Watch out for This Fake Adidas Campaign Promising Free Shoes

A viral phishing attack campaign is circulating promising users free Adidas sneakers. Find out what you need to know about the fake promotion here to avoid getting scammed.

June 15, 2018

Adidas is the subject of a viral phishing attack which offers users free sneakers only to hit them with a sneaky subscription fee.

SC Magazine documents the scam, which reportedly sways WhatsApp users with a message saying Adidas is giving away 2,500 sneakers in celebration of its 69th anniversary. After users complete a four-question survey, the prompt offers up sneakers worth $199 if the victim is willing to pony up a dollar.

Upon entering payment details, users are instead signed up for a $50-per-month subscription—to nothing. Although this detail is said to be buried in a footnote, it's easy to see how someone could be unwittingly tricked into the scam.

This isn't the first incident of its kind. A similar attack was reported in February, although that scam was said to be for the brand's 93rd anniversary. While it is in fact the 93rd anniversary of the founding of the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory (which became Adidas in 1949), the Three Stripes ran no such promotion.

"We are aware of the WhatsApp message that is currently circulating claiming that Adidas is giving away free footwear and would like to caution the public about believing this, as it is definitely a hoax," a brand communications manager said in a statement following the February attack.