A fraudulent WhatsApp promotion promising a “fridge full of Guinness” for Father’s Day has been exposed as a sophisticated phishing scam targeting users across the UK, prompting warnings from Guinness and cybersecurity experts.
The scam, which gained traction ahead of Father’s Day 2023, invited WhatsApp users to enter a bogus competition under the tagline, “Uncover the hidden prize in Guinness Father’s Day giveaway.” The message, accompanied by an image of a stocked fridge, directed recipients to a website mimicking official branding, where they were prompted to complete a quiz and select one of several virtual boxes to reveal a “golden ticket.”
Victims were then informed they had won the contest and instructed to share the link with 20 individual contacts or five WhatsApp groups in order to claim their prize—a classic technique used to amplify the scam’s reach.
Guinness, which is owned by UK-based drinks conglomerate Diageo, swiftly denounced the message. “This is not a Guinness competition and appears to be a scam,” a company spokesperson told Mail. “We would advise anyone who has received this message to not open the link and delete it immediately.”
Industry publication The Drinks Business noted that the hoax exploited both the British public’s affection for Guinness and the appeal of free goods during a challenging economic period. “The scam prays on the two core things Brits love: a Guinness and the timelessly compelling idea of free beer,” the report said. “Amid a cost-of-living crisis and a heatwave, the idea of winning a fridge full of beer led many to hand over their details without hesitation.”
Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has urged users who may have interacted with the scam to take immediate action. Affected individuals are advised to report the message directly through the app, block the sender, and enhance their security settings—particularly by enabling two-step verification and restricting who can view personal information.
The incident underscores the ongoing vulnerability of major beverage brands to cyber exploitation. In 2020, Australian beverage company Lion—owner of craft beer labels such as New Belgium and Bell’s—suffered a major cyber-attack that forced the shutdown of multiple production facilities.
As scams continue to evolve in sophistication and scope, cybersecurity professionals emphasize vigilance, especially during promotional holidays that provide fertile ground for fraud.
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