Cybercriminals are never short of ideas to destroy Internet users. A new scam has recently been spotted on Facebook in connection with the customs duties imposed by Donald Trump, reports SRF. Concerned, the sports brand Decathlon warns its customers.
Acrtained, Decathlon would sell North Face backpacks for two francs. The reason invoked: warehouses in Europe would be full because of Donald Trump’s customs duties. In any case, this is what messages posted on social networks assert. In reality, it is an attempt at phishing intended to steal personal data and money.
An old recycled scam
How does the ploy work? On Facebook, a young woman shares a link to an alleged exclusive offer that would usually be known only for store employees. But before taking advantage of the right plan, it is requested to fill out a survey which turns out to be a sensitive data collection operation that can even lead to triggering payments.
This scam is actually not new. A false offer practically identical with cheap backpacks was already circulating in the spring of 2025. The crooks used the same images. The trap was therefore simply “repaired” with a topical pretext, in this case the reference to the customs prices of the Trump administration.
Call to vigilance
According to the scam, Decathlon Switzerland has published warnings for several months. Questioned by the SRF Espresso program, the French brand says it has also initiated auditors in order to report and delete these announcements, and have contacted the platforms concerned to “require the systematic closure of the accounts” causing fraudulent messages.
Decathlon asks his customers to be vigilant on social networks and advises to always order products via the official online store. The company also requests to report to the platforms any activity or suspicious profile. “In case of doubt, our customer service can help you confirm or deny the seriousness of advertising offers,” concludes Decathlon.
Oliver Fueter, SRF/DK
