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Dublin Zoo and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) have warned the public about a Facebook scam offering a free “back to school” bundle that asks users to pay a small postage fee. The fake page uses Dublin Zoo branding and directs people to an unofficial website where payment details may be requested.
How the fake offer operates
Scammers created a Facebook page impersonating Dublin Zoo and posted adverts for giveaways and a supposedly free “school bundle.” The only cost shown is a postage fee of around €2–3, payable at checkout.
Images used in the adverts include **AI-generated** visuals that display Dublin Zoo logos. Those images then link to a cloned website outside the zoo’s official channels, where visitors are prompted to enter payment information.
Warning from Dublin Zoo
The zoo alerted the CCPC after discovering the fraudulent page. In a public statement, Dublin Zoo made clear it does not require payment details for competitions or giveaways: “Dublin Zoo will never ask for credit card, debit card, or bank details to enter a competition or claim a giveaway prize.”
What to do if you entered card details
If you provided your card information on the scam site, the zoo and the watchdog advise contacting your bank immediately. Banks can freeze or cancel affected cards to prevent further unauthorised transactions.
- Pause before paying and verify the site is genuine.
- Do not click social media ads directly when entering payment details; search for the organisation’s official website first.
- Contact your bank right away if you shared card information so they can block or replace the card.
Advice from the consumer watchdog
Aoibhín de Burca, Director of Communications at the CCPC, said scammers are evolving and exploiting trusted brands. She warned they are “getting smarter every day,” using cloned websites and familiar logos to catch busy consumers off guard.
Her practical advice echoes the zoo’s message: pause before you pay, verify the seller, and avoid entering payment details via social media adverts. As she put it, “If something is too good to be true, it usually is.”
Consumers who spot the fraudulent page should avoid engaging with it and use official channels to confirm any offers. Staying cautious online remains the best defence against these increasingly sophisticated scams.
