In recent years, a prevalent scam known as the “Clearance Sale 90% Off” has been running rampant across social media and e-commerce platforms. This fraudulent scheme aims to trick unsuspecting shoppers into purchasing heavily discounted products that ultimately never arrive or are not as advertised.
This article will provide an in-depth explanation of how the “Clearance Sale 90% Off” scam operates, including a detailed overview of the scam tactics, how victims are targeted, what happens when purchases are made, and most importantly, what steps you can take to avoid falling prey. With online shopping more popular than ever, awareness about this scam is crucial to help protect consumers.
Scam Overview
The “Clearance Sale 90% Off” scam is essentially a bait-and-switch operation disguised as an unbelievable clearance sale from an online retailer. Scammers create fake e-commerce websites and advertise major discounts on expensive items like electronics, designer clothing, and shoes, hoping the extremely low prices will entice shoppers to make a purchase.
Common red flags of the “Clearance Sale 90% Off” scam include:
- Recently registered domain names – Many scam sites use newly created domains often registered for 1 year or less. This helps avoid detection.
- No company information – Scam sites lack any verifiable company details, address, or contact information aside from an email.
- Unrealistic discounts – Prices up to 90% off are used to lure shoppers despite being unrealistic for legitimate retailers.
- Generically designed sites – Most scam sites reuse the same template and layout with little unique content.
- Aggressive sale slogans – Phrases like “limited time only” or “sale ending soon” create false urgency.
- Stolen product images – All product photos are typically stolen from other online stores.
- No social media presence – Scam sites have no Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, or other social media aside from ads.
- Broken English text – Scam sites often contain spelling/grammar errors and other signs of translated text.
The end goal of the scam is to collect payment while providing nothing in return. At best, victims may receive a low-quality knockoff product far inferior to what was pictured. However, most purchases through “Clearance Sale 90% Off” scams result in no product delivery whatsoever.
How the Scam Works
Scammers rely on a variety of deceptive tactics to successfully pull off the “Clearance Sale 90% Off” scam across many unsuspecting victims. Here is a step-by-step overview of how this scam typically operates:
Baiting Shoppers with Social Media Ads
The first step for scammers is creating eye-catching social media ads promoting clearance sales with extreme discounts on expensive items like iPhones, Rolex watches, or Dyson vacuums. These ads are targeted to the demographics most likely to purchase these types of products. The unrealistic low prices create intense urgency and entice users to click through to the e-commerce website out of FOMO (fear of missing out).
Directing Traffic to Elaborate Scam Websites
Once clicked, the social media ads will redirect users to elaborate scam websites where scammers can begin closing the sale. These sites are designed to look like legitimate online stores with product images, categories, shopping carts, and checkout processes. However, a closer look reveals telltale signs of a scam, such as no company information, recently registered domains, stolen product photos, and contact forms as the only customer service option.
Facilitating Rushed Checkout with False Scarcity
The scam websites create a false sense of scarcity and urgency to purchase using several deceitful techniques. Countdown timers, “limited quantity!” badges, and banners urging shoppers to act fast before the sale ends are intended to panic browsers into buying before stopping to verify the site’s legitimacy. Fake testimonials and claims that “X number of people are viewing this product” also contribute to the high-pressure environment.
Collecting Payments While Evading Detection
During checkout, scam sites request wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrencies or other irreversible payment methods that offer no fraud protections for the buyer. This enables scammers to accept payments while evading detection from banks or payment providers that might shutdown accounts linked to fraudulent activity. Victims will receive a fake confirmation email after completing the transaction, but no actual order is fulfilled since the “retailer” does not exist.
Executing the Bait-and-Switch
In rare instances when an actual product is shipped after payment, victims will receive a cheap knockoff product far inferior to what was pictured and described online. For example, a purported iPhone will instead be a cheap Chinese-made smartphone with an Apple logo stuck on. This bait-and-switch fulfills the minimum requirement of shipping “something” after payment, allowing scammers to skirt potential fraud allegations while still effectively stealing buyers’ money.
