Ashley Furniture is one of the largest furniture brands and retailers in the world. However, an insidious scam has emerged involving fraudulent ads and websites promoting fake Ashley clearance and liquidation sales. This comprehensive guide will uncover everything you need to know about spotting, avoiding, and protecting yourself against this deceitful scam.
Overview of the Ashley Clearance Sale Scam
This scam operates by running social media ads and search promotions enticing customers with claims like:
- “Ashley blowout clearance – 70% off furniture, limited time only!”
- “Ashley liquidation sale – store closing, everything must go!”
- “Hurry, last chance at clearance prices! Ashley furniture up to 80% off.”
The compelling ads point to sophisticated fake websites designed to precisely impersonate Ashley’s real online furniture store. Using Ashley’s branding, logos, web design and more, these sites appear convincing at first glance.
However, customers who place orders either receive:
- Nothing – The most frequent outcome is no delivery at all, as orders simply disappear after payments are processed.
- Cheap knockoffs – Some customers receive low-quality replicas, not real Ashley items.
- Used or flawed goods – In some cases, victims report receiving worn, damaged or tampered furniture.
- Wrong items – Orders sometimes arrive with completely different products than what was purchased online.
In addition to scamming customers out of money, these fake sites also harvest users’ personal and financial data for malicious purposes.
How the Ashley Clearance Sale Scam Works
Here is an in-depth look at how these criminals execute this scam on unsuspecting furniture shoppers:
Step 1 – Create a Fake E-Commerce Website
The scammers purchase domain names that sound similar to Ashley’s real website, typically misspelling it or using alternate extensions like “.co”. For example, “AshleysFurnitureClearance.co” or “Ashleys-Outlet.net”.
They design the site to imitate the real Ashley’s site by copying product images, logos, fonts, page layouts and more. Plagiarized text and policies are used throughout the site as well.
This carefully mimicked website aims to trick customers into believing it is Ashley’s authorized online store. But the deals being promoted are entirely fabricated.
Step 2 – Promote Outrageous Discount Offers
Once the fake site is ready, the scam shifts focus to blasting advertisements on social platforms and search engines touting dramatic clearance discounts.
Sponsored posts tout jaw-dropping prices like “Ashley furniture up to 80% off!” or “Everything must go, store closing!”. Ashley’s real product imagery is used alongside these ads to further perpetuate the scam.
Urgent countdown timers, limited stock claims and other manipulative tactics create false scarcity and pressure victims to purchase before these fake “closeout” sales allegedly end.
Step 3 – Collect Financial and Personal Data
When a victim visits the scam website and attempts to place an order, they get directed through a convincing checkout process designed to harvest their financial and personal information.
Shoppers are prompted to input credit card details, billing address, phone number, email address and any other requested info. All data gets stolen directly by the criminals operating the fake site, and credit cards get charged.
Step 4 – Provide Fake Order Confirmations
After completing the checkout steps, victims receive authentic-looking order confirmations made to seem like a real transaction occurred.
These contain order numbers, shipping details, item descriptions, delivery timelines, and claims that the order is being processed. Some even include fake tracking numbers that never actually ship.
The professional confirmations give customers a false sense their order is en route, when the entire exchange was scam. No valid order exists.
Step 5 – Never Ship Any Products
With payments stolen and data harvested, the crooks behind these websites simply disappear. They never possessed any real Ashley furniture to begin with.
Most victims never receive anything from these scam transactions. In limited cases some shoppers eventually receive cheap counterfeits clearly not matching their original order.
Either way, the fake clearance sale websites never intended to ship any authentic furniture products being promoted. Their only goal is theft through deception.
8 Warning Signs of an Ashley Clearance Sale Scam
While the fraudulent websites put tremendous effort into appearing legitimate, some key indicators can help identify them as fakes:
- Unrealistic Pricing – Authentic Ashley sales will offer reasonable discounts, but 80%+ off all furniture is absurdly cheap and a huge red flag.
- High Pressure Tactics – Scam ads use countdown timers, limited stock claims, and other manipulative tactics to create false urgency.
