Barnes & Noble Warns: Viral '$1 Book' Posts Are Fake — Likely Phishing Scam

Barnes & Noble has warned shoppers that viral social media posts promising a $1 book discount are fake and likely part of a phishing scam. The retailer told USA TODAY on July 31 that customers should only trust promotions listed on its official website.

"This is a fake online promotion and most likely a phishing scam," Barnes & Noble said. "We encourage customers to go to our website to see current legitimate sales and promotions."

In recent weeks, Instagram and TikTok posts have directed users to sign up for a code said to unlock a $1 discount, with some posts claiming the code would be valid through Aug. 7. Instead of a real deal, many of those links lead to pages that can harvest personal data or payment information.

Why This Matters

Cybersecurity and fraud experts say these schemes are becoming more sophisticated, in part because generative artificial intelligence makes it easy to produce professional-looking posts and landing pages quickly. According to TransUnion’s latest Top Fraud Trends Report, one in six U.S. consumers reported losing money to digital fraud in the past year, and 39% said they had been targeted by phishing attempts.

"Fraud is big. It's growing, it's everywhere and it's not going away," said Clint Lowry, Vice President of Global Fraud Solutions at TransUnion, noting that AI has amplified the reach and polish of fraud campaigns.

How To Protect Yourself

• Verify promotions on the retailer’s official website before entering personal or payment information.
• Inspect links carefully—fraudulent pages often use slightly altered URLs or ask for unnecessary details.
• Never enter credit-card data or personal ID information on a page you reached from an unverified social post.
• Use multifactor authentication on accounts when available and monitor statements for suspicious charges.
• Report suspicious posts to the social platform and notify your bank immediately if you suspect exposure.

Book-to-Screen Adaptations To Watch In 2026

Aside from the scam alert, readers have much to look forward to: a long slate of book-to-screen adaptations is scheduled for 2026. Highlights include:

• Jan. 8 — His & Hers: Netflix thriller adapted from Alice Feeney’s novel, starring Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal.
• Jan. 9 — People We Meet on Vacation: Netflix’s adaptation of Emily Henry’s romance, starring Emily Bader as Poppy and Tom Blyth as Alex.
• Jan. 15 — Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials: A Netflix miniseries based on The Seven Dials Mystery, featuring Helena Bonham Carter and Iain Glen.
• Jan. 22 — Finding Her Edge: A Netflix YA series about competitive figure skating, adapted from Jennifer Iacopelli’s novel.
• Jan. 29 / Feb. 26 — Bridgerton (Season 4): Netflix continues the period drama adapted from Julia Quinn.
• Feb. 13 — Crime 101: Theatrical crime film starring Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo, based on Don Winslow’s novella.
• Feb. 13 — Wuthering Heights: Emerald Fennell’s new adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
• March 5 — Vladimir: An eight-episode Netflix series starring Rachel Weisz and Leo Woodall.
• March 13 — Reminders of Him: Film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel, starring Maika Monroe.
• March 20 — Project Hail Mary: Ryan Gosling headlines the film version of Andy Weir’s sci-fi novel.
• March 26 — Jo Nesbo’s Detective Harry Hole: Netflix’s adaptation of Jo Nesbø’s crime novels.
• April 15 — Margo’s Got Money Troubles: A24/Apple TV+ series about a mother navigating OnlyFans, starring Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman.
• May 8 — Remarkably Bright Creatures: Netflix adaptation starring Sally Field as a widow who bonds with an octopus.
• Oct. 2 — Verity: A psychological-thriller adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel, starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson.
• Nov. 20 — Sunrise on the Reaping: Hunger Games prequel set during Haymitch Abernathy’s time in the arena.

Shoppers should remain cautious about social links that ask for personal or payment information and always confirm deals through official retailer channels.

Contributing: Betty Lin-Fisher, USA TODAY. Reporter: Saman Shafiq. Contact: [email protected].

