Blizzards offered on Dairy Queen rewards app, not by sharing Facebook post | Fact check
The claim: Dairy Queen giving free Blizzards to people who share, comment on post
A May 12 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) claims a fast food joint is giving away an iconic menu item to people who share a social media post.
“For May of this year at Dairy Queen we wanted to do something special because we know times are tough,” reads the post. “We’ve decided to reward everyone who $hares & comments before May 28th with 2 FREE Blizzard which can be redeemed at any location.”
It was shared nearly 200 times. Another version of the post, which claimed the promotion would be available in June, was shared nearly 700 times before it was deleted.
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Our rating: False
Dairy Queen said it is not offering any such Facebook promotion. The post is a scam, and the page making the claim is not associated with the official brand.
Customers can earn Blizzards through rewards on app, but not by sharing post
No such Facebook sharing promotion appears on Dairy Queen’s official website or app, and the restaurant told USA TODAY the claim is false.
“While we appreciate the enthusiasm for Blizzard Treats, we can confirm that this deal did not come from an official Dairy Queen source and is not accurate,” said spokesperson Taryn Ottaunick.
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Several components of the post indicate it is not legitimate. The page does not have a blue verified checkmark, which Facebook uses to identify legitimate brand accounts. Also, the page was created on the same day the post was published, another indication of a scam.
There is a way people can earn a free Blizzard, but it's not through a Facebook post. Dairy Queen's app lets users claim a free mini Blizzard for 250 points or a Blizzard of any size for 500 points. Points are accumulated through purchases associated with a user’s account.
The restaurant had a promotion for 85-cent Blizzards in April in celebration of the treat's introduction in 1985. The promotion was only available through the app and ended April 23.
Any legitimate Dairy Queen discount offers are promoted on Dairy Queen’s official social media accounts, website or app, and deals from other sources "cannot be verified," Ottaunick said.
USA TODAY has previously debunked claims of free products from brands including Amtrak and Delta.
USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Our fact-check sources:
Taryn Ottaunick, June 13, Email exchange with USA TODAY
Dairy Queen, accessed June 13, Mobile app
Dairy Queen, accessed June 12, DQ Rewards
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: False claim of free DQ Blizzards for sharing Facebook post | Fact check
