A line of shoppers snakes around a Costco store in Novato, California on March 14, 2020 (AFP / Josh Edelson)

‘Free’ $50 check offer from Costco is fake

  • This article is more than one year old.
  • Published on April 3, 2020 at 18:43
  • 2 min read
  • By AFP USA

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Thousands of Facebook users in North America have shared links to a page that claims retail giant Costco is giving away $50 checks. But the wholesaler said it is not making such an offer.

“Costco has announced that everyone who shares this link will be sent FREE $50 check to help every family! TODAY ONLY,” the posts claim.

It directs users to a website, archived here, which is not affiliated with Costco.

Screenshot of the fake Costco offer as it appears on Facebook taken on April 3, 2020

When users click on the site, it asks them to answer a series of questions and seeks to collect personal information.

Screenshot of the fake Costco website taken on April 3, 2020

Eventually it prompts users to share the link on Facebook with “Thanks!” written in the comments field. 

Screenshot of the fake Costco website taken on March 25, 2020

However, the offer is fake.

“This claim is not true. Costco is not making this offer,” the company told AFP in an emailed statement.

AFP Fact Check has debunked other fake “free offers” on Facebook, including non-existent coupons from global retail giant Walmart and home improvement retailer Lowes.

A false notice claiming Costco was recalling toilet paper also circulated in Canada during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

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