Free gift cards text scam hits Mississauga and Brampton residents

If you receive a message informing you that you’ve received a free gift card, it’s most likely a scam.

A local resident says he received a text informing him that he’s won a $1000 gift card for being a “loyal customer.” However, the text does not specify any store or business.

It urges the recipient to follow a suspicious link:

The text is a scam. Scammers often use messages like these to attempt to steal personal or financial information.

Residents are advised to delete the message and avoid responding to it or following the link.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, which keeps track of scams and fraud messages, advises residents to never share personal information with unverified people or groups.

That includes information such as your name, address, birth date, social insurance number, and credit card or banking information.