Avoiding Accountability through Anonymity
Scammers undertake great efforts to remain anonymous throughout the entire process. Fake business names, stolen identities, and untraceable domain registrations prevent victims from pursuing accountability for fraud. Since scam sites disappear quickly once detected, contacts provided are useless, and payment methods offer no recourse, victims have almost no options for recovering lost money or holding scammers responsible.
By following this highly refined playbook, “Clearance Sale 90% Off” scammers are able to repeatedly dupe online shoppers out of millions with virtual impunity. Their expertise in evasion enables them to operate out in the open while avoiding repercussions.
How to Spot This Scam
Fraudulent shopping websites often share common patterns that make them easier to detect once you know what to look for. Before entering personal information or making a payment, take a few minutes to check for these warning signs:
- Unrealistic prices and discounts
If a website offers products at prices far below trusted retailers, it’s often a red flag. Many of these sites advertise luxury or high-demand products at massive discounts to create a sense of urgency. A $300 product listed for $49.99 should immediately raise suspicion. - Recently registered or suspicious domain names
Many fraudulent websites operate on newly created domains that disappear after a few weeks. Look for signs like random characters in the URL, misspellings of well-known brands, or hyphenated domains.
You can check a site’s age using tools like WHOIS lookups or ScamAdviser. - Missing or vague company details
Legitimate businesses clearly display their company name, tax information, phone numbers, physical address, and return policies. Fraudulent sites often provide incomplete, fake, or no company details at all. A lack of verifiable contact information is a major warning sign. - No reliable customer service
Real businesses provide clear ways to contact support—email, phone, live chat, or physical return addresses. Fake stores often list nonfunctional contact forms, invalid phone numbers, or reply with generic automated messages. - Poor website quality and structure
Many fake stores are set up quickly with low-effort templates. Look for poor grammar, spelling errors, low-resolution product images, broken links, or missing legal pages (Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, Return Policy). A sloppy website often signals something isn’t right. - Copied product descriptions and images
Fraudulent sites often lift product listings directly from real retailers or marketplaces. If you reverse image search a product photo and find it on multiple unrelated websites, the listing is likely not original. - Lack of credible reviews or suspicious review patterns
A real store will usually have a mix of customer reviews across different platforms. Warning signs include no reviews at all, obviously fake five-star reviews, or multiple identical reviews posted on the same day. Searching “[website name] reviews” or “[website name] scam” on Google often reveals warnings from other consumers. - Unclear or unfair return and refund policies
Fake stores often use vague language around returns and refunds—or avoid the topic entirely. If you can’t easily find clear instructions for how to return an item or get a refund, proceed with caution. - Aggressive urgency and pressure tactics
Fraudulent websites commonly use fake scarcity (e.g., “Only 2 left in stock!”) or countdown timers (“Sale ends in 10 minutes!”) to push you to buy before you think it through. Legitimate stores don’t rely on fabricated urgency to make sales.
Quick Steps to Verify a Website’s Legitimacy
Before entering payment or personal details on a new shopping website, take a few simple precautions:
- Search for the store’s name along with words like “reviews” or “complaints” on Google and Trustpilot.
- Check the website’s domain registration using Whois.com.
- Use trusted tools to scan for malicious or fraudulent links:
- Malwarebytes ScamGuard – detect scams and unsafe links before they reach you on Android and iOS phone.
- Malwarebytes Browser Guard – block dangerous or fake websites on Windows and macOS browsers.
- Verify the business address on Google Maps to ensure it’s a legitimate location.
- Review the store’s accepted payment methods – credit cards and PayPal are traceable and safer than cryptocurrency or bank transfers.
- Trust your instincts; if something feels off, it’s better not to proceed.
How to Spot Similar Scams on Social Media
Many fraudulent shopping websites rely heavily on sponsored social media ads to draw in large numbers of potential buyers. These ads often promise extraordinary discounts—sometimes up to 90% off—and use emotionally charged language to push users into buying immediately.
They frequently appear on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, blending in with legitimate content. However, these ads follow predictable patterns that make them easier to identify once you know what to look for.
Spotting Fraudulent Facebook Ads
Facebook’s advertising platform is a favorite tool for fake online stores because of its massive reach. These ads often feature “unbelievable” offers designed to create urgency and bypass critical thinking. Warning signs include:
- Extreme, unrealistic discounts such as “90% OFF,” “Store Closing Sale,” or “Final Liquidation.” Real retailers rarely discount new products this aggressively.
