scam:
Fake websites – Sophisticated sites mimicking real Starbucks reviewer programs using the company’s logos and images.
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 Starbucks reviewer platforms.
Phishing emails – Emails pretending to be Starbucks customer service offering reviewer opportunities.
Subscription fees – Victims get signed up for recurring subscriptions disguised as completing “tasks.”
Rewards fraud – No $100 gift cards are ever provided, despite promises.
The scam evolves but continues deceiving eager victims with the false promise of easy rewards as a reviewer. In reality, it results in stolen funds and compromised personal data.
Breakdown of the Starbucks Reviewer Scam
Here is an in-depth explanation of how this fraudulent Starbucks reviewer program unfolds:
Step 1: Encountering a Fake Reviewer Ad
The scam starts with the victim coming across a digital ad promoting the chance to become a paid product reviewer for Starbucks and earn $100 gift cards.
The ads appear credible with eye-catching Starbucks imagery and claims of rewarding reviewers. 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 enroll as a reviewer. They are taken to convincing websites designed with Starbucks’ logo and visuals. The sites feature 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 Offers
After submitting their sensitive data, victims must complete “recommended offers” 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 offers but never get the $100 Starbucks gift cards as 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 Starbucks Reviewer Scam
Here are signs to help detect this deceitful con:
Spammy emails/ads promoting highly lucrative reviewer gigs requiring personal data upfront
High pressure tactics insisting you must act now before the fake program fills
Poor grammar/spelling throughout the website and ad copy
Non-secured websites with no valid contact info or business registration
Requests for sensitive info like SSNs and bank account numbers
Mandated downloads from unknown sources likely containing malware
Auto-billing subscriptions disguised as completing program “tasks”
No links to Starbucks’ official website and social media pages
Lack of SSL encryption and HTTPS protocol on the fraudulent website
Maintain skepticism for these scam red flags. Legitimate rewards programs would never demand personal details or financial activity as a prerequisite.
Avoiding the Fake Starbucks Reviewer Scam
Here are recommendations to steer clear of this con:
Verify directly on Starbucks’ 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 Starbucks’ official channels.
What to Do If You Already Got Scammed
If you suspect you fell victim to the fake Starbucks reviewer scam, take these steps right away:
Contact your bank and credit card companies immediately. Report any fraudulent charges or recurring subscriptions you did not authorize. Have unauthorized transactions reversed and new cards issued if account numbers were compromised.
Place a fraud alert on your credit. Contact one of the three major credit bureaus to implement an initial 90-day fraud alert. This makes it harder for criminals to open new lines of credit in your name.
Order your free annual credit reports. Review your reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to identify any accounts opened fraudulently in your name. Dispute these with the bureaus.
Change passwords on all your online accounts. Use unique, complex passwords for every account if you reused credentials entered on scam sites. Enable two-factor authentication where possible.
Monitor financial statements and accounts closely. Watch for any suspicious charges or activity indicating identity theft. Report unauthorized transactions right away. Sign up for account alerts.
Install comprehensive antivirus software. Run full system scans to remove any malware or spyware that may have infected devices used to access fake reviewer pages. Update your software regularly.
Submit a complaint to the FTC. Reporting the scam helps authorities track and shut down fraudulent operations. Provide details on how you were targeted and scammed.
Be more vigilant against scams moving forward. Learn common red flags like pressure tactics, grammar errors, urgent calls to action, and shady payment requirements. Never provide personal information easily.
Warn others about the scam. Share your experience on social media or with friends to help prevent others from falling victim too. Report fake ads and sites used in the scam to get them taken down.
Stay proactive if you were tricked by this insidious scam. Act quickly to limit the damage and prevent further fraud or identity theft. And play a role in educating others on how to recognize and avoid these deceptive reviewer cons.
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 Starbucks Product Reviewer Scam
1. What is the Starbucks product reviewer scam?
The Starbucks product reviewer scam is a fraudulent scheme where scammers create fake websites and ads promoting a non-existent rewards program for reviewing Starbucks products in exchange for gift cards.
2. How do the scammers attract potential victims?
Scammers use social media ads, pop-ups, spam emails, and fake websites advertising a lucrative Starbucks product reviewer opportunity. The ads promise rewards like gift cards for reviewing 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 offers/downloads to enroll in the fake reviewer program. The scammers then steal their data and money.
4. What methods do the scammers use?
Tactics include fake Starbucks-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 Starbucks product reviewer programs offering rewards?
No. Starbucks does not currently have any public product reviewer programs rewarding participants with gift cards. Be suspicious of any ads claiming otherwise.
7. What are signs of the Starbucks reviewer scam?
Bad grammar/spelling, high-pressure tactics, asking for personal info immediately, links going to odd URLs rather than Starbucks’ 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 Starbucks’ real 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 Starbucks product reviewer scam preys on excited victims 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 reviewer 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 product reviewer scams seeking to capitalize on unsuspecting consumers.
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.
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Meet Thomas Orsolya
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.
