Bunnings has issued a warning to customers following the rise of social media scams impersonating the store employees.
Scammers use AI-generated videos showing a supposed Bunnings worker in tears after a shift claiming that they were in trouble or were fired, before directing viewers to a scam discount websites intended to collect personal information.
“Like many retailers, we’ve seen a spike in social media scams which illegally use logos and branding to deceive people [into] visiting scam websites,” a Bunnings spokesperson told Yahoo Finance.
“We share our customers’ frustration about the increasing frequency of them.”
The videos, posted on TikTok have already generated thousands of views, with many not realising they are fake.
“We encourage people to be wary of any third-party websites offering the opportunity to win products, gift cards or receive discounts which have no association to Bunnings,” the spokesperson added.
Scammers are also targeting Coles and Woolworths customers using the same format, with the retailers telling customers to watch out for signs including videos from a newly created social media account with few followers and an emotional story that include claims of “insider secrets” or special discount “methods”.
“Customers can also visit the ‘Scam Warning’ page on the Bunnings website for more information, including tips on what to do if they think they’ve become the victim of a scam,” the spokesperson said.
“We’ll continue to work closely with relevant authorities and social media platforms to report unlawful scam activity and educate customers on the dangers of them.”
Image: TikTok
