Beware of Viral Target Reviewer Scams – What You Need to Know
Written by: Thomas Orsolya
Published on:
Scroll through social media, and you’re bound to stumble on juicy opportunities to score free Target clothes or gift cards by becoming a product tester. At first glance, getting paid just to review merchandise seems like a sweet gig. But are these viral Facebook ads and Instagram posts flooding your feeds promising easy rewards from a beloved brand too good to be true?
Read on as we unravel the truth behind online offers recruiting Target testers. We’ll uncover the scam tactics being used to target unsuspecting shoppers, and equip you with tips to avoid becoming a victim. Don’t get tricked by clever impersonators dangling deals that look legit, but only lead to identity theft.
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An In-Depth Look at the Fake Target Reviewer Scam
A clever social media scam is capitalizing on Target’s reputation and popularity to fool unsuspecting shoppers with the enticing promise of getting paid just to test and review new products shipped directly to your door. But the rewards being touted in the ads, like $500 gift cards and free merchandise hauls, are completely fictional.
The scam ads are made to look official using Target’s iconic bullseye logo, brand name fonts, and real images of products sold at Target stores. Attention-grabbing headlines invite people to click on links leading to sophisticated fake websites designed to precisely mimic Target’s official “Bullseye Panel” tester recruitment page.
While the URL of the fraudulent sites may be slightly different with odd words like “free” “rewards” or “panels” added, everything else from the visual design to the layout is meticulously copied to dupe visitors.
On these convincing phishing sites, visitors are prompted to complete a “Bullseye Panel” application by entering personal details like their name, physical address, email, phone number, and sometimes even IDs or birthdates.
The scam site claims this info is needed to “verify eligibility” to become a product tester. But in reality, scammers harvest this data to create in-depth profiles on victims for use in additional identity theft and phishing scams moving forward.
Often, right after users submit their sensitive information through the fake portal, they will receive very official-looking (but fake) emails from Target with instructions to complete additional “verification” steps before the promised rewards can supposedly be redeemed.
These emails guide victims through completing sketchy offers like paid surveys, downloading malware-ridden apps and files, signing up for “free” trials that actually charge fees, and other profit-driving hooks the scammers likely get paid kickbacks to direct traffic to.
Despite users complying with all the steps laid out by the scammers, no free products, rewards cards, or payments ever materialize. But now the crooks have all the personal data needed to exploit victims through additional retail fraud schemes.
For example, scammers may use the names, emails, and addresses obtained to register accounts on other websites or make fraudulent purchases. Or they could phish for even more sensitive details to facilitate identity theft.
Some savvy scammers even leverage the access to inboxes gained by users providing their real email address to send additional fake Target messages. These trust-gaining techniques allow them to further manipulate victims down the line.
Essentially, the only true intention of the scam ads and fake Target review program websites is stealing users’ personal information under false pretenses. The promised rewards of free products or gift cards for feedback do not actually exist. It’s all an elaborate ruse to lower defenses and obtain data.
How the Fake Target Reviewer Scam Fools Users Step-by-Step
Here’s an inside look at the tactics scammers use at each stage of this prevalent con:
Step 1: Deceptive Social Media Posts
The scam starts with sponsored ads or posts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Using Target’s iconic branding and mention of rewards like gift cards, they promote an “exclusive” chance to get paid for reviewing new products.
Some versions include fake positive comments and reviews from people claiming they got to test merchandise for free. This adds bogus social proof that the offer is legitimate.
Step 2: Clicking Links to Fake Target Sites
When users click on the links in the scam posts, they are taken to sophisticated fake websites made to closely impersonate Target’s real “Bullseye Panel” tester recruitment page.
While the URL may be slightly different, everything else from the logo to the visual design is meticulously copied to dupe visitors.
Step 3: Phishing for Personal Information
On the fraudulent sites, users are prompted to complete a “Bullseye Panel” application by entering personal details like their name, email address, phone number, and physical mailing address.
Scammers harvest this info to create profiles of victims for use in additional identity theft and phishing scams moving forward.
Step 4: Bogus Rewards “Verification” Steps
Right after submitting information, users receive scam emails with instructions to complete additional “verifier” offers before any rewards can supposedly be redeemed. These leads to paid surveys, suspicious downloads, free trials, and other profit-driving hooks.
Step 5: No Rewards Received, Identify Exposed
Despite complying with all steps, no rewards are ever received from Target. But users’ personal information is now in the hands of scammers plotting additional frauds. Don’t let a slick corporate impersonation trick you into compromising data.
Recognizing Red Flags of the Fake Target Reviewer Scam
Despite the convincing cloning of Target’s brand trappings, a trained eye can spot red flags proving these offers are 100% fake:
Odd URLs – The links lead to domains with variations of “Target” not used officially.
