Big W shopping scam message examples
Example scam messages
Big W: Congratulations! Your $100 gift card is approved and waiting. Verify your details today at bigw-card-verify[.]example to receive it.
What gives it away:
- A gift card from a draw you never entered is the classic giveaway bait; a text's sender name or number can't show whether it's real, so check the Big W app or bigw.com.au instead
- 'Verify' plus 'gift' bolted onto Big W branding is a signature of the fake, as is a prize from a draw you never entered
- The link is not bigw.com.au; the 'verification' form is where your details are stolen
A social ad leads to a clearance site wearing Big W's logo and layout, selling TVs and toys at improbable markdowns. The checkout looks familiar, but the browser bar reads bigw-outlet-sale[.]example.
What gives it away:
- The address bar is the giveaway: it reads a lookalike domain, not bigw.com.au
- Prices far below anything in the genuine catalogue exist to rush you past scrutiny
- Paying on the fake checkout hands over your card details, and the goods never arrive
How to check a message you've received
Never tap a link in an unexpected message. Instead, paste the text into the free message checker for an instant verdict, or check a suspicious link with the link & website checker. To verify directly, contact Big W through its official app or the number on its real website — never the details in the message itself.
Understand the scam and the brand
Not sure about a message?
Paste it in and get an instant scam verdict with the exact red flags highlighted — free, no signup.
Frequently asked questions
Is this Big W message real or a scam?
The messages on this page are defanged examples of Big W impersonation scams — illustrations modelled on common scam patterns, not genuine Big W messages. To judge a specific message you've received, paste it into the free Scam Scanner checker for an instant verdict, or verify it directly through Big W's official app or website.
How can I tell a fake Big W message from a genuine one?
Big W orders, deliveries and offers can be checked by logging in to your account at bigw.com.au or in the Big W app, so check there instead of trusting a sender name, number or link. The examples below break down the tells that give a fake away — unexpected links, urgency, and requests for payment or details. If anything asks you to click a link or hand over information, treat it as suspicious until you've verified it independently.
What should I do if I already clicked a link or paid?
Act quickly: contact your bank, then follow the step-by-step recovery guide at /what-to-do. It walks you through who to contact — your bank, IDCARE and the right reporting channel — in the order that matters most.