Burton is an iconic snowboard brand known for quality equipment and apparel. Unfortunately, scammers are exploiting Burton’s trusted reputation to trick customers into buying from fake websites that imitate the real Burton store.
This scam heavily promotes “clearance sales” with unbelievable discounts up to 90% off on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and other platforms. The ads use Burton’s logo and images to lure customers to fraudulent shopping websites. However, the products, while advertised as deeply discounted Burton items, are typically low-quality fakes or customers receive nothing at all after purchase.
This article will provide an in-depth look at how the scam works, tips to identify fake Burton websites, what to do if you fell victim, and how to protect yourself from these retail scams.
Overview of the Burton 90% Off Clearance Sale Scam
The Burton clearance sale scam operates by setting up fake e-commerce stores under the Burton brand name. Scammers create lookalike websites with the Burton logo, product photos and branding throughout.
To attract customers, they heavily promote “blowout” clearance sales with absurd discounts up to 90% off on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. The ads even mention real Burton products like the Custom snowboard.
If a person clicks on one of these ads, they are taken to a scam Burton website to purchase products at incredible bargain prices. However, this is a fraudulent store intent on stealing money and personal information.
Victims will either receive a low-quality item or nothing at all for their money. The scammers quickly take down their fake sites once enough orders come through. Then they reuse the scheme all over again under a new domain name.
This scam capitalizes on Burton’s popularity within snowboarding culture using the temptation of huge discounts. But there are ways to identify and avoid these fake Burton websites.
How the Fake Burton Websites Work
The fraudulent Burton online stores look convincing on the surface but use deceptive tactics:
- Domain names – The urls seem valid but actually have slight misspellings or extra words.
- Branding – Burton’s logos, product images, and graphics are used extensively to mimic the real website.
- Content – Product descriptions, policies, and other text are stolen from the authentic Burton site.
- Pricing – Items are listed at implausibly low prices like 90% off using pressure tactics.
- Checkout – Payment forms and processors seem legitimate but are set up to steal financial information.
While the fake sites appear legitimate thanks to Burton’s stolen branding and content, inspecting closely reveals their fraudulent nature.
How the Burton Clearance Sale Scam Works:
Here is an overview of how this scam operates from promotion to purchase:
1. Promote Fake Sales on Social Media
The scam starts by running sponsored ads on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat touting deals like “Burton Warehouse Sale! 90% off everything.”
2. Drive Traffic to a Fake Burton Website
Clicking these ads leads to imitation Burton sites featuring the brand’s logos, products, and text copied from the real website, Burton.com.
3. Entice With Huge Discounts
The fake sites advertise absurdly low prices on snowboards, bindings, apparel and gear using pressure tactics like limited quantity claims to prompt urgent orders.
4. Collect Customer and Payment Details
At checkout, the sites collect all the standard order information including names, addresses, and financial data which is ultimately stolen.
5. Never Ship the Products
Victims never receive the deeply discounted Burton merchandise they ordered. The crooks take the money and close down the sites once enough people complain.
6. Reopen Under New Domains
The scammers repeatedly open new fake sites promoting the same false Burton clearance sales once previous domains accumulate too many fraud complaints.
This scam relies on Burton’s brand recognition to fool snowboarders about website legitimacy and tempt them with unbelievable prices on gear that are too good to be true.
How to Spot Fake Burton Websites – 8 Red Flags
With a sharp eye, you can detect the subtle but revealing characteristics that expose fraudulent Burton shopping sites. Watch for these telltale signs that a website claiming to sell Burton products is a scam:
1. Suspicious Domain Name
Inspect the url for oddities or errors:
- Misspellings – “burton” instead of “burton” for example
- Additional words like “official” or “store”
- Not a .com top-level domain – “.co” or “.shop” for instance
Burton’s real website is simply burton.com. Anything else is suspicious.
2. Missing Contact Information
There is no legitimate “Contact Us” page with a real physical address, customer service number, and other ways to reach the company. Often only a dubious email address is provided.
3. Implausibly Low Prices
Any discounts over 50% off are highly dubious. Be very wary of prices like 90% off or $25 for a $500 snowboard.
Burton rarely offers more than 50% discounts even on clearance items or sales.
4. Familiar Looking Website Design
The layout, fonts, colors, navigation, and other elements look eerily similar to Burton’s actual site. This mimics the real shopping experience through plagiarism.
5. Fake Limited Time Messaging
Aggressive “Act Now!” messaging and countdown timers pressure buyers to purchase before scrutinizing the site more thoroughly.
6. No Secure Checkout Padlock
No https protocol or padlock icon in the browser bar during checkout indicates lack of encryption. Legitimate sites always use SSL certificates.
7. Missing Social Media Links
There are no links pointing to Burton’s actual social profiles like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Youtube. The real site has active social accounts.
8. Generic Customer Reviews
Reviews are overly positive and generic with no specific details on products or purchases. They seem fabricated rather than real customer experiences.
With heightened awareness of these red flags, you can better identify fraudulent Burton websites attempting to scam visitors. Always inspect closely and lean on skepticism before providing your data or money.
How to Identify the Scam on Social Media
The fake Burton sales are heavily promoted via sponsored posts and ads on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and other platforms. Here’s what to look for on each:
Spotting the Scam on Facebook
Watch for Facebook ads using:
- Excessive discounts in the ad text like “90% off” or “$25 Burton Snowboards Today Only!”
