Why Should[n’t] I Fall for This McDonald’s Phishing Scam?

The ol’ email phishing scam pretending that McDonald’s wants to pay you to take a survey is back, although it’s no longer offering a cool $250 to participate.

No, this time around, you only get a measly 80 bucks.

While the phishing email may come across as convincing at first, carrying the McDonald’s logo, company colors, and a series of questions on the survey that a typical one would have, that red flag will eventually pop-up when you’re asked to enter your credit card information at the very end.

If you’re going to argue that maybe, just maybe, this isn’t an email phishing scam and McDonald’s is willing to hand over $80 just for your opinion, I’ll  give you 3 good reasons why that isn’t the case.

1. Why wouldn’t they conduct this survey in their restaurants?
   If McDonald’s wanted to conduct a survey, why don’t they just do it in their establishments that millions of patrons visit every day?  I’ve seen those survey cards in other restaurants, why wouldn’t they do the same?


2. How did McDonald’s get your email address?
   I don’t know about you, but I don’t remember handing the cashier anything more than payment for the meal that I ordered the last time I was there.


3. Why would they offer a random[ly large] amount like $80 in exchange for one response?
   Even if they limited the survey invitations to just a handful of people, why would they pay so much for a response they could likely get for free? Even with a limited amount of responses, $80 a pop is sure to add up quick. That just seems like an easily avoidable waste of money.

Aside from the food for thought above, McDonald’s has even posted on one of their websites that any emails claiming to be from them with the offering of taking an online survey for monetary compensation is a fraud. So beware of any [phishing] emails you receive “from McDonald’s” offering to take a survey.

All this talk of McDonald’s makes me want to go grab an order of their chicken mcnuggets and french fries. I'm willing to bet the cashier won't be asking me, “Would you like a survey with that?”

Photo Credit: sfxeric