Marshall Products Exploited in Social Media Phishing Scams
Recent announcements circulated on social media in the region claimed Marshall products were discounted up to 80% off for those who place online orders. These announcements gained a lot of attention from social media users. However, our investigation proves they were false.
SOCIAL MEDIA CLAIM
A viral announcement recently claimed that UK-based speaker manufacturer Marshall offered a significant promotion for customers placing online orders within regional countries as the company celebrates its 60th anniversary.
The claim stated that these online orders were introduced after many customers could not benefit from supermall promotions due to long queues.
This claim has been widely shared on social media, gaining a lot of reactions and comments from the community of social media networks.
Below is the snapshot of the announcement by a Cambodian Facebook page on October 07, 2024: “SORRY! Apologies to customers for Marshall’s birthday promotion leading to exhaustion due to many people queuing. We would like to learn from experience and open an online promotion and only the first 200 customers will receive an 80% discount on Marshall MIDDLETON speakers.”Facebook Post | Archived Link
A comparable assertion was also circulated on social media by another Facebook page known as Marshall Store Philippines, which attracted a significant number of shares, reactions, and comments.
The announcement claimed the online orders were initiated after the company’s website crashed only an hour after the promotion was publicly announced.
Below is a snapshot of the recent Facebook post saying “So scary! Marshall’s website crashed after one hour of launching a great deal including Emberton II, Minor III, and Willen.
The official Marshall website crashed a few minutes ago due to too many people accessing it at the same time. Fortunately, the company has taken quick steps to restore it to ensure everyone still has a chance to hunt for great deals. […]”Another announcement circulated by a Facebook page called Marshall Malaysia claimed the company offered a promotion of up to 70% off for only 200 units of its Tufton speakers, adding the offer was to mark the company’s 60th birthday.
Below is the snapshot of the Facebook post three months ago: “Happy 60th birthday – Marshall Malaysia Marshall Tufton 70% off. Last chance, don’t miss it. Only 200 units of Marshall Tufton speakers for only RM159 (original price RM678). […]”
FACT CHECK
Fact Crescendo has started verifying the claims, conducting antivirus scans, and seeking clarification from the manufacturer and distributors, which has led us to uncover the following facts.
Conducting a Google Reverse Image Search revealed that the photo does not depict the crowd queuing at the supermall in Phnom Penh, as social media claimed.
We found the original photo, published in a Vietnamese media outlet, showing a Vietnamese crowd queuing at the Aldo shop on Black Friday in Hanoi several years ago.A reverse image search revealed that a photo of seven people carrying Marshall music products is not from the Philippines. Instead, it was taken at Marshall’s 60th-anniversary celebration in Vietnam two years ago. (Source: Sound Way)
By scanning the links provided in the Facebook posts, we discovered they were unsafe. The antivirus application attempted to block access to these phishing links.Additionally, our research on Marshall, the UK-based manufacturer of music amplifiers and speakers, revealed that the links provided in the Facebook posts are not the company's official websites or social media accounts.
Marshall's official website is here. Marshall’s official website is here for Cambodia. The official websites for Malaysian and Philippine markets can be visited here and here, respectively.
Established in 1963, UK-based Marshall Amplification, commonly known as Marshall, designs and manufactures music amplifiers and speaker cabinets.
Jakub – a member of the Marshall Support Team—clarified that the company has never sold its products on social media networks.
He verified that the company operates two Facebook pages: Marshall Amplification, which can be visited here, and Marshall Headphones, which can be purchased here.
Below are the snapshots of Marshall’s Facebook pages.For several months, numerous announcements have circulated on social media platforms, claiming that global brands like Samsung, Apple, and Dior offer significant discounts on their products.
In our previous debunking stories, we discovered that the promotions circulating on social media using global brands were fake scams designed to deceive social media users.
As online scams have become widespread, the Ministry of Interior's Anti Cyber Crime Department has cautioned social media users to be aware of any announcements on social media that promise rewards or gifts.
According to the digital security expert, scammers use such messages on social media to defraud money from social media users, and victims' personal information to deceive other people who are relatives or friends of the victim. It is also a way for business groups to attract Likes and Shares.
For more of our debunking efforts, check out the previous fact-checking stories below:
1. Fake Promotions Exploit G-SHOCK to Mislead Social Media Users
2. Fake Samsung Discounts Used in Online Phishing Scams
3. Fake Makro Shopping Mall Announcements Deceive Social Media Users
4. Online Scams Spread Apple Gives Big Discount in Cambodia
5. Phishing Scams Target Customers with Fake JBL Promotions
6. Phishing Scams Claim Apple Offers Free Many Scratched iPhonesCONCLUSION
Fact Crescendo found out the claim mentioned above is false. U.K.-based Marshall Amplification denied its affiliation with any significant promotions circulated on social media platforms. These promotions were phishing scams to deceive social media users.
