Recently, a new form of fraud is emerging that is becoming more common, taking advantage of the TikTok platform’s reputation to appropriate users’ money. Accordingly, the scammer impersonated a TikTok employee, proactively called or texted the user that had “luckily won” and received a free gift from the customer reward program. These invitations are usually very persuasive, with information such as the name of the show, the reason for choosing it, and even a gift code to create a sense of trust.

However, in order to receive the aforementioned gift, the “winner” is required to transfer in advance a small fee, usually explained as a shipping charge, order processing charge, or information certification charge. These usually range from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars, small enough to be subjective and not over-thought. The very act of beating the free gift psyche, and the relatively small cost, has caused many victims to “roll their tongues” into the bank account with the thought that it would be worthless to lose.

As soon as the victim completed the transfer, the perpetrator immediately cut off contact. The number can’t be called back, the texting account is blocked, or it disappears completely. Of course, none of the gifts arrived, and the money could not be recovered. Many people only realize they’ve fallen into a scam until now, but it’s too late.

Network security experts and authorities asserted that this was a familiar scam, which was “replaced” by impersonating major brands and popular platforms. In fact, TikTok as well as many other reputable businesses never require users to transfer money in advance to receive gifts, especially through anonymous calls or personal messages.

In the face of this situation, experts recommend that citizens be extremely vigilant. Never transfer to any organization or individual who asks for a fee to receive a “zero dollar gift.” Always remember that no gift is truly free if you have to pay in advance. When receiving unexpected win information, users should check back on the company’s official channels or contact customer support directly for verification. Vigilance and discretion are the best way to protect yourself from the increasingly sophisticated scams these days.