TL;DR: Fake emails from big UK brands offer a free gift for answering a short survey: a £549 BBQ from B&Q, an air conditioner from Currys, a Wi-Fi booster from BT or EE, earbuds from National Rail, a Fortnum & Mason hamper. Then they ask for your card details to pay a small postage fee. Which? flagged all of these in 2026. There’s no gift; the fee often hides a subscription, and your card details are the real prize. Delete and forward to report@phishing.gov.uk.
The 2026 line-up
From Which?’s scam alerts:
| Date | Brand used | The “gift” |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 13 | National Rail | Earbuds for “valued” passengers |
| Apr 13 | Fortnum & Mason | “Tea Explorer Hamper” |
| May 18 | EE | Chance to win a Wi-Fi booster |
| May 28 | BT | Discount on a Wi-Fi booster |
| Jul 20 | Currys | Free air conditioner and dehumidifier for a “home comfort” survey |
| Aug 10 | B&Q | Free BBQ worth £549 for a survey, then a postal fee |
How it works
- A friendly email says you’ve been chosen to give feedback.
- A short, harmless-looking survey (“How often do you shop with us?”).
- Congratulations! You can claim a high-value reward.
- Just pay a small delivery fee, entering name, address and full card details.
The tiny fee is the hook. The card details often end up charged again, sometimes through hidden subscriptions buried in small print, and your answers feed a profile used for future scams. Currys’ version even said the reward was “reserved for a limited time,” because nothing says genuine generosity like a countdown.
The lottery cousin
On 1 June 2026, Which? also warned about fake People’s Postcode Lottery "wins" promoted by phone and fake social media accounts. The rule is the same as for free gifts: "You can only win the People’s Postcode Lottery if you sign up." If you never entered, you didn’t win. The official site is postcodelottery.co.uk; text "call" plus the caller’s number to 7726 to report a scam call.
Why small fees are the real trap
A small delivery fee feels too small to worry about, which is exactly why these scams ask for one. Once you’ve typed your full card number, expiry date and security code, the scammer can:
- charge you again, sometimes as a recurring subscription hidden in small print (how subscription traps work);
- sell or reuse your card details for other purchases;
- use your name, address and email for follow-up phishing, often a fake "bank fraud team" call about the very payment you just made.
Your survey answers aren’t harmless either. Questions about where you shop, what broadband you use and how old you are help scammers write more convincing messages next time.
How to check a "reward" is real
- Don’t use the link. Go to the brand’s website or app yourself.
- Search the offer with the brand name plus "scam." Brands and consumer groups often publish warnings about fakes.
- Check the sender’s address. Look at the domain after the @, not the display name.
- Never pay to receive a prize or gift. Genuine giveaways don’t charge postage.
Red flags
- a reward far bigger than a survey deserves;
- any payment to receive a free gift;
- sender addresses that don’t match the brand’s real domain;
- urgent deadlines.
What to do
- Don’t click. Forward to report@phishing.gov.uk and delete.
- Report the fake website to the NCSC through the GOV.UK reporting page, as Which? recommends.
- If you paid, call your card issuer to cancel the card and check for repeat charges. See subscription traps.
- Report losses to Report Fraud.
These emails go to addresses from breaches and old sign-ups. A free email exposure check shows where yours has leaked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the B&Q free BBQ email real?
Which? flagged it as a scam in August 2026. It offers a £549 BBQ for a survey, then asks for a postal fee.
Why do free gift scams ask for a small fee?
To capture your card details, which may then be charged again or used for subscriptions.
Which brands are being used?
Which? flagged B&Q, Currys, BT, EE, National Rail and Fortnum & Mason in 2026, among others.
I got a call saying I won the People’s Postcode Lottery. Is it real?
You can only win if you’ve signed up. Which? warned in June 2026 about fake wins promoted by phone and social media.
How do I report a free gift scam email?
Forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk and delete it.