Scammers Exploit Hype Around Starbucks Bearista Cup to Steal Data and Money, Bitdefender Antispam Lab Warns

When something goes viral, scammers are never far behind.

Bitdefender Antispam Lab has recently uncovered a global scam campaign piggybacking on the viral Starbucks Bearista Cup and the Starbucks × Hello Kitty collaboration, luring fans with promises of limited-edition gifts.

The scam emails, which are made to look like they come from Starbucks, invite users to “Take the survey – claim your Bearista cup gift.” The well-polished messages are complete with official-looking fonts, colors, and product images. But the moment recipients click, they’re redirected to phishing pages designed to steal personal information and payment details.

How Viral Trends Turn Into Instant Scams

According to Bitdefender Antispam Lab researcher Viorel Zavoiu the campaign is spreading across Australia, Germany, the UK, Ireland, France, Belgium, and the US, showing how fast scammers can move when a product captures global attention.

The Starbucks Bearista Cup, officially released on Nov. 6, 2025, became an overnight sensation thanks to TikTok and Instagram buzz. Just a month earlier, Starbucks launched its Hello Kitty collection on Oct. 6, 2025, creating a perfect storm of collectibles, cuteness, and FOMO (fear of missing out).

Within days of each launch, scammers began circulating fake survey emails promising free merchandise for “a few minutes of your time.” These emails closely imitate legitimate Starbucks communications, but the only thing recipients end up “claiming” is risk.

The Anatomy of the Bearista Scam Email

The scam messages typically follow the same pattern:

• Subject lines like “Limited-Time Offer – Starbucks Bearista Cup” or “Hello Kitty Meets Starbucks – Unlock Your Gift.”
• Professional-looking graphics featuring Starbucks branding and the viral mugs.
• Call-to-action buttons labeled “Start the Survey” or “Claim My Cup.”
• Redirect links leading to phishing pages that request personal information, shipping details, or small “processing fees.”

FOMO: The Scammer’s Favorite Marketing Tool

This campaign highlights a broader trend: viral popularity fuels cybercrime.
Whenever a product becomes a social-media sensation, scammers quickly clone the official designs, create authentic-sounding marketing text, and flood inboxes and social feeds with fake promotions.

When users believe a limited-edition collectible might sell out, they rush to act, often skipping basic checks like verifying the sender’s domain or inspecting a link before clicking.

Consumers searching for deals or restocks may stumble across fraudulent sites claiming to sell the real product.

Scammers behind this campaign want to:

1. Harvest personal data (name, address, phone, and email).
2. Collect credit-card details under the pretext of paying a shipping or survey fee.
3. Enrolling victims in unwanted subscriptions or using stolen data for identity theft.

How to Stay Safe When Viral Merch Drops

The next time your favorite brand launches a limited-edition item, pause before clicking that link.

Here’s how to protect yourself from scam campaigns exploiting trending products:

• Check the sender’s address. Real Starbucks emails come from @starbucks.com, not free webmail or suspicious look-alike domains.
• Don’t trust links in unsolicited messages. Go directly to the Starbucks app or official website to confirm any offer.
• Beware of “surveys” or “processing fees.” Starbucks does not distribute gifts via random email surveys.
• Use scam-detection tools. Test any suspicious message or link with Bitdefender Scamio and Bitdefender Link Checker
• Monitor your personal data. Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection alerts you if your information appears in data leaks.