Thought this year was going to bebig for new books? Just wait until you see how many of your favorite titles are slated for adaptation in 2026. Here are the movies and series we're excited to see this year, in order of release date.(Warner Bros. Pictures)

"His & Hers" (Jan. 8)“His & Hers”by Alice Feeney is now a Netflix series. In this thriller,Tessa Thompsonplays TV reporter Anna Andrews, who returns to her small Georgia hometown to report on a string of homicides being investigated by her estranged husband, Detective Jack Harper (Jon Bernthal).(Courtesy of Netflix)

"People We Meet on Vacation" (Jan. 9)Romance readers got the first of many upcoming Emily Henry adaptations early this year. Netflix's “People We Meet on Vacation” starsEmily Baderas Poppy andTom Blythas Alex, two estranged friends who reunite on one final, transformative trip.(Daniel Escale/Netflix)

"Agatha Christie's Seven Dials" (Jan. 15)Thisnew Netflix miniseriesis based on Christie’s 1929 novel “The Seven Dials Mystery.” It opens as a lavish country house party ends in murder and stars Helena Bonham Carter, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Iain Glen and more.(Simon Ridgway/Netflix)

"Finding Her Edge" (Jan. 22)“Finding Her Edge”is a new TV-PG series on Netflix adapted from Jennifer Iacopelli’s young-adult novel (which is loosely based on Jane Austen's "Persuasion"). It follows a love triangle on the competitive figure skating circuit.(Courtesy of Netflix)

"Bridgerton" (Jan. 29, Part 2 Feb. 26)Season 4is streaming on Netflix now and is adapted from Julia Quinn's third Bridgerton novel,“An Offer From a Gentleman.”It focuses on Benedict, the second-eldest Bridgerton son, who has managed to escape the marriage mart. That is, until he meets an enchanting Lady in Silver at his mother’s masquerade ball.(LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX)

"Crime 101" (Feb. 13)Starring Chris Hemsworth, Barry Keoghan, Halle Berry and Mark Ruffalo,“Crime 101”sees a Los Angeles detective pursuing an elusive thief and insurance broker on one final heist. The movie is based on Don Winslow’s 2021 novella and will be released in theaters(Merrick Morton, Amazon MGM Studios)

"Wuthering Heights" (Feb. 13)“Saltburn” director Emerald Fennell adapts Emily Brontë’s beloved Gothic novel“Wuthering Heights”into a steamy film starring Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff.(Warner Bros. Pictures)

"Vladimir" (March 5)Rachel Weisz and Leo Woodall star in "Vladimir," an eight-episode Netflix series. The series is based on the 2022 #MeToo-era novel by Julia May Jones.(Courtesy of Netflix)

"Reminders of Him" (March 13)Colleen Hoover’s 2022 romance novel will star Maika Monroe as Kenna Rowan, a young woman hoping to reunite with her 4-year-old daughter after serving five years in prison. Hoover is a cowriter and “Reminders of Him” hits theaters March 13.(Michelle Faye/Universal Pictures)

"Project Hail Mary" (March 20)Andy Weir’s epic sci-fi adventure"Project Hail Mary"stars Ryan Gosling stars as Ryland Grace, a middle school teacher tapped for a mission to a solar system light-years away to save humanity before a catastrophe wipes out Earth.(Jonathan Olley, Amazon MGM Studios)

"Jo Nesbo's Detective Hole" (March 26)Tobias Santelmann stars in the Netflix adaptation that's the first series based on Nesbø's crime novels and his character detective Harry Hole.(Ronald Plante/Netflix)

"Margo's Got Money Troubles" (April 15)Rufi Thorpe’s novel about a young woman using OnlyFans to navigate unemployment, new motherhood and a dwindling bank account will soon be a new series from A24 and Apple TV+. Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman,Michelle Pfeifferand Nick Offerman star.(Carl Herse, Courtesy of Apple)

"Remarkably Bright Creatures" (May 8)Shelby Van Pelt’s 2022 novel charmed readers with the story of a widow who forms an unlikely bond with a giant Pacific octopus at her aquarium night job. Sally Field ("Forrest Gump") will star as Tova in this spring'sNetflix adaptation.(VALERIE MACON, AFP via Getty Images)

"Verity" (Oct. 2)The second of Colleen Hoover's 2026 adaptations is "Verity," expected to release Oct. 2. Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson will star in this psychological thriller.(ANGELA WEISS, AFP via Getty Images)

"Sunrise on the Reaping" (Nov. 20)In theaters this fall, this“Hunger Games” prequelis set during Haymitch Abernathy’s time in the arena. Thestar-studded castincludes Joseph Zada (“We Were Liars”), Glenn Close, Ralph Fiennes, Kieran Culkin, Maya Hawke, Jesse Plemons, Mckenna Grace, Elle Fanning and more.(Murray Close/Lionsgate)