- Incorrect URL – Fake sites often misspell “Ashley” or use alternate domain extensions. Verify it is the exact valid URL: AshleyHomeStore.com.
- Unknown Payment Methods – Ashley only accepts major credit cards, gift cards, and Ashley financing. Other unfamiliar digital payment options indicate a scam.
- No Contact Information – Aside from an email address, scam sites won’t provide a real location, phone number, or other verifiable contact information.
- Copied Website Content – Fakes steal product images, policies, text, and more directly from Ashley’s real website.
- No Social Media Activity – Fraud sites have no social media presence or engagement. Ashley conversely has large legitimate social followings.
- Grammatical Errors – Scam sites often contain spelling/grammar mistakes and other textual flaws indicating foreign operators.
Staying alert for these common scam website indicators can help furniture shoppers avoid being ripped off.
How to Spot This Scam on Social Media
A major element of this scam involves promoting the fake Ashley sales and deals through social media advertisements. Here’s what to look out for on each platform:
Catching the Scam on Facebook
Watch out for:
- Facebook ads promoting unrealistic pricing like “Ashley blowout sale – 80% off furniture!” or “Everything 50% off!”.
- Posts using urgent messaging like “24 hours only!” or “Almost sold out!” to create false scarcity.
- Links in Facebook ads going to dubious URLs instead of the real Ashley site: AshleyHomeStore.com.
- Newly created Facebook pages promoting the sales but lacking any real followers or engagement.
- Use of Ashley’s brand images alongside the unbelievable pricing to portray false affiliation.
Identifying the Scam on Instagram
Look for:
- Influencer posts touting huge Ashley discounts and directing to scam websites in bios/captions.
- Sponsored Instagram photo ads showing real Ashley furniture with absurd “70% off” tags.
- Instagram Stories linking to phishing Ashley lookalike sites full of red flags.
- High-pressure captions like “Almost over!” used to pressure victims into purchasing.
- Handles with typos like “@AshleysFurniture” instead of the real verified “@AshleyHomeStore” account.
Catching the Scam on TikTok
Watch out for:
- Video ads rapidly flashing “Ashley 80% off” messaging over images of real merchandise.
- Comments on popular videos promoting the bogus deals and linking to fake Ashley sites.
- Hashtags like #ashleyclearance used in captions to get views but directing to shady websites.
- Influencer videos urging followers to purchase from a scam site before the “blowout sale” ends.
- Links in bios sending users to dubious domains containing misspellings of “Ashley”.
Staying vigilant across social channels is crucial, as scammers aggressively leverage platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to perpetuate clearance sale scams.
What to Do If You Already Fell for the Scam
If you placed an order on one of these fraudulent websites, provided your personal/financial information, and then realized it was a scam, here are the steps to take immediately:
Step 1 – Contact Your Credit Card Provider
If you paid with a credit or debit card, contact the issuer ASAP to report the charges as fraudulent. Disputing quickly leads to successful chargebacks and refunds before payments finalize.
Step 2 – Place a Fraud Alert on Your Credit
Since scammers have your details, put a fraud alert on your credit reports requiring verification for new accounts opened in your name. Also order your credit reports to check for any suspicious activity indicating stolen identity.
Step 3 – Reset Online Account Passwords
Change the passwords on all of your online accounts that used the same credentials entered on the scam site. Use unique complex passwords for each to prevent account access.
Step 4 – Call Ashley Customer Service
Contact real Ashley customer service to notify them of the fraudulent website misusing their name/brand and scamming customers. Provide details to aid takedown efforts.
Step 5 – Report the Fake Website
File detailed scam reports about the website, merchant accounts, and domain registrar to the FTC, IC3, BBB, web hosts, social media platforms, etc. to get the site removed and prevent more victimization.
Step 6 – Warn Others About This Scam
Share your experience on social media platforms and scam reporting sites to bring awareness to these tactics and help others avoid meeting the same fate.
By taking swift action if scammed and spreading awareness, consumers have the power to shut down these criminals.