- Countdown timers and other pressure tactics like “Going out of business sale!”
- Stolen Burton product images in the visual creative
- Links to suspicious domains instead of burton.com in the ad copy
- Very broad targeting resulting in irrelevant ads
- Minimal comments and reactions compared to ad spend behind the posts
Spotting the Scam on Instagram
Look for Instagram scam ads with:
- Crazy low prices called out in the visual creative like “Snowboards just $29!”
- Suspicious captions with slogans like “Store Closing Sale!” and “Today Only!”
- Burton’s logo and product shots in the imagery
- An underwhelming number of likes and comments relative to reach
- Profile with no authentic content or engagement beyond the ads
Spotting the Scam on TikTok
Identify fake TikTok ads using:
- Videos promoting clearance events with 90% off or similar messaging
- Captions urging viewers to click the link before a deadline
- Brand logos, products, and even people riding in the videos
- URLs in the captions and bios that don’t point to burton.com
- Very generic and repetitive comment responses hinting at bots/fake accounts
Always scrutinize unbelievable social media discounts, limited-time offers, and pressured selling from known brands. Verify legitimacy before clicking any links or believing the deals advertised.
What to Do if You Fell Victim to a Fake Burton Site
If you placed an order on a fraudulent Burton website, immediately take these steps:
- Contact your bank or credit card company – Report the charges as fraudulent to initiate a chargeback and recover lost funds. Provide details about the scam site.
- Monitor accounts closely – Watch for any suspicious activity indicating stolen financial information is being misused.
- File a complaint with the FBI – Submit details to the Internet Crime Complaint Center to help authorities stop these scams.
- Warn others – Leave comments about the scam on social media ads leading people to fake sites. Spread awareness so others avoid being defrauded.
- Only dispute unreceived products – Don’t falsely claim non-delivery for undesirable but shipped items since that still constitutes fraud.
- Learn from the experience – Apply the knowledge gained about red flags to better identify and avoid future online retail scams.
How to Avoid Fake Burton Sale Scams
With heightened awareness and caution, you can stay safe from clearance sale scams misusing the Burton brand:
- Verify site legitimacy – Thoroughly inspect domain name, contact info, branding, and other details.
- Compare deals to Burton.com – If prices are much lower than the real site, it is likely a scam.
- Beware social media ads – Approach snowboard gear ads and deals on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok critically.
- Avoid new websites – Only purchase from reputable online shops with established presences.
- Trust your instincts – If an offer seems unrealistic, it probably is. Exercise caution with online purchases.
Apply extra scrutiny to avoid unbelievable limited-time sales and clearance deals. Verify website legitimacy and trust your instincts to avoid scams misusing brands like Burton.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Fake Burton Sales
Many people have questions about the fraudulent Burton websites promoting clearance sales and discounts. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about this scam.
Are the Burton 90% off deals on Facebook real?
No. Any advertisements on social media for Burton clearance sales with discounts over 50% off are scams. Burton rarely offers more than 50% off even during major sales. Ignore and report any 90% off ads as fraudulent.
How can I tell if a Burton website is fake?
Inspect the URL for odd spellings or domains not associated with the official Burton.com site. Watch for prices that seem too good to be true, recycled Burton product images, and lack of legitimate contact information or social media links.
What happens if I order from a fake Burton website?
You either will not receive anything, get a low-quality counterfeit item, or a completely random product like sunglasses instead of the snowboard or boots you ordered. The scammers pocket your money and use stolen payment info for fraud.
Can I get a refund if I purchase from a scam website?
If you used a credit card, you can request a chargeback from your credit card company for any fraudulent transactions. Debit cards and other forms of payment are less likely to recover lost funds.
How do I report a fake Burton website or sale ad?
Notify Burton directly about any fraudulent websites misusing their brand. Submit details to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. Report scam ads to the social networks where you saw them.
Is Burton aware of the clearance scam?
Yes. Unfortunately Burton and many top brands constantly battle online scammers creating elaborate fake sale scams. They try to get scam sites shut down, but new ones quickly pop back up.
How can I avoid these fake Burton sales scams?
Stick to the real burton.com website for any purchases. Approached advertised sales cautiously, especially if discounts seem unrealistic. Verify site legitimacy through contact details, URLs and other signs before providing payment info.
Are other major retailers also targeted with similar sale scams?
Yes. Many top outdoor apparel and snowboard brands like The North Face, Volcom, and 686 fall victim to these “blowout sale” scams from time to time. Always verify legitimacy before assuming advertised sales are real.
Be wary of unbelievable clearance deals and carefully inspect sites before making Burton or other major brand purchases advertised at too-good-to-be-true prices. Use caution and verification to avoid these fake retail sale scams.
Conclusion
Burton’s popularity within snowboarding culture has made it a target for elaborate clearance sale scams offering absurd merchandise and gear discounts. Scammers create fake sites with Burton’s branding and content, promote via social media ads with unrealistic pricing. This deceives snowboarders into providing financial data and purchase orders that yield no products and stolen payment info.
Carefully inspecting for red flags like inconsistent pricing, pressure tactics, and lack of contact information enables detecting fraudulent websites impersonating the real Burton store. Take proactive steps if scammed, including reporting the incident to authorities, banks, and social networks. Applying lessons learned about scam identification enables greater care during future online shopping to avoid clearance sale scams.