Spelling/grammar errors – Sloppy mistakes reveal lack of professionalism.
Vague details – Concrete review program specifics are never provided.
Requests for data – Target would not need so much personal info upfront.
When objectively analyzed, the scam’s real goals become obvious: harvest users’ information for criminal purposes under the guise of paid rewards. Protect yourself through vigilance.
Steps to Take Immediately if You Shared Information Through the Scam
If you provided any personal details through one of these deceptive offers, take the following steps right away to protect yourself:
Place fraud alerts on your credit reports and review closely for any suspicious new accounts or charges. Continue monitoring reports for the next 12 months for further activity.
Change your passwords on all financial, email, social media and other online accounts. Make the new passwords completely random and unique. Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.
Contact your bank and credit card companies to monitor for unauthorized charges and discuss options like freezing accounts or getting new updated cards issued to you.
For any services like cell phone carriers that use personal info as security question verification, proactively call support teams to update this sensitive info so it cannot be leveraged by scammers.
Run comprehensive malware and antivirus scans on all devices that may have accessed the scam sites or emails. Delete anything suspicious or unverified.
Back up your devices and sensitive data in case more drastic steps like factory resets become necessary if serious infections are found.
Contact Target’s customer service team to notify them of the data you shared through the scam site impersonating their brand. Provide details that may help their abuse team’s investigation.
Change the passwords on your email accounts and any sites that may have used the same or similar passwords. Update security questions and settings everywhere.
Avoid further engagement with any emails from scammers now that they likely have some personal data. Do not share any additional info or click on links from them.
Sign up for scam and dark web monitoring services that can act as an early warning system if your information begins circulating on underground cybercrime forums.
Do not panic, but act swiftly and comprehensively. By taking the right security steps, you can detect and mitigate potential misuse of your information obtained through scam sites. Remain vigilant moving forward and use this experience to bolster your online defenses.
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.
Here are some tips to protect yourself from fake rewards and account phishing scams:
Verify opportunities directly through Target’s official website and social media rather than trusting third-party links or messages.
Search online to confirm an offer’s legitimacy before providing personal information anywhere. Look for scam reports.
Analyze URL links closely to spot typos or odd domains signaling imitation sites.
Read all terms, privacy policies and disclosures fully before entering any personal data.
If an online offer seems too good to be true, it almost always is. Err on the side of caution.
Staying vigilant requires work. But outsmarting scammers gets easier the more you learn their tricks. Protect your identity and accounts.
FAQ About the Bogus Target Reviewer Opportunity
1. How does the fake Target reviewer scam work?
The scam starts with social media ads using Target branding to promote a fake product testing program. Clicking links goes to phishing sites pretending to be Target’s panel. Users are tricked into submitting personal data, which is stolen.
2. What tricks do the scammers use?
The ads use official logos, real product images, and mentions of free rewards to appear credible. The fake sites copy Target’s portal design to dupe visitors. Pushy language creates false urgency.
3. What happens after clicking the links?
The phishing sites prompt users to complete a “Bullseye Panel” application containing personal details, which scammers harvest as profiles for identity theft and fraud.
4. Do you actually get to review products?
No. Target confirms these ads and sites have no relation to their real tester panels. No rewards or product samples are ever sent out. It is all a scam to gather data.
5. How can you recognize the fake reviewer scam?
Red flags include unusual URLs, poor grammar/spelling, vague program details, requests for excessive personal data, and unbelievable rewards being offered for simple review tasks.
6. What should you do if you shared information through the scam?
Place fraud alerts on credit reports. Change account passwords. Contact banks about unauthorized charges. Run malware scans. Notify Target. Don’t further engage with scammers.
7. How can you avoid these fake rewards scams?
Verify opportunities on Target’s official site rather than trusting third-party links. Analyze URLs closely. Never provide data to unverified sites. Follow instincts if an offer seems unrealistic.
8. Who is responsible for the Target reviewer scam?
Unknown scammers unaffiliated with Target. The company actively works to pursue legal action against scammers impersonating their brand.
9. Does Target offer legitimate tester opportunities?
Yes, but only through their official Bullseye Panel page at panel.target.com. Target will never promise unrealistic rewards upfront just for sharing personal information.
10. What should you do if you see a questionable Target offer?
Report scam social media posts, websites, or emails impersonating Target to their brand security team immediately. Never supply information or click links through potential scams.
The Bottom Line
The promise of easy free rewards like gift cards or getting paid just to review products may be tempting. But engaging with these viral social media offers will only lead to identity theft and phishing at best, or full-scale financial frauds at worst.
As scammers exploit trendy brands like Target to lend legitimacy to cons, we must keep our guard up. When unbelievable deals pop up, restrain that click finger. Verify directly, analyze closely, and trust your instincts. Don’t become the next victim. A scam revealed is no longer a threat.
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.
