STORY UPDATED: check for updates below.

Gift Card Scam

Is the offer of a $750 Shein gift card for answering a few questions after following a link on Facebook legitimate? No, that's not true: The fast-fashion retailer told Lead Stories that "this is not a legitimate offer." The terms and conditions for a gift card require more than just a questionnaire. Users must finish a certain number of "deals, which usually require paid participation or paid subscription" before "rewards" are granted. The link for the supposed offer does not go to the website for Shein.

The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on Facebook on July 25, 2024. It said:

Dоn't shоp аt Sheіn аgаіn untіl yоu reаd thіs...
My sіster wоrks fоr Sheіn 🇺🇸 аnd tоld me mоst peоple dоn't knоw іf they аnswer а shоrt survey, they cаn get thоusаnds іn cаsh tо use аt Sheіn.
I just gоt а $750 vоucher, just fоr аnswerіng а few questіоns.
I'll leаve the lіnk she sent me belоw where yоu cаn fіll thіs оut. I just gоt mіne, аnd іt оnly tооk me lіke 30 secоnds tо cоmplete.
They оnly gіve а few оf these bоnuses оut dаіly, sо dоn't wаіt, tаp Leаrn Mоre аnd get yоurs nоw.

This is what the post looked like on Facebook at the time of writing:

(Source: Facebook screenshot taken on Thu Sep 19 20:35:32 2024 UTC)

In an email dated September 23, 2024, a spokesperson for Shein told Lead Stories that the $750 Shein voucher for answering questions was not real:

We can confirm this is not a legitimate offer from SHEIN. We have been made aware of recent scam offers falsely claiming to come from our company. We encourage everyone to stay vigilant regarding communications claiming to be SHEIN offering giveaways or services.

The link listed in the post does not go to the official Shein website (archived here). It takes users to the website for World Products Initiative (archived here) which directs users to answer a few questions for a "chance to receive a $750 gift card" with an image of the Shein logo:

To apply, answer three simple questions about the latest fashion trends. Don't miss this opportunity.

(Source: World Products Initiatives screenshot taken on Thu Sep 19 20:40:15 2024 UTC)

After answering the questions, users are directed to the website RewardsGiantUSA.com (archived here), which states there are yet more requirements to receive $750 towards shopping at Shein:

*Upon completion of purchase & program requirements. Trade names or rights associated with all brands on this site are the property of their respective owners and are not affiliated with this promotion.

The link to the terms and conditions website (archived here) explains there is a paid participation or paid subscription to receive the reward. It also seeks personal information:

How the Rewards Program Works. To qualify for a Reward, you must: (1) be a U.S. resident, 18 years of age or older; (2) provide accurate registration information (including your name and contact information, i.e., valid residential, phone number and/or email addresses), and (3) COMPLETE THE REQUIRED NUMBER AND LEVELS OF DEALS WHICH REFERS TO A GROUP OF DEALS ('LEVELS'), WHICH USUALLY REQUIRE PAID PARTICIPATION OR PAID SUBSCRIPTION, within a sixty-day period that commences on the date that you complete your first Deal.

Using keywords on Google, Lead Stories searched (archived here) and located an April 24, 2023, Yahoo! News article (archived here) that warned Shein consumers of numerous scams circulating on Facebook. The article described a scam promising customers the chance to score a $500 Shein gift card.

Lead Stories previously reported that false online promotions use famous brand names, such as Aldi, to trick people into handing over their personal information.

Other Lead Stories fact checks on claims about gift cards can be found here.