Here is a detailed section on how to identify the Ashley Furniture clearance sale scam on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok:
How to Spot This Scam on Social Media
A major element of this scam involves promoting the fake Ashley sales and deals through social media advertisements. Here’s what to look out for on each platform:
Catching the Scam on Facebook
Watch out for:
- Facebook ads promoting unrealistic pricing like “Ashley blowout sale – 80% off furniture!” or “Everything 50% off!”.
- Posts using urgent messaging like “24 hours only!” or “Almost sold out!” to create false scarcity.
- Links in Facebook ads going to dubious URLs instead of the real Ashley site: AshleyHomeStore.com.
- Newly created Facebook pages promoting the sales but lacking any real followers or engagement.
- Use of Ashley’s brand images alongside the unbelievable pricing to portray false affiliation.
Identifying the Scam on Instagram
Look for:
- Influencer posts touting huge Ashley discounts and directing to scam websites in bios/captions.
- Sponsored Instagram photo ads showing real Ashley furniture with absurd “70% off” tags.
- Instagram Stories linking to phishing Ashley lookalike sites full of red flags.
- High-pressure captions like “Almost over!” used to pressure victims into purchasing.
- Handles with typos like “@AshleysFurniture” instead of the real verified “@AshleyHomeStore” account.
Catching the Scam on TikTok
Watch out for:
- Video ads rapidly flashing “Ashley 80% off” messaging over images of real merchandise.
- Comments on popular videos promoting the bogus deals and linking to fake Ashley sites.
- Hashtags like #ashleyclearance used in captions to get views but directing to shady websites.
- Influencer videos urging followers to purchase from a scam site before the “blowout sale” ends.
- Links in bios sending users to dubious domains containing misspellings of “Ashley”.
Staying vigilant across social channels is crucial, as scammers aggressively leverage platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to perpetuate clearance sale scams.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Ashley Clearance Sale Scam
This pervasive scam leaves many furniture shoppers with critical questions. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:
Are the huge Ashley discounts on social media real?
No – ads and posts promoting 70-80% off all Ashley furniture are fake in nearly every case. Authentic Ashley sales will offer reasonable discounts, not absurdly high percentages off. The unrealistic deals are a textbook scam tactic.
What happens if I order from a fake Ashley website?
Most likely you will never receive anything. In some cases victims receive poor quality knockoffs instead of real furniture. Either way, the sites pocket your money and details with no intent to ship authentic Ashley products.
How can I tell if an Ashley website is fraudulent?
Warning signs include unbelievable low pricing, grammatical errors, unknown payment methods, lack of contact details, false scarcity claims, stolen images/content, and invalid URLs (should always be AshleyHomeStore.com).
Can I get a refund if I ordered from a scam site?
If you paid by credit card, immediately contact your provider to report fraudulent charges. Disputing quickly can lead to successful chargebacks before the payments finalize, allowing your funds to be returned.
Why do scammers use the Ashley brand?
Ashley is a well-known and trusted brand. Scammers exploit this reputation to create an air of legitimacy that helps trick victims. But the fake sites have no actual relationship with Ashley.
Is my data at risk if I entered it on a fraudulent site?
Yes – scam sites steal your personal and financial information directly for illicit activities like identity theft. Check your credit reports and enable fraud alerts immediately if your data was compromised.
How can I report a fake Ashley website or ad?
Gather details and screenshots then report the scam website or social media ad to Ashley corporate, FTC, BBB, social platforms, web hosts, domain registrars, etc. to expedite takedowns and prevent more victims.
Why don’t social platforms catch these scam ads themselves?
While policies prohibit scam promotions, the massive volume makes it very difficult to fully prevent fraudsters from exploiting platforms like Facebook and Instagram to advertise before being caught.
Carefully scrutinizing furniture deals and websites for warning signs remains your best protection against getting ripped off by this far-reaching scam.
The Bottom Line
The Ashley Clearance Sale scam provides yet another example of the tremendous lengths scammers will go to in order to impersonate and exploit trusted brands while stealing from customers. But being an informed shopper, carefully inspecting sites, and using secure payment methods remains the best defense.
If you accidentally provide information or purchase from one of these sophisticated fake websites, take immediate measures by reporting the fraud, monitoring your credit, and securing your online accounts. Continued public awareness of their underhanded tactics is key to halting these schemes.
