Free Toyota truck offer dismissed as a scam
- This article is more than one year old.
- Published on July 21, 2020 at 18:43
- 2 min read
- By Tendai DUBE, AFP South Africa
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The Facebook post has been shared more than 24,000 times, including in South Africa, since it was first published on May 26, 2020. It shares five pictures of a glossy army-green Toyota Tundra TRD.
“With all that is going on via the Covid-19 pandemic we know that is tough and money is tighter now than ever!” reads the caption. “So by 12:00 pm on Thursday someone who SHARES/COMMENTS will be the new owner of this beautiful 2020 Toyota Tundra 4WD, paid off and ready to drive away, keys in hand.”
The post was shared by a Facebook page named “Toyota Tundra TDR 2020.” Other similarly-worded Facebook posts were shared here and here on the same day, on pages named “TOYOTA.phil” and “Toyota Tundra 2020”.
The widely-shared post comes from a Facebook page that has no other posts. According to transparency details on the page, the account was created on the same day as its single post, on May 26, 2020.
The promotion does not specify a date so, presumably, it could be any “Thursday”, nor does it provide a region where the car can be won.
However, the page information shows the account is managed from the Philippines.
The promotion is not on the verified Facebook pages for Toyota globally or Toyota Motor Philippines.
Toyota’s branch in Lapu-Lapu published a statement on its official Facebook account distancing the company in the Philippines from various imitation pages.
“We received reports of various Facebook accounts pretending to be official Toyota pages offering promos and prizes in exchange for likes, shares and comments,” said the statement published on May 26, 2020.
“These are NOT connected with any existing promo of Toyota Motor Philippines.”
A spokeswoman at Toyota headquarters in the United States also distanced the company from the Facebook post and the competition.
“We can confirm that Toyota Motor North America has no affiliation with this page or the contest being offered, and we have reported them to Facebook,” said marketing communications manager Leigh Anne Sessions in an email to AFP Fact Check.
“All Toyota social channels are run by individual markets. Promotions and giveaways vary per market and are handled and amplified by each market.”
AFP Fact Check has reported on similar Facebook scams across Africa. They often ask readers to like, share or comment on a post.
Scammers either look to steal personal information or resell a Facebook page once they’ve amassed followers.
When it comes to competitions or giveaways, always visit the brand’s official Facebook page or website to find legitimate offers.
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