A fake social media ad promises Spurs fans a $13.95 swag box with jerseys, hoodies and more — but experts warn it could be a scam.
SAN ANTONIO — As Spurs fever spreads across San Antonio, consumer advocates are warning fans to think twice before clicking on social media ads promising heavily discounted team merchandise.
A Facebook page advertising what appeared to be an “ultimate Spurs fan box” claimed fans could receive a jersey, hoodie, tumbler, hat, basketball and more for just $13.95 by completing a short survey.
But Lisa Rodriguez, Director of AARP Texas, said the ad showed several warning signs commonly associated with online merchandise scams targeting emotional consumers during moments of excitement. AARP’s Fraud Watch Network was created to track scams, educate consumers and help prevent fraud before victims lose money, Rodriguez said.
“Right now, we’re so excited because the Spurs are doing so well,” Rodriguez said. “Scammers, they know that they can get people in an emotional state like excitement … so they hope that you won’t be thinking clearly.”
After reviewing the page shared by KENS 5, Rodriguez immediately noticed several red flags.
“It wasn’t the official Spurs Facebook page. So that to me was one red flag,” she said. Rodriguez added consumers should be cautious any time an unofficial page is attempting to sell merchandise, tickets or memorabilia.
The account had only four followers, few posts and listed its location as “San Antonio, Peru.” Rodriguez noted that legitimate Spurs fan pages are typically well established and have large followings.
A closer look at the ads raised even more concerns. The videos appeared to feature footage resembling the Frost Bank Center, complete with people in the background and Spurs merchandise prominently displayed. However, some videos appeared to contain mismatched audio, blurry merchandise and misspelled words, including “basketball” spelled incorrectly on a tumbler.
Some links connected to pages that either did not work or did not appear legitimate.
Even the comments section raised suspicions. Two different women appeared to share the same photo of a man they each identified as their husband wearing the Spurs merchandise.
Rodriguez said scammers and fraudsters often steal legitimate-looking photos and videos to make fake pages appear convincing.
“They will get legitimate pictures that perhaps the Spurs may have used on their website or another fan, a true fan club, and they will post those pictures,” Rodriguez said.
According to the Better Business Bureau Heart of Texas, scammers increasingly use AI-generated videos, fake endorsements and edited team branding to make fraudulent merchandise offers appear legitimate and emotionally appealing to fans.
BBB Heart of Texas said newly created accounts, limited followers, stolen photos, fake comments and missing business information are all warning signs consumers should watch for before purchasing from social media ads.
“If a fan box or merchandise deal seems unbelievably cheap, that’s a major red flag,” BBB Heart of Texas said in a statement. “Scammers rely on urgency and excitement to get quick purchases before people stop to verify.”
BBB Heart of Texas also urged consumers to verify websites, look for contact information and customer reviews, and use credit cards instead of debit cards or peer-to-peer payment apps because they typically offer stronger fraud protections.
Consumers should also be cautious of links shared only through Facebook or Instagram ads, the organization warned, because scam websites often disappear within days after collecting payments and personal information.
Rodriguez encouraged consumers to ask themselves whether they actively searched for the product or whether the advertisement suddenly appeared while scrolling social media.
“If you weren’t searching for a t-shirt or a cap or whatever’s in that box, it’s probably too good to be true, and particularly at the price point,” she said.
Rodriguez also warned that completing surveys and providing personal information can allow scammers to misuse that information immediately or sell it later.
“It’s to obtain personal information for their use, whether to sell down the road or to do damage instantly,” she said.
Consumers should also pay close attention to payment methods, Rodriguez said. Requests involving Cash App, gift cards or cryptocurrency are major warning signs.
“We tend to say, swipe, but do not click. Do not click on any hotlinks,” Rodriguez said.
According to BBB Heart of Texas, Texans have already reported more than $1 million lost to online purchase scams this year. Texans have also reported more than $16,000 lost to sweepstakes, lottery and prize scams.
According to Rodriguez, social media merchandise scams often fall into one of three categories: consumers receive nothing at all, receive a low-quality knockoff item or experience repeated charges after making a purchase.
“The safest assumption is if a Facebook ad claims to sell official Spurs merchandise at a steep discount and it’s not coming from a verified source, you should assume your money is at risk,” Rodriguez said.
The Spurs organization urged fans to buy merchandise only through official team channels, including SpursFanShop.com, the official Spurs Fan Shop at Frost Bank Center, the Spurs Fan Shop at Victory Capital Performance Center and the downtown playoff pop-up shop at CENTRO’s La Zona, located at 333 W. Commerce St.
The team also encouraged fans to visit the expanded playoff pop-up shop reopening Saturday from noon to 3 p.m., featuring additional merchandise, photo opportunities and interactive fan experiences during the Spurs’ playoff run.
AARP Texas operates a Fraud Watch Network hotline at 877-908-3360 where consumers can report scams or ask questions. The organization also offers a scam “heat map” showing trending scams by area. BBB recommends researching unfamiliar sellers through BBB Scam Tracker and BBB.org before making purchases through social media ads.