How can I get USDT for free?

I've been hearing a lot about cryptocurrencies and I'm really interested in getting started. Specifically, I'm wondering if there's a way I can get USDT for free? I know that sounds like a tall order, but I've seen some offers online that claim to give away free tokens. Are these legitimate? Or are they just scams? If there's no way to get USDT for free, then what's the best way to acquire it? Should I buy it on an exchange? Mine it? Or is there another option? I'm really new to this, so any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!