- Poor grammar, awkward phrasing, or inconsistent language throughout the ad or website, indicating low-effort, mass-produced content.
- Generic stock photos or images with watermarks, suggesting the images were taken from legitimate brands or stolen from other sources.
- Recently created Facebook Pages, which is common for temporary fraudulent campaigns. Check the “Page Transparency” section to see when the page was created.
- Limited or no engagement from real customers. Authentic brands usually have reviews, comments, and visible user interaction.
If an ad raises doubts, search for reviews of the website or reverse image search the product photos to see if they’re copied from elsewhere. Never provide payment information until the site is verified.
Spotting Fraudulent Instagram Ads
Instagram is another major platform used to promote fake shopping sites through eye-catching visuals and short-lived “flash sale” captions. Warning signs to look for:
- New or disposable accounts with few posts and followers, often created just weeks or days before launching ads.
- Lack of tagged users in product posts. Legitimate stores often feature real customers, influencers, or product usage.
- Unsecured checkout pages. If the website linked in the bio does not use HTTPS, do not enter payment information.
- Fake or missing customer reviews. Fraudulent stores rarely have authentic purchase feedback.
- Unclear or restrictive return policies, often hidden or written vaguely to make refunds difficult.
When in doubt, search for independent reviews before buying, and only enter payment details on verified, secure websites.
Catching Fake TikTok Ads
TikTok is increasingly used to promote questionable shopping deals through short, persuasive videos. While many ads look polished, the same red flags apply:
- Links to unknown stores that don’t appear in search results or have no external reputation. Many of these sites are temporary and disappear after a short time.
- No verification badge on the TikTok account. While not every legitimate store is verified, the lack of a badge is one more indicator to check further.
- Aggressive countdown timers or “one-day only” promotions designed to rush decision-making.
- Lack of genuine customer reviews or real user content demonstrating the product in actual use.
- Comment sections filled with complaints or warnings from other users. This is often the first place victims speak up.
TikTok scams often rely on impulse buying. Take a moment to verify the website, read independent reviews, and use trusted browser protection before visiting external links.
What To Do If You Are A Victim
If you made a purchase or entered personal information this website, acting quickly can help you minimize financial loss, secure your accounts, and prevent further misuse of your data. Follow these steps carefully:
- Contact your bank or payment provider immediately
If you paid with a credit or debit card, call your bank’s customer service line and explain that you placed an order on a website that may be fraudulent. Request to dispute the transaction or initiate a chargeback.
If you used PayPal or another payment processor, file a dispute through their resolution center and provide order confirmations, emails, or screenshots as supporting evidence.
Fast action gives you the best chance of recovering your money and preventing additional unauthorized charges. - Freeze or replace your payment method
If your card or account details were entered on this website, it’s safest to have your bank or provider issue a replacement card. This prevents future unauthorized transactions and protects your financial accounts.
Some banks may also offer temporary holds or fraud alerts, ensuring no additional transactions can be made without your consent. - Run a personal data removal scan
Fraudulent websites often collect personal information such as names, phone numbers, addresses, and emails. This data may be shared with third parties or added to marketing and phishing lists.
A trusted service such as Malwarebytes Personal Data Remover can identify where your information is listed across data broker networks and help you request its removal. - Check your digital footprint
Even if you didn’t lose money, your personal data could already be circulating online. Running a digital footprint scan can help reveal whether your email address, phone number, or other personal information is present in leaks or broker databases.
This allows you to take proactive measures such as changing credentials, monitoring accounts, or setting up alerts before your data is misused. - Change your passwords and enable 2FA
If the same email or password used during checkout is also used on other websites or services, update those credentials immediately.
Choose strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all important accounts, especially your primary email, banking apps, and social media. This extra security layer makes unauthorized access significantly harder. - Scan your device for potential threats
Many fraudulent sites contain hidden tracking scripts, phishing pop-ups, or files designed to compromise your security.
Run a full system scan using a trusted security solution such as Malwarebytes Free or ESET Online Scanner to make sure your device hasn’t been exposed to malware or spyware during the visit.
