How to avoid supermarket voucher scams (and what’s actually real)

Free supermarket vouchers sound great, especially when money’s tight.

But while there are some brilliant, genuine giveaways out there, there are also tons of scams doing the rounds.

And if you’re not careful, you could end up handing over personal info to a fraudster.

Here’s how to tell the difference between a genuine offer and a scams, and how to protect yourself.

What is a supermarket voucher scam?

These scams typically spread via social media, email, or WhatsApp, often claiming to offer free vouchers for well-known brands such as Tesco, Aldi, Sainsbury’s, or Asda.

They might look real at first glance.

They’ll have logos, branding, and even fake customer comments, but clicking the link will often take you to a dodgy site that asks for your personal details or tries to get you to download something.

Sometimes, they’ll say you’ve won something and just need to “confirm your details”.

Or they’ll make you share the post to your friends before claiming your prize. These are classic scam tactics.

How to spot a fake supermarket voucher

Here are some warning signs to look out for:

1. It’s not from an official source

If you’re not sure, check the official website or social media pages of the supermarket. If they haven’t mentioned the giveaway then it’s probably fake.

2. Bad grammar or spelling mistakes

Many scams are put together quickly and sloppily. If the post or message has loads of spelling errors or sounds “off”, don’t trust it.

3. They ask for too much info

No supermarket will ask for your bank details, National Insurance number, or a payment upfront just to claim a free voucher.

4. They make you ‘share to win’

A genuine giveaway won’t make you share a dodgy link with all your contacts just to enter. Scams spread fast this way, and they want your help.

5. The link doesn’t look right

Always check the web address (URL).

Scammers will use things like “aldi-voucher-free.com” or “tesco-win-big.net” which are not the official “aldi.co.uk” or “tesco.com” addresses.

6. You’ve won, but you don’t remember entering

If you do a lot of comping, it can be hard to track what you’ve entered or haven’t. To be fair, if I’ve slept, I soon forget what I had for dinner the day before, so how am I meant to remember?

If you get an email out of the blue saying “congratulations”, it may feel exciting, but don’t rush ahead until you’ve done some checks.

How to tell if a supermarket voucher offer is real

Knowing what to look out for will mean you can spot if an offer or giveaway is real.

Real voucher giveaways will always come from an official channel. That means the supermarket’s own website, verified social media accounts, or trusted news outlets.

There will also be terms and conditions that shows the prize, the end date, and how they’ll contact the winner.

You can look to earn supermarket vouchers in exchange for things like playing games or answering survey questions. Take a look at some decent and legit sites to use.

How to protect yourself from voucher scams

• Don’t click links in suspicious messages, especially ones sent out of the blue
• Never share your personal info unless you’re 100% sure the offer is real
• Check the official website or trusted news sources first
• Report scam messages to Action Fraud or the supermarket directly
• Warn others – scammers thrive when people stay quiet

Final thoughts

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Scammers know times are tough and people are more likely to jump at freebie offers, but they’re counting on you not doing your homework.

When a supermarket runs a real giveaway, they’ll be proud to shout about it on their proper website or verified social accounts.

I get that no one wants to miss out on the chance to win a decent prize, but if you cannot find it after searching elsewhere, it’s not worth the risk.

Got a scam to report or unsure if something’s legit? Drop us a message or leave a comment. The more we talk about it, the harder it is for scammers to get away with it.