SPAR Warns Customers of Fake Christmas Competition on Facebook
A deceptive competition falsely linked to the supermarket chain SPAR is circulating on Facebook, prompting the company to issue a warning to its customers. The fraudulent scheme, which has already ensnared hundreds of users, highlights the growing threat of online scams during the holiday season.
During December, many individuals participate in online contests and giveaways, hoping to win prizes. However, not all offers are legitimate. This particular scam promises rewards through a competition that has no affiliation with SPAR, according to the company.
An “APA fact check” assessment determined the offer is not credible and utilizes manipulated imagery. “The offer is not to be taken seriously and uses manipulated photos. SPAR has no connection to this,” the assessment stated.
The fake profile, easily identifiable as fraudulent, still managed to attract significant engagement. Over the Christmas holidays, approximately 300 users interacted with the post through comments. By Tuesday, December 30, 2025, the original competition post had been replaced with a similar offer for a New Year’s giveaway, quickly garnering dozens of additional comments within just three hours.
SPAR confirmed the fraudulent nature of the competition when contacted by APA. A company spokesperson stated they “constantly” monitor social media channels for such scams and have established a dedicated website to alert customers. The official SPAR Facebook page is also linked on this warning site.
The deceptive page exhibits several red flags common to fraudulent competitions. Notably, it lacks a legally required legal notice, a standard requirement in Austria. Furthermore, the account, while not newly created, has exclusively posted about this competition, raising suspicions about its intent.
Investigators discovered that the competition’s cover photo, now deleted, did not depict a SPAR location in a German-speaking country. Background details, including the words “Welcome” and “Coffee,” indicated a non-Germanic setting. A reverse image search revealed the current image also features manipulated content, displaying lettering superimposed on a photograph of a store located in Croatia.
This incident serves as a crucial reminder for consumers to exercise caution when encountering online competitions, particularly on social media platforms. Always verify the legitimacy of the offer directly through the company’s official channels before providing any personal information or engaging with the post.
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