If any suspicious files are found, remove them and restart your device. - Check your accounts and statements regularly
Monitor your bank and credit card statements closely for any unauthorized activity. Look for unfamiliar charges, subscription renewals, or repeated small test transactions.
Also review your email inbox and online accounts for password reset notices or sign-in alerts you didn’t initiate. Report anything unusual to your bank or account provider immediately. - Report the incident to the appropriate authorities
Reporting helps law enforcement track fraudulent websites and can support your claim if needed.- In the U.S., file a report with FTC ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- In the EU, contact Europol or your national cybercrime unit.
- Globally, you can also submit the site to ScamAdviser to help warn other consumers.
Providing the website URL, order details, and communications increases the impact of your report.
- Save all evidence and communication
Keep copies of order confirmations, emails, payment records, chat logs, and screenshots of the website. This documentation can be crucial for supporting your chargeback request, reporting the case, or pursuing legal remedies if needed.
Store everything in one secure folder so you can easily provide it to your bank or relevant agencies. - Be cautious of follow-up contact
After incidents like this, affected individuals may receive fake refund messages, phishing emails, or phone calls pretending to offer “assistance.”
Do not click on unsolicited links, download attachments, or provide additional personal information. If you receive any message related to this website, verify its authenticity directly through your bank or official payment provider channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the “Clearance Sale 90% Off” scam?
This is a fraudulent shopping scam where victims are baited with unbelievable discounts through social media ads. The ads link to fake shopping websites that convince victims to purchase items that never arrive or are very low quality knockoffs.
How do they promote the scam?
The scammers run ads on social platforms like Facebook and Instagram promoting hot deals on expensive items. The ads use pressure tactics insisting offers are only available for a limited time. This creates urgency to click through and make a purchase.
What happens after I place an order?
Most victims either receive nothing after payment, or a cheap knockoff version of what was ordered. Getting in contact with the fake company is virtually impossible due to lack of valid contact information.
How can I identify these scam websites?
Warning signs include unrealistic discounts, recently registered domain names, stolen product photos, no contact details beyond an email, too-good-to-be-true testimonials and no social media presence.
Can I get my money back if I fall for this?
If you used a credit card, report the fraud to the card issuer immediately. Providing evidence of the scam can help secure a chargeback. Reporting the incident can also help shut the scam operation down to prevent future victims.
Is this scam really that widespread?
Yes, these scammers operate large networks of fake sites and assets out of China. As soon as one site goes down, dozens more stand ready to replace it. The scam persists due to the coordinated scale and constantly evolving tactics.
How can I avoid falling for this scam?
Always research unfamiliar sites thoroughly and watch for warning signs before making a purchase. Only buy from reputable retailers that can be verified through reviews, transparent contact info and social media presence. If a deal seems too good to be true, it always is.
What should I do if I fell victim to this scam?
Immediately contact your bank and report the incident to the FBI IC3, FTC and BBB to limit damages and help authorities identify the scammers. Warn your social connections to prevent others from being targeted.
Conclusion
The “Clearance Sale 90% Off” scam offers important lessons about vital precautions shoppers must take in today’s e-commerce landscape to avoid deceitful schemes. With the right awareness, these deceptive scams can be easily recognized and avoided.
Be skeptical of websites lacking company information, contact details, or social media presence outside of ads. Look for signs of fake urgency and limited-time deals designed specifically to bypass better judgement. And most critically, remember that if an online deal seems too good to be true, it almost always is.
The safest online retailers provide ample contact information, certified reviews, reasonable prices, and clearly advertised return policies. Taking your time to research prior to purchase may mean occasionally missing out on deals, but it certainly beats losing your money to criminal scammers hiding behind enticing clearance sale advertisements.
Stay vigilant about protecting your personal and financial information by following smart online shopping practices. At the first sign of potential fraud, cease all engagement with the seller. If you do fall victim to an online shopping scam, act quickly to have unauthorized charges reversed, report the crime, and monitor your identity and accounts closely over the following months.
While the crooks running “Clearance Sale 90% Off” scams may seem sophisticated in their deception, an aware shopper has all the power to stop these frauds in their tracks. Spread the word about these sneaky scam sales so consumers can take back control and shop online both safely and confidently.
