Every summer, big brands roll out massive “win your share of $X” promotions. This year, Linkt (Transurban) is running its $500K Summer Giveaway, and if you’ve opened the terms and conditions… you’ve probably wondered:
Is this legit — or is there a catch?
Short answer: it’s legitimate, but it’s very much a marketing-first promotion, and it pays to understand what you’re trading for a chance to win.
Let’s break it down.
First: Is it a scam?
No.
This promotion is:
- Run by Transurban / Linkt, a real Australian company
- Authorised under NSW trade promotion law
- Conducted with an independent scrutineer
- Clear about prize numbers, draw dates, and eligibility
From a legal and regulatory point of view, it’s a standard Australian trade promotion.
So what’s the catch?
The real “price” of entry: marketing consent
To enter, you must:
- Opt in to Linkt marketing
- Stay opted in until the draw closes
If you unsubscribe early, your entry becomes invalid.
That means:
- promotional emails
- app notifications
- offers and reminders
- rewards nudges
This is not hidden — it’s explicit in the terms — but it’s also the primary value Linkt gets from the promotion.
You’re not paying money.
You’re paying with attention and data.
“$500K giveaway”… but what does that really mean?
The headline number sounds huge, but here’s how the prize pool actually breaks down:
Big prizes
- 4 people win $5,000 cash (one per fortnightly draw)
Mid-tier prizes
- 16 people win items worth ~$200–$400 (BBQs, cabanas, experience vouchers)
Most prizes
- 31,576 people win:
- a $15 Uber Eats voucher, or
- a $15 experience voucher, or
- a photo book (often with shipping costs)
So while the total pool is $500,000, the overwhelming majority of winners receive low-value vouchers.
That’s not dishonest — it’s just marketing maths.
Account behaviour matters (a lot)
Another thing that surprises people:
If your Linkt account:
- goes into negative balance
- has an overdue toll invoice
- becomes suspended
…you can lose your prize, even if you already entered.
This is stricter than many competitions and effectively encourages people to:
- keep accounts topped up
- avoid unpaid tolls
- stay “good customers” throughout the promo
Again: legal, but deliberate.
What happens to your data?
Yes — your data is used.
Here’s how:
Everyone who enters
- Added to or retained in Linkt marketing lists
- Likely profiled as someone who engages with promotions and rewards
If you win
- Your name and email go to TLC Marketing (prize fulfilment)
- Physical prizes → address and phone shared with suppliers
- Experience vouchers → details shared with partners like We Wander
- Cash prize → ID verification and bank details via video call
This is standard for prize fulfilment, but it does mean your information leaves Linkt’s system if you win.
Is the cash prize verification dodgy?
Not really — but be careful.
Cash winners must:
- attend a video call
- show photo ID
- provide bank details live
This is normal anti-fraud procedure.
Just make sure you verify the contact yourself (e.g. by calling Linkt using a known number) before handing over details.
So… should you enter?
It depends.
Worth entering if:
- you already have a Linkt account
- you don’t mind marketing emails for a couple of months
- you treat it as “maybe I’ll get a $15 voucher”
Probably not worth it if:
- you’re signing up purely for the prizes
- you dislike marketing or data sharing
- you expect a realistic shot at the $5,000
Bottom line
Linkt’s $500K Summer Giveaway is:
- legitimate
- heavily marketing-driven
- very long odds for meaningful prizes
You’re not being scammed — but you are being marketed to, very intentionally.
If you go in with eyes open, there’s no real downside.
Just don’t confuse “$500K giveaway” with “high chance of winning big”.
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