Is this order text or ad from Nike a scam?
No. Nike is one of the world's largest sportswear companies, selling in Australia through nike.com.au. Scammers trade on the swoosh instead of the company: giveaway texts demanding a small 'release fee', held-order emails and counterfeit discount sites are impersonations, not Nike. The good news: a few quick checks almost always tell a real Nike message from a fake.
Genuine Nike links lead to nike.com, nike.com.au — but a link can be made to look real, so don't go by the link alone. Below is how genuine Nike contact usually works, the scams commonly run in its name, the red flags that give a fake away, and an example to compare against. Got a message in front of you? Check it now for an instant verdict.
What a real Nike message looks like
Genuine messages from Nike link to nike.com, nike.com.au. Treat a link to any other address as a warning sign.
- Nike purchase confirmations and delivery updates can be checked in the Nike app or by logging in at nike.com.au yourself, so check there instead of trusting a sender name, address or link
- A sender name or number can't show whether a text is real, because scammers can fake both; judge what the message asks you to do
- A sender address can be faked, so a matching one isn't proof that an email is from Nike; confirm the order or offer in your account
- Nike never asks customers to pay extra 'shipping' or 'release fees' to claim an order or prize
What a genuine Nike contact shouldn't do
- Ask customers to pay extra 'shipping' or 'release fees' to claim an order or prize
- Ask you to pay or confirm an order through a link in a text; check the order in the Nike app instead
- Send you to a link to pay a fee or confirm payment details for an order you can't find in your account
- No legitimate retailer runs a giveaway that requires a card payment before the prize is 'released'
Common Nike scams
- Fraudulent websites mimicking Nike that sell heavily discounted shoes and apparel using lookalike domains
- Social-media posts promising free Nike gear that redirect to fake checkout pages asking for payment details
- Emails claiming a Nike order is held and requires an extra fee before it will be released
Red flags to watch for
- Any message or ad offering new Nike products at 70–90% off retail on a site that is not nike.com or nike.com.au
- Requests to pay a small 'shipping fee' or 'release fee' to receive a promised Nike giveaway or order
- Links that lead to domains containing extra words such as nike-au-offer[.]example or nike-secure-deal[.]example
- Urgent language claiming stock will expire or an account will be closed unless immediate payment is made
Nike scam examples
These composed examples show how scams impersonating Nike typically read, with the tells that give each one away. Compare them against anything you've received.
Nike AU: Congratulations, you were selected in our Air Max giveaway. Claim your pair before midnight by covering the $2 release fee at nike-au-securewin[.]example.
What gives it away:
- Nike does not run giveaways that require any payment; the 'fee' page exists to capture your full card details
- A sender name or number can't show whether a text is real, because scammers can fake both; judge what it asks you to do
- The claim deadline is manufactured urgency; a prize you never entered for is the oldest lure there is
Facebook post: 'Nike is giving away unclaimed warehouse stock to celebrate the new season. Answer three questions and pay shipping only' with a button leading to nike-warehouse-win[.]example.
What gives it away:
- The checkout is a fake page on a lookalike domain, not nike.com.au
- 'Pay shipping only' is the release-fee trick in disguise: the goal is your payment details, not the shoes
- Nike promotions live on its own site and app; a survey-plus-card-payment funnel is a scam pattern, not marketing
Subject: Action required: your Nike order is on hold. Our carrier could not process your delivery. Settle the outstanding handling fee at nike-order-release[.]example within 48 hours or your order will be returned to sender.
What gives it away:
- Nike never asks customers to pay an extra fee to release an order
- A sender address can be faked, so a familiar-looking one isn't proof; this one also links to a lookalike page rather than nike.com or nike.com.au
- Check any real order by opening the Nike app or logging in at nike.com.au yourself; a genuine hold would show there
Not sure about your message?
Paste the suspicious Nike text or email and get an instant scam verdict, free.
How to verify a message from Nike
Nike's real website is nike.com and the official app is the Nike app. Reach Nike through those channels, never through the details inside a message you're unsure about.
- Do not tap the link, pay any 'fee', or reply to the message
- Open the official Nike app or type nike.com.au into your browser yourself and check your orders and any promotions there
- If the message claims a held order, your real order history at nike.com.au is the only record that matters; if nothing is there, the message is fake
If you have been scammed in Nike's name
Clicked the link, paid, or shared details? Act now. The first hour matters more than anything else you do later.
- Call your bank immediately, block the card you entered, and dispute any charges; small 'fee' payments are often followed by larger unauthorised ones
- If you typed your Nike password into a fake page, change it in the Nike app or at nike.com.au, and everywhere else you reuse it
- If identity documents were shared, contact IDCARE (idcare.org) for free identity support
- Report the scam to Scamwatch and ReportCyber using the links below, and forward the scam text to 7226 so carriers can block the sender
Where to report a scam impersonating Nike
Received — or fell for — a message impersonating Nike? 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.
Nike scam activity in 2026
Nike impersonation in 2026 splits into two steady streams. The first is the giveaway funnel: a text or social post announces a win or warehouse clearance, then routes you to a page asking for a tiny 'release' or 'shipping' fee, which is really a card-capture form. The second is the counterfeit storefront, a polished lookalike site selling popular models at prices the real store never matches. Both depend on you acting inside the message. The habit that beats them is checking from the outside: open the Nike app or type nike.com.au yourself, and treat any request to pay a fee for a prize as the scam itself.
Frequently asked questions
I got a text saying I've won Nike shoes and need to pay a small fee — is it a scam?
Yes. Nike does not run giveaways that require any payment or 'shipping fee'. Delete the message and report it at scamwatch.gov.au.
How do I know if a Nike discount email is real?
A sender address can be faked, so a matching one isn't proof. Check that any link leads to nike.com or nike.com.au, and don't enter payment details on another domain. Better still, open the Nike app or type the address yourself.
A website selling Nike shoes looks almost identical to the official site — could it be fake?
Genuine Nike products at 70–90% off on unknown sites are almost always counterfeit. Only shop on nike.com or nike.com.au.
What is Nike's real website in Australia?
Nike's official Australian store is nike.com.au and its global site is nike.com; the Nike app is the other genuine channel. Those are the only places to log in, shop or check an order. If a deal or giveaway cannot be found there after you type the address yourself, the message promoting it is fake.
How do I report a Nike scam text or fake store?
Report it to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) so the National Anti-Scam Centre can track the campaign, and forward the scam text to 7226 (spells SCAM) so carriers can block the sender. If it arrived as a social ad, report it in the platform as well. If you lost money, call your bank first, then report to ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au).
Scam message examples
Related scam types
Scams impersonating Nike usually fit one of these patterns. Learn how each works:
Related brands
Other apparel names scammers impersonate — check a message from one:
Sources
- Buying or selling scams (Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre))
- Text or SMS scams (Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre))
- Social media scams (Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre))
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice — always verify with Nike through an official channel.