Medium riskOnline Shopping

Grocery Delivery Voucher Scam

In this scam, fake grocery delivery vouchers, coupons, or apps promise free or cheap groceries, then phish your card and personal details or take payment for deliveries that never arrive.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Fake voucher / fake service
Main red flag
A 'free groceries' voucher or app that asks for card details or payment to claim.
What to do first
Use only official supermarket and delivery apps; ignore voucher links from messages.

How this scam works

In this scam, fake grocery delivery vouchers, coupons, or apps promise free or cheap groceries, then phish your card and personal details or take payment for deliveries that never arrive.

Online shopping scams use fake stores, unbelievable deals, and counterfeit or never-delivered goods to take your money and card details. Fake sites often surface through ads and social media and pressure you with limited-time offers.

In short, the giveaway is usually simple: A 'free groceries' voucher or app that asks for card details or payment to claim. Use only official supermarket and delivery apps; ignore voucher links from messages.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the Fake Coupon Scam and the Social Media Shopping Ad Scam. See the full Online Shopping Scams guides hub, or test a suspicious message with the scam checker.

How to spot this scam

  • A generous grocery voucher from an unexpected message
  • A small 'activation fee' that needs your card
  • An app or site that is not the official supermarket
  • Requests for card and personal details to claim
  • Pressure to redeem before it 'expires'

What the message looks like

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Claim your $90 grocery voucher from [supermarket]! Just pay a $1 delivery activation fee and enter your card details to redeem: [suspicious link]'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

What gives it away: A 'free groceries' voucher or app that asks for card details or payment to claim.

The scale of it

Top category
online shopping is one of the most-reported fraud categories to the FTC
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
$1.4B
reported lost to fraud that started on social media in 2023, where many fake shops advertise
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

How to protect yourself

  • Use only official supermarket and delivery apps
  • Check promotions on the retailer's official site
  • Report the voucher message as spam and delete it
  • Avoid entering card details to claim 'free' offers

Already responded? Do this now

  • Do not enter card details on the page
  • If you entered your card, contact your bank to flag it
  • Watch for recurring or unexpected charges
  • Change any password you entered

Mistakes to avoid

  • Do not pay an 'activation fee' for a free voucher
  • Do not enter card details to claim groceries
  • Do not download grocery apps from message links

Related scams to know

Medium risk Online Shopping

Fake Coupon Scam

This scam uses fake discount codes, 'spin to win' wheels, or coupon sites that look like a deal but exist to collect your personal and card details, push survey traps, or spread links across social media.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Online Shopping

Social Media Shopping Ad Scam

This scam uses eye-catching, heavily discounted product ads in social media feeds to lure you to fake or dishonest online stores that take your payment and deliver nothing, or send a cheap counterfeit instead.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Email

Survey Reward Email Scam

This scam emails an offer of a gift, gift card, or cash reward for completing a short survey, often impersonating a known brand, then asks for a small shipping fee and card details or enrols you in recurring charges.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Common questions

Are these grocery vouchers real?
Genuine promotions come through the retailer's official app or site, not unexpected messages asking for card details and a fee. Treat those as scams.
Why ask for a small activation fee?
The fee is a way to capture your card details, which can then be used for larger or recurring charges.
I entered my card. What now?
Contact your bank to flag or freeze your card, watch for recurring charges, and report the message.
How do I find real grocery deals?
Check the supermarket's official app or website directly, and ignore voucher links arriving by text, email, or social media.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.