Shown here is a screenshot of a fake Home Depot and Milwaukee Tool free tool giveaway email.
There have been numerous scams reported on Reddit and elsewhere.
I recently heard about a new Makita Tool scam as well.
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In response to my post on Makita scams and fake stores, Pete wrote:
E-mail said I had won Makita power drill from Ace hardware . Just pay shipping & handling. I did so with my debit card. Week later my bank paid out $39.48 to Convenience Technology (TEL# 8883043348 UT) So I called them. They told me I had purchased a possible chance to win some day . I said Oh no! They said they will cancel my subscription & bill me no more plus I get 20% refund. Joy. Just others beware ! Yes I reported this to ftc.gov
Always be suspicious of these types of emails.
Here’s another comment recently posted to my alert about Yeti cooler scams.
I just got an offer allegedly from Dicks Sporting Goods that if I completed a brief survey that I would receive a Yeti backpack cooler for free. I only had to pay the shipping cost. However, when I got to the shipping and billing page, they do not list the shipping cost before you place your order. That’s a major red flag, and I advise caution to anyone receiving a similar offer.
With few exceptions, legitimate giveaways and sweepstakes don’t require winners to pay any fees.
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When has anyone won a giveaway they never entered? (While I have announced winners to spontaneous giveaways before, that’s different.)
Some of you might say “of course these are scams.” Perhaps, but people fall for them all the time.
I haven’t encountered these scams myself yet, have you?
How to Report Scams?
As soon as I learn about new scams, usually as soon as readers report them to me, I send relevant information to my contacts at tool brands.
There are also ways you can report scams and fake or imitation websites yourself:
Report Milwaukee Scams
Report Dewalt Scams
How to Report Makita Scams:
If you have made a purchase or become aware of any similar fraud or scam [involving Makita USA products], please contact Daniel Rhodes, General Counsel at 800.462.5482, x4215 and report the fraud to your credit card company and/or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
Frank
Thank you for the head’s up.
I’d like to think I m super vigilant, and would think that if even if I won a giveaway, that the brand or store would cover the shipping … but you never know. Had a credit card expire recently, where they did not send me the new card ahead of time (?!) and after it expired I almost fell for a text message from ” brand name here: we could not process your renewal payment, please log on ( here ) to update your information …
Glen
I’ll never forget back in the 1960’s during history class our teacher constantly would say “If you remember anything from this class, nothing in life is truly free and it’s foolish to think otherwise.” With cancel culture and how hyper sensitive people are these days, I doubt any teacher could say that anymore, but as controversial as this might seem there is no denying this is true.
Having spent decades in the IT industry; if I could make one suggestion; I highly suggest deleting these types of emails and you have nothing to gain but everything to lose. Multi million dollar corporations such as Milwaukee aren’t going to give away anything for free to average Joe; least nothing of significant value. Believe me, I’ve over the decades I’ve talked with some of executives; with extremely very few exceptions, most of them care about profit margin and while that is important; you aren’t going to get much out them.
Stuart
I don’t have a huge budget, but I will occasionally splurge on no-strings-attached reader giveaways or give-backs.
Companies might not give things to individual users without purpose, but they do provide to certain organizations with no strings attached.
Daniel L.
Eh? TANSTAAFL isn’t cancelled…it’s still regularly used to teach everything from opportunity cost (in basic economics) to the first law of thermodynamics.
Giveaways exist as promotional deals. The hook is that you typically have to *enter* the giveaway, which is the opportunity cost, in which you exchange the time and attention required to do so in exchange for whatever small chance of winning what is given away.
In exchange, the persons and companies doing the giveaway get buzz, attention, good will, and (most importantly) customer information that can help drive future earnings. Low cost/benefit/risk ratio for all around…which is exactly why milwaukee tends to do these kinds of tool giveaway promotions.
(I can attest to this, personally, as I previously won a m18 fuel OMT through this site. BTW: Thanks Stuart and milwaukee!)
It is precisely due to the fact that milwaukee does these kind of giveaways that makes a scam like this so alluring. Buy any milwaukee power tool: there’s a paper certificate in there to enter a drawing to win free tools. I’ve probably entered a dozen of those codes, myself.
I just got one of these in my mailbox. Another big thank you to Stuart for the timely warning. The email itself is rather well done, I could see myself falling the first step of clicking that link.
The most successful scams avoid raising our guard by telling us what we want to hear to get their foot in the door. If what they’re saying to you is perhaps not extremely likely, but is *believable*…theu can use the mark’s initial credulousness to keep gently pushing the envelope until something unthinkable at the start of the scam (putting in your credit card number) seems benign (well, I guess it makes sense that they’d ask me to pay for shipping, because TANSTAAL and I have to pay my part).
Even the most vigilant folks get tricked from time to time. Scammers exploit flaws in human psychology akin to how hackers exploit flaws in code. Awareness of scams is the only remedy.
