Unexpected Offer from Joann Fabric and Crafts: Plausible Fraud Ahead
In the world of online shopping, there's a sneaky game being played by scammers who are capitalizing on people's love for a good deal. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is giving consumers a heads-up about fake online clearance sales being advertised, pretending to be from Joann Fabric and Crafts.
Following Joann's twice filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announcing plans to close stores, these unscrupulous individuals have been promoting sales on social media sites and running with people's money. On March 5, Joann halted online purchases, but the scammers have kept rolling with the fake online clearance sales.
How it all goes down
Scammers are putting up ads for a nonexistent Joann bankruptcy sale on platforms such as Facebook, Pinterest, and Nextdoor. When you click these ads, you'll land on a phony site filled with supposed deals and the ability to "purchase" inventory items. You'll even get a receipt on the spot. But don't be fooled, that hard-earned cash is straight into the scammers' pockets—the charge on your credit card will be under a different name, and you won't receive what you purchased.
So, here's how to avoid getting scammed
Whether it's a clearance sale from Joann or any other hot deal, it's vital to exercise precaution before pulling out your credit card. Scams of all kinds prey on emotions based on urgency, so don't swiftly tap that credit card for special, limited-time deals or prices that seem too good to be true.
Stay away from clicking on ads for online sales. Instead, always navigate directly to the company's website by typing in the URL to verify that a sale is genuine. In the case of Joann, there's a notice on the website about fraudulent online sales that states, "There are no other authorized Joann shopping sites."
If you do decide to go shopping during clearance sales, pay with a credit card. This way, you've got more protection in case of fraud or non-delivery of items you paid for. You can dispute charges and get your refund.
- The fraudulent online clearance sales pretending to be from Joann Fabric and Crafts are aimed at capitalizing on people's love for a good deal, and they are a part of a sneaky game being played by scammers.
- These scammers are promoting their scam using ads on various social media sites, such as Facebook, Pinterest, and Nextdoor, claiming to offer inventory items at Joann's bankruptcy sale.
- The FTC advises consumers to exercise caution before pulling out their credit card, as these types of scams often prey on emotions based on urgency and deals that seem too good to be true.
- If you encounter an online sale, it's recommended to always navigate directly to the company's website by typing in the URL to verify that the sale is genuine. In this case, you can find a notice on Joann's website about fraudulent online sales stating that "There are no other authorized Joann shopping sites."
- Always pay with a credit card during online shopping, as it provides more protection in case of fraud or non-delivery of items, and you can dispute charges and get your refund.
