Ever been so excited about a sale that you threw caution to the wind? Well, scammers are counting on it! And this time, they’re targeting bargain hunters looking for deals from a well-known retailer in distress.
As JOANN Fabrics declares bankruptcy and closes all physical store locations, scammers are taking full advantage of the situation by launching fake liquidation websites. These fraudulent sites closely mimic the official JOANN website, displaying its logos, images, and branding to lure unsuspecting shoppers into purchasing heavily discounted merchandise that doesn’t exist.
How It Works
- Scammers create fake websites that appear identical to JOANN’s official site.
- They promote massive discounts of 80-90% off, urging consumers to act quickly before the “closing sale” ends.
- Unsuspecting shoppers add items to their cart, enter personal and payment details, and complete the purchase.
- After payment is made, the victims either receive nothing at all or a cheap counterfeit item, with no way to get a refund or contact customer support.
Who’s Targeted?
This scam primarily targets online shoppers looking for discounted craft and fabric supplies. Anyone searching for “Joann Fabrics liquidation sale” or similar terms is at risk. Seniors, bargain hunters, and frequent online shoppers are particularly vulnerable.
Real-Life Example
One consumer shared their experience with the Better Business Bureau (BBB): “We saw an ad for JOANN Fabrics’ ‘bankruptcy’ going-out-of-business sale, which led to a website advertising 80-90% off various items. We selected a dozen items in a shopping cart and then noticed an additional 'promotional discount' added. At that point, we realized the website name was different from JOANN’s official website. After comparing the two online, we immediately shut down the fake website without providing any information.”
Why You Should Care
Falling for this scam doesn’t just mean losing money—you could also expose your credit card details to fraudsters, leading to unauthorized transactions and identity theft. With more people shopping online, scammers are becoming more sophisticated, making it harder to spot the fakes.
How to Protect Yourself
- Double-check the URL: JOANN’s official website is joann.com. Any slight variation in the spelling or domain (e.g., “joannfabricssale.com”) is a red flag.
- Be skeptical of extreme discounts: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Avoid clicking on social media ads: Many scam sites promote their fraudulent sales through targeted social media ads.
- Use a credit card for online purchases: Credit cards offer better fraud protection than debit cards or digital payment methods.
- Check for official announcements: JOANN Fabrics has issued a scam warning on its official website. Always verify deals directly through the company’s official channels.
Quick Tips
Did you know? Scammers often buy domain names that resemble legitimate businesses but have slight misspellings, such as “joannfabrics-shop.com” instead of “joann.com.”
Pro Tip:
If you’re unsure about a website’s legitimacy, type the company’s name into a search engine followed by “scam” to see if others have reported issues.
Stay safe, stay informed.
Keyword Definitions:
- Liquidation Sale: A sale of goods at reduced prices by a company that is closing down or restructuring.
- URL (Uniform Resource Locator): The web address that identifies a specific page on the internet.
- Fraudulent Site: A fake website designed to deceive users into providing personal or financial information.
- Better Business Bureau (BBB): A nonprofit organization that tracks and reports on business practices and consumer complaints.
- Identity Theft: The fraudulent acquisition and use of someone’s personal information, usually for financial gain.
- Credit Card Fraud Protection: Security measures that credit card companies offer to safeguard against unauthorized transactions.
To read more, kindly find source article here