Text message scam promises Best Buy gift cards

It's nothing out of the ordinary for Sheryl Woodward to get a text, but one that says she's won a $1,000 gift card to Best Buy - well that's a little different.

Woodward says the text read, "your entry last month has won. Go to Bestbuywin.net and enter your winning code to claim your free $1,000 Best Buy gift card within 24 hours."

The thing is, Sheryl hadn't filled out any type of entry at Best Buy. Immediately she called the Fultondale store to make them aware of the possible scam. To her surprise, she found out she wasn't the only one who'd called. The employee who took her call received the same message.

"He said that he had received one himself on his phone and he worked there," said Sheryl.

The Best Buy employee told Sheryl he thinks these messages have been going out for months. A woman from Best Buy's corporate office said they are inundated with these calls every day. The messages say the person has won anywhere from a $1,000 to $5,000. The corporate office is sending concerned callers to their help line.

Thankfully Woodward said she knew better than to try to claim that gift card but she fears other may not.

"It hurts a lot of people. Especially the one person who has received it. It just, I can't stand it when somebody really, that could harm somebody a lot," Woodward said.

If you've received a text saying it's from Best Buy and that you've won a gift card, call the company at 1-888-BESTBUY (237-8289). In addition, you should contact your cell phone carrier and ask that that number be removed.

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