So, for the third time, thanks for patching our collective OS, Stuart.
AlexK
Stuart, I think you always post about free giveaways. Do you ever just send an email to readers offering something ?
Stuart
Yes, and no.
Subscribers? No.
Individuals? Yes, but they’ll already know my direct email. Or, if not, they’ll be told to be on the lookout – https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/5-new-dewalt-tools-from-2017-media-event/#comment-1112022%3C/a%3E .
Bob+Hinden
I think the quote that applies here is:
“if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is”
RCWARD
If you get an email saying you “won” something it’s a scam. 100 % , every time . Nothing is free
eddie sky
I love how, “you’ve been selected” and yet they don’t have your info so “provide your information to claim it” and then sucker you into paying the cost to ship, along with your credentials.
HELLO? People, be skeptical of anything emailed that you never asked for. And now, you can’t even click the unsubscribe because they “got you”.
And Worse, now Youtube is seeing an uptick in spamming FREE something using the channel username in the comments. Make sure to report those, as Youtube sucks.
Mike
Over the past month, I have “won” numerous Yeti coolers, Dewalt power stations, ultimate non-stick cookware, lawn mowers, Milwaukee power tools, etc. The funny thing is they come in waves – first, it will be yeti coolers for a couple days, then the cookware – each “win” from a different email address.
While reading this article, I won yet another power station and cookware. Into the spam folder they go.
Gregg
I have won more Amazon gift cards and I can count this year. A long worth some name brand tools that I don’t even use as well. All these emails go straight to spam. Trust no one. Since COVID-19 scamming has increased 100 fold. Nothing is free and if it sounds too good to be true well????
Diego Diaz
I’m guessing Milwaukee’s system is compromised. I received emails from Milwaukee trials dot com saying I won a free tool. Both emails I’ve used to enter drawings with my purchases have received these emails.
Stuart
I learned that this particular Milwaukee promo (MilwaukeeTrials) seems legit, which is why I updated the post prior to your comment. I’m still waiting on more information.
Diego Diaz
I contacted Milwaukee and it looks like it’s legit. It is actually for a free accessory, not a tool. I’m supposed to receive a free sawzall blade from it.
Walty
I just received the @milwaukeetrials.com email for a free product this afternoon.
I registered at the legit Milwaukee fuel giveaway this morning.
Coincidence or is Milwaukee selling our info??
Stuart
I was told that MilwaukeeTrials is a legit Milwaukee website.
Cynthia P Chambers
I got scammed for a Makita cordless drill and impact with 2 batteries just pay shipping and handling for a 4.95 can I I do anything about it please help get my money back
Stuart
You need to contact your bank.
The goal of these scammers isn’t just to get your $5, it’s to get your credit card info.
Elizabeth Raftery
Here’s another one for you … I rec’d an email “Participate in Our Survey and Receive a FLEX 4-Tool Combo Kit” from email address [scam email redacted]. (domain [scam URL redacted] on “view source”). It looked so legit with the Lowe’s logo, which showed https://click.e.lowes.com etc when hovered over, all over the place that I nearly fell for it!! Stated “We’re all ears. (And, “sticky fingers” I might add!) Customer feedback has always helped us improve the Home Improvement experience. Click through to take a quick 4 minute survey and receive a fantastic prize. You can tell us how you really feel. (How I really feel, scammer, is go to h*ll!!) GET STARTED, IT’S FREE Just answer a few questions, WIN a FLEX 4-Tool Combo Kit” … “You have been chosen to participate in our Loyalty Program for FREE! It will take you only a minute to receive this fantastic prize. (translation: it will take you only a minute to have your info stolen or malware or a virus installed on your computer!)” … “This email is intended for You.” – Yes, that’s what it said “You”. Ha – a quick 4 minute survey that will only take me a minute to complete to receive the fantastic prize! Link address over the “GET STARTED” showed as a https:// t.co address. So, I went to the Lowe’s site (the real site!!) where they have posted “Free Gift Scam – Be aware of online scams offering free gifts (or, my note, prize). Consumers are offered free gifts through spam email, online advertising or social media postings. Often the free gifts are offered after completing a survey. Consumers are asked to provide their credit card information to pay for the shipping costs of the free item, which becomes the point of compromise for the consumer’s credit card. Lowe’s does not solicit consumers to complete online surveys in exchange for free gifts.” triple reinforcing my suspicions! Lowe’s itself doesn’t seem to have a way to report fraud to them as other companies, such as Amazon or Best Buy, do … hello again The Anti-Phishing Working Group and ICCC!! And, maybe even the BBB Scam Tracker!
LANNY SMITH
I received an e-mail also promoting free Makita tools if I answer a few questions.
I called Lowe’s to confirm if it was legit. The answer was “NO”.
Always resort back to that old saying, “If it sounds too good , it’s probably not”
It was just another scam.