Energy giant ExxonMobil recently sent snail mail letters to its Plenti rewards card members stating that the points program was being replaced with a new one called Exxon Mobil Rewards+. Unfortunately, the letter includes a confusing toll free number and directs customers to a parked page that tries to foist Web browser extensions on visitors.
The mailer (the first page of which is screenshotted below) urges customers to visit exxonmobilrewardsplus[dot]com, to download its mobile app, and to call “1-888-REWARD+” with any questions. It may not be immediately obvious, but that “+” sign is actually the same thing as a zero on the telephone keypad (although I’m ashamed to say I had to look that up online to be sure). 
Anyone curious enough to guess at other ending numbers other than zero will wind up at a call center advertising “free” Caribbean (1) cruises or at a pricey adult chat service dubbed “America’s hottest talk line” (6).
Worse, visiting the company’s new rewards Web site in Google Chrome prompted my browser to run a “security check,” followed by a series of popups offering to install a Chrome extension called “Browsing Safely.”
That extension changes your default search engine to Yahoo and appears to redirect all searches through a domain called lastlog[dot]in, which seems to be affiliated with an Israeli online advertising network. After adding the Browsing Safely extension to Chrome using a virtual machine, my browser was redirected to Exxon.com.
The Google Chrome extension offered when I first visited exxonmobilrewardsplus-dot-com.
Many people on Twitter who expressed confusion about the mailer said they accidentally added an “e” to the end of “exxonmobil” and ended up getting bounced around to spammy-looking sites with ad redirects and dodgy download offers.
ExxonMobil corporate has not yet responded to requests for comment. But after about 10 minutes on hold listening to the same Muzak-like song, I was able to reach a customer service person at the confusing ExxonMobil Rewards+ phone number. That person said the Web site for the rewards program wasn’t going to be active until July 11.
“Currently the Web site is not available,” the representative said. “Please don’t try to download anything from it right now. It should be active and available next week.”
It always amazes me when major companies with oodles of cash (ExxonMobil made $20 billion last year) roll out new marketing initiatives without consulting professionals who help mitigate security and privacy issues for a living. It seems likely that happened in this case because anyone who knows a thing or two about security would strongly advise against instructing customers to visit a parked domain or one that isn’t yet fully under the company’s control.
Update, July 11, 11:36 a.m. ET: As several readers have observed in the comments below, it appears that ExxonMobil has registered a different domain for its new rewards program: https://exxonandmobilrewardsplus.com/welcome/home (note the inclusion of the word “and” between Exxon and Mobil). This domain is advertised as the official new rewards program domain via ExxonMobil’s corporate homepage, exxon.com (albeit via a redirect).
I received my card yesterday (7/17), went to both websites (the one on the card and one mentioned in the comments) and get the error message of “An unexpected error has occurred. Please contact with the customer support team.” But when you click on Contact us or any of the tabs, you get the same response. I guess Exxon/Mobil doesn’t want anyone to use their stupid card and I will continue to purchase fuel from Cumberland Farms or Speedway – at least their rewards program WORKS!
I went to the web site: exxonmobilerewardsplus.com/Welcome/home and had no problem registering the card. . . . I have to admit tho if it wasn’t for Tomas giving out that address, I too would have thrown the card away. . .Try it . . . I think you’ll be pleased. . . .
Just tried to register the card and it won’t accept the card number. THe card is going in the trash. Don’t have time for this crap.
You have made it extremely difficult to register the rewards card. Have made several attempts. I will just not use it.
I have spent an hour trying to register my new rewards card. I am giving it up. I was on hold for 15 minutes listening to the sickening music loop. I will be getting my gas somewhere else.
Same as other comments. Tried three different days after 7/11. Can’t get to “register my card”option. Mine going to trash also.
Thought it was me…hate this waste of my time on a weekend when I ned to get things done.
Went to link:
https://exxonandmobilrewardsplus.com/welcome/home
Registered per instructions and my info from Plenti popped up. Went through the drill and points were transferred from Plenti to Exxon Rewards, no problem.
I also had no problems. Even transferred my plenti points automaticly.
Yes, the mailer was messed up. But yes Krebs updated linked worked fine. I also got my Plenti points. All complaints should have been about the old Plenti program. Weak and poorly supported.
Thank you so much. They need to put you on their payroll because you’re the only person who gave viable information. I’m now registered. Again, thanks!
That link was perfect! I was able to register my new rewards card! Thanks
Received the Exxon mailer in today’s mail with the wrong URL printed on the brochure, so Exxon is still mailing out this bad information. Signed up with the corrected online address – Plenti points transferred without any glitches.
I received the card and attempted to register but the confusing phone number did me in. I tried a couple of days later. Same result. I finally was able to get on line and figure out + meant 0. I called the number and finally got thru. After a very long hold I talked to Seenon. He was most helpful. He registered my card, transferred my Plenti points and gave my credit for points earned before I could register my card. Flying Red Horse forever.
Thank you for all your research! I had received the advertisement for the Exxon mobile rewards in the snail mail with a new card. I agree with you comments- Exxon makes tons of money and screwed this up royally.
As a stock holder of Exxon, this gives insight into how things are run and causes concern. Where was the quality control when this was launched? What else is not being quality controlled at Exxon?
this is the link to use, and it worked fine for me and I saw my plenti points has transferred over…
https://exxonandmobilrewardsplus.com/welcome/home
Thank you! I saw your comments first, went to the corrected website and was able to register without any issues.
I linked the card but when i get to a station to use the app it tells me that i will not earn points with this card. This is a complete waste of time and does not work like the plenti points card.
Thank you so much for the updated/corrected website . I was finally able activate my card after repeated attempts on the older/incorrect site! In fact, yesterday I sent an email to customer service about my problems activating the card (error message said the card # was invalid.) I received a response this morning that did not address the problem, gave inaccurate information, and did not provide the correct web address. Fortunately, I found your website. Now I hope the card works. Thanks again
Got my card…think I’ll throw it in the garbage!
I tried what’s on the card…different ways, still threw me to the related links crap! I’m not even going to try any other way…
So tired of everything nowadays is so untrustworthy….