Bunnings shopping scam message examples
Example scam messages
A Facebook ad carrying the Bunnings logo reads: 'We're celebrating our loyal customers! Answer a few quick questions and enter your details at bunnings-anniversary-win[.]example to grab your free $200 gift card. Limited cards remaining!'
What gives it away:
- Bunnings says it does not use email or social media for any promotions offering free gift cards, so an ad-driven entry form for one isn't from Bunnings
- You have 'won' without any purchase or entry, the core giveaway lie
- 'Limited cards remaining' is scarcity pressure designed to get your details in before you check
A page styled as an official Bunnings giveaway congratulates you and asks for your name, address and card details to cover 'postage and handling' on the gift card, hosted at bunnings-claim-portal[.]example.
What gives it away:
- The postage or activation fee is the entire scam; no legitimate retailer charges you to receive a prize
- The domain is not bunnings.com.au, whatever the page looks like
- Card details for a 'free' gift card means the gift card was never the product; your card was
Congratulations! Your $200 Bunnings gift card is approved. Pay the small release fee today at bunnings-cardrelease[.]example before the offer expires.
What gives it away:
- A sender name or number can't show a text is real, because scammers can fake both; Bunnings says it will not ask for personal information or banking details in unsolicited communications
- A fee to 'release' a prize is a contradiction; real prizes cost nothing to receive
- The expiring-today deadline exists purely to stop you verifying on bunnings.com.au first
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 Bunnings 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?
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Bunnings message real or a scam?
The messages on this page are defanged examples of Bunnings impersonation scams — illustrations modelled on common scam patterns, not genuine Bunnings 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 Bunnings's official app or website.
How can I tell a fake Bunnings message from a genuine one?
Bunnings gift cards, competitions and offers can be checked on bunnings.com.au or in the Bunnings app yourself, so check there instead of trusting the 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.