Costco Meat Box Scam

How the Scam Works

• Deceptive Ads: Scammers run paid ads on platforms like Facebook and Instagram showing images of packed meat boxes.
• Fake Narrative: A common story involves a "distribution error" or a "canceled restaurant order" that supposedly forces Costco to liquidate stock quickly.
• Phishing Surveys: Clicking the link takes you to a non-Costco website where you are asked to complete a survey.
• Financial Theft: You are eventually told you "won" and only need to pay a small shipping fee. Entering your credit card information leads to recurring unauthorized charges or direct theft of your payment details.

How to Stay Safe

• Verify the Source: Genuine Costco promotions are only shared through the official Costco website or their verified social media accounts.
• Check the URL: Scammers use look-alike domains; always type costco.com directly into your browser rather than clicking links.
• Red Flags: Be wary of misspellings, countdown timers designed to create pressure, and requests for payment via PayPal or other third-party services that Costco does not use for warehouse orders.
• Reporting: If you encounter a suspicious post, you can report it to the FTC or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.