Is this order or prize text from Big W a scam?
No. Big W is a legitimate Australian discount department store chain. Scammers exploit that household familiarity in the other direction, sending fake gift-card wins by text and email, building lookalike checkout pages in Big W's colours, and inventing order or delivery problems that end in a payment form. The good news: a few quick checks almost always tell a real Big W message from a fake.
Genuine Big W links lead to bigw.com.au — but a link can be made to look real, so don't go by the link alone. Below is exactly what a real Big W message looks like, the scams currently circulating in its name, the red flags that give a fake away, and a real example to compare against. Got a message in front of you? Check it now for an instant verdict.
What a real Big W message looks like
Genuine messages from Big W link to bigw.com.au. Treat a link to any other address as a warning sign.
- Big W never sends SMS messages from short codes or random numbers; any text claiming to be from them should be treated as suspicious.
- Genuine Big W emails always come from addresses ending in @bigw.com.au.
- Big W does not run surprise gift-card giveaways that require you to click a link or enter card details.
- Real Big W communications about orders or delivery use your Big W account login on bigw.com.au to show status.
- Big W never asks you to install apps or verify account details via a link in an unsolicited message.
What Big W will never do
- Text you from short codes or random numbers (any SMS claiming to be Big W deserves suspicion on arrival)
- Run surprise gift-card giveaways that require you to click a link or enter card details
- Ask you to install apps or verify account details via a link in an unsolicited message
- Show your order or delivery status anywhere other than your Big W account on bigw.com.au
- Take payment on a page that is not bigw.com.au (no legitimate retailer moves its checkout to a lookalike domain)
Common Big W scams
- Scammers send SMS or email claiming you have won a Big W gift card and directing you to a fake site to claim it.
- Fraudsters create lookalike websites such as bigw-giftclaim[.]example or bigw-secure-login[.]example that mimic the Big W checkout page.
- Messages pretend to be a Big W order confirmation or delivery notice and ask you to click an urgent link to reschedule or pay a fee.
Red flags to watch for
- The message contains a shortened link or a domain that is not bigw.com.au.
- It urges immediate action such as claiming a free gift card before it expires.
- The sender address or link uses words like secure, verify, gift or rewards alongside Big W branding.
- You are asked to enter personal details or payment information on a page that does not show the real bigw.com.au address in the browser bar.
- The message references an order or prize you did not place or enter.
Big W scam examples
These composed examples show how scams impersonating Big W typically read, with the tells that give each one away. Compare them against anything you've received.
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:
- Big W does not run surprise gift-card giveaways, and it does not text from random numbers, so the premise fails twice
- '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: real Big W orders happen only on 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
Subject: Delivery problem with your Big W order. We could not complete delivery of order BW-000000. Pay the outstanding shipping fee at bigw-delivery-pay[.]example to avoid your order being cancelled.
What gives it away:
- It references an order you never placed; real order status appears under your account login on bigw.com.au
- A small surprise 'shipping fee' via a link is a card-harvesting pattern, not how a retailer collects postage
- The sender is not an @bigw.com.au address and the payment link is a lookalike domain
Not sure about your message?
Paste the suspicious Big W text or email and get an instant scam verdict, free.
How to verify a message from Big W
Big W's real website is bigw.com.au and the official app is the Big W app. Reach Big W through those channels, never through the details inside a message you're unsure about.
- Do not click the link or enter any details through the message
- Type bigw.com.au into your browser yourself, or open the official Big W app, and log in to check any order, delivery or offer
- Only trust the promotions and order status you can see inside your own account; if the message's claim is not there, it is fake
- Check the sender: anything not ending in @bigw.com.au, or any SMS at all from a random number, should be treated as a scam
If you have been scammed in Big W's name
Clicked the link, paid, or shared details? Act now. The first hour matters more than anything else you do later.
- If you paid or entered card details on a fake page, call your bank immediately, block the card and ask to dispute the charges
- If you entered your Big W password, change it at bigw.com.au straight away, plus anywhere else you reuse it
- If you handed over identity documents, contact IDCARE (idcare.org) for free identity support
- Report the scam to Scamwatch and ReportCyber using the links below, and forward scam texts to 7226 so carriers can block the sender
Where to report a scam impersonating Big W
Received — or fell for — a message impersonating Big W? Report it. It helps authorities and carriers shut the campaign down for everyone who gets the next one.
- Scamwatch — Report the scam to the ACCC's national scam service.
- ReportCyber — Report cybercrime and financial loss to the police.
- ACMA — Complain about scam texts and spam SMS, email or calls.
- Forward to 7226 (SCAM) — Forward the scam SMS to short code 7226 so carriers can block the source.
- IDCARE — Free identity and cyber support if your details were taken.
Latest Big W scams in 2026
The current crop of Big W impersonation splits into two moods: the giveaway and the problem. Giveaway campaigns dangle gift cards through texts, emails and social posts, always ending at a form asking for the details that pay the scammer. Problem campaigns invent an order confirmation, a stuck delivery or a shipping fee, betting you will pay a small amount without checking whether the order exists. Both rely on lookalike pages that copy Big W's branding convincingly. The constant is the address bar: real Big W business happens only on bigw.com.au, so typing that yourself, or opening the Big W app, collapses every variant at once.
Frequently asked questions
I got a text saying I won a Big W gift card — is it a scam?
Yes. Big W does not run gift-card giveaways via SMS. Delete the message and do not click any links.
How can I check if a Big W email is real?
Only trust emails that come from an address ending in @bigw.com.au. Log in at bigw.com.au yourself rather than clicking links.
What should I do if I clicked a link in a fake Big W message?
Visit scamwatch.gov.au for steps to secure your accounts and consider contacting IDCARE on 1300 432 273 if personal details were entered.
What is Big W's real website?
Big W's only real website is bigw.com.au. Lookalike addresses that add words like gift, claim, secure or login around the brand name are scam pages. Type bigw.com.au yourself or use the official Big W app instead of following links in messages.
How do I report a Big W scam?
Report it to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) so the National Anti-Scam Centre can track the campaign, and forward scam texts to 7226 (spells SCAM) so carriers can block the sender. If you lost money or entered card details, call your bank first and also report it to ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au.
Related scam types
Scams impersonating Big W usually fit one of these patterns. Learn how each works:
Related brands
Other retail names scammers impersonate — check a message from one:
Sources
- Text or SMS scams (Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre))
- Phishing scams: how scammers pose as trusted organisations (Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre))
- Buying and selling scams (Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre))
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice — always verify with Big W through an official channel.