Unofficial initiatives and contests
Beware of unofficial promotional initiatives and contests: how to recognize them, what to do.
In recent months, the number of fake users has skyrocketed on numerous social media platforms, particularly those of Meta (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp).You may therefore encounter not only fake profiles (which might try to contact individual users and companies) but also promotional activities and contests apparently organized by Barilla to promote its brand or other brands of the Group, which are actually fraudulent and conceal real scams.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE OFFICIAL INITIATIVES?
- Ensure that the profile promoting them is the official Barilla one: all contests are published on the respective accounts of the Group's brands, recognizable by the so-called 'blue checkmark' that certifies their authenticity.
In this case, you can participate safely! If it comes from different channels, it is not a contest promoted by Barilla, and we therefore invite you not to participate and to report suspicious profiles on our Facebook and Instagram pages. At the bottom of the page, you will find all the links to our official social channels.
- If you are asked to participate via a website, always verify that the domain is barilla.com (Beware of possible ambiguities: barila.com, barillla.com).
So, read the website address carefully when you visit it and make sure it is the official one and not that of a scammer.
- Be cautious with emails: in this case as well, always verify the sender's address, do not just read the sender's name. By clicking - or tapping on a mobile device - on the name corresponding to the email, you can read the full email address with the @ symbol. If it is an @barilla.com account, it means it is an official communication. Otherwise, if it is pretending to be Barilla, you can mark it as Spam.
- Is a payment required to participate? We regularly organize promotional activities aimed at satisfying the tastes and passions of people who follow our brands every day. However, Barilla will NEVER ask for money to participate in these initiatives. Participation can occur in various ways: using a purchase receipt, collecting points from packages, commenting on a post, etc., but NEVER through a monetary payment.
- What data is requested? For Barilla, protecting your data is a priority, as much as NOT acquiring unnecessary or suspicious information regarding the purposes of the contest: we will never ask you for personal information such as your bank password or PIN numbers for your debit or credit card. If you receive such requests, be cautious and immediately report suspicious messages.
- If, despite the above, you still have doubts, we invite you to:
- Always carefully read the terms of participation and the rules: What is indicated? Are the texts written in correct Italian? On which site are they published? Carefully read all the information before participating in any contest, even official ones.
- Contact us via direct message (only on official social media channels), directly reporting the suspicious link. We will promptly respond with a confirmation or a warning about its potential lack of authenticity.
Some of our contests may be organized in collaboration with commercial partners or other brands: even in this case, our advice for your safety remains the same. Always verify the authenticity of the channels from which the contest originates and participate only in activities promoted by brands and supermarkets you know and trust!
If you have mistakenly shared your bank account details or other personal or sensitive information,immediately contact your financial institution and follow the procedures they suggest, including those involving the competent authorities.
EXTERNAL RESOURCES
How to report a post or profile on Instagram | Instagram Help Center
How to report a post or profile on Facebook | Facebook Help Center
How to report content or a user on WhatsApp | WhatsApp Help Center