The latest scam making the rounds online is the so-called Yeti & Mike Rowe Giveaway. At first glance, it looks like a celebration campaign: Yeti’s “15-year anniversary” paired with TV host Mike Rowe, promising coolers, outdoor bundles, and other gear. The ads are polished, the logos look official, and the offer feels tempting. But once you scratch the surface, the entire thing unravels into a classic bait-and-switch scam.
What the Giveaway Claims
The promotion pops up mainly through Facebook and Instagram ads. The headline splashes promises like:
- “Mike Rowe Collaborates With YETI For Incredible Outdoor Bundle Giveaway!”
- “Celebrate 15 Years of Yeti with an Exclusive Giveaway!”
The ad leads to a fake Yeti page hosted on a domain such as rfxnu.shop. Here, you’re greeted with images of coolers and bundles supposedly worth hundreds of dollars, all available for “up to 100% off.” The catch? You just need to take a short survey.
Where the Scam Leads You
Finishing the survey doesn’t get you closer to a prize, instead, it reroutes you to another unrelated site, like bloomingbudgetboutique.com, where the promotion is suddenly rebranded as “Zenova.”
Now comes the hook: you’re asked to cover a small shipping fee to claim your “premium prize.” The amount looks minor, but hidden inside the fine print is the real money-maker for the scammers, a recurring subscription charge that starts hitting your account month after month.
No Yeti cooler ever arrives. No bundle. Just unexpected charges that are difficult to cancel.
Why This Scam Looks Believable
Scammers know exactly how to build trust quickly:
- They borrow Mike Rowe’s image and name, banking on his reputation for honesty.
- They mimic Yeti’s branding so the website feels familiar at first glance.
- They create urgency by framing it as an anniversary celebration or a limited-time deal.
The combination makes it easy to see why people fall for it, but none of it is real.
The Hidden Subscription Trap
The biggest danger isn’t the small shipping fee, it’s the ongoing subscription you unknowingly agree to. Buried in hard-to-find terms and conditions, the language authorizes charges that can continue until you notice and dispute them. Many victims don’t realize they’ve signed up for anything until multiple payments are gone.
The Yeti & Mike Rowe Giveaway is 100% Fake
There’s no official partnership between Yeti and Mike Rowe. The domains (rfxnu.shop, bloomingbudgetboutique.com) aren’t connected to Yeti, and the whole setup exists purely to grab credit card details.
What Do You Do When You Suspect A Phishing Attempt
In this digital age and time, almost everyone has at one time received a phishing text or email and often times they fall victim and get scammed. This is why it is imperative that you are always careful when you receive any text or email because one careless click on a link can cause a whole lot of problems for you. Now if you suspect a phishing attempt, here are what I advise you do:
- Do Not Respond to the text, because you responding is actually giving access to the scammers, simply delete it when you receive.
- Quickly change your password if you have mistakenly clicked on the link or given away your login details. Change your password to a strong and unique password.
- Keep an eye on your accounts for any unauthorized transactions.
- Also scan you devices for any malware.
By following these tips, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to phishing scams and keep your personal and financial information safe.
Conclusion:
If you want Yeti gear, stick to yeti.com or authorized retailers. Any “giveaway” that requires a card upfront, especially through sketchy domains, is almost always a scam.
This fake giveaway doesn’t celebrate Yeti’s anniversary. It celebrates one thing only: stealing your money.
One of such scams we have discussed here is the Travis Mathew Warehouse Sale Scam
