Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

Costco Meat Box Scam
Costco Meat Box Scam

The Costco meat box "giveaway" is a phishing scam on social media (Facebook/Instagram) falsely claiming the retailer is liquidating premium meat for a few dollars. Scammers use fake posts, often claiming a "husband works at Costco," to steal credit card info and create recurring charges. Costco confirmed these are fake and only uses official channels.

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.
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