Board games have seen a huge resurgence in popularity in recent years. From classics like Monopoly and Clue to modern hits like Catan and Ticket to Ride, board games make for fun family activities and social gatherings. Many board game enthusiasts look online to find deals on their favorite games. However, scammers have been taking advantage of shoppers with fake Board Game Bliss closing sales.
Overview of the Board Game Bliss Closing Sale Scam
The Board Game Bliss closing sale scam is a prevalent con affecting board game communities across the internet. Scam artists are heavily promoting fake going-out-of-business and clearance sales to trick enthusiastic players into purchasing games at absurd discounts. This deceitful scam has exploded in popularity, robbing shoppers through slick social media marketing and convincing fake storefronts.
Board Game Bliss is a highly reputable tabletop retailer based in Ontario, Canada. Since 2001, they have offered an impressive selection of modern classics and niche hobby games at reasonable prices. Their reputation for good prices and service has made them a go-to destination for many board game fans.
Scammers have seized upon the store’s popularity and name recognition. They create sophisticated fake e-commerce sites and social pages masquerading as Board Game Bliss. These scam outlets mimic the actual company’s branding, logo, images, and product listings. To appear more legitimate, they steal content directly from the real website as well.
The scam outlets advertise huge markdowns on all products claiming they are going out of business or liquidating inventory. Prices may be slashed by 75-90%, falsely claiming “Entire Store On Sale!” and “All Must Go!” These unrealistic prices are the bait to lure in unsuspecting shoppers.
Game enthusiasts eager for jaw-dropping deals on titles like Gloomhaven, Azul, Codenames, and Wingspan rush to purchase from the scam sites. However, anyone who buys from these fraudulent stores will lose their money and receive nothing. At best, victims may get a cheap counterfeit game or random junk product instead.
This scam has exploded thanks to aggressive social media marketing. Scammers will run enticing ads on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. The ads tout the unrealistic closing discounts while linking to their fake outlets. These ads target board gaming hashtags, groups, and influencers to reach the maximum number of potential victims.
One recent scam ad pitched the fake sale saying “Due to continued losses, we’re closing our store, all Magic & Trading Card Games are at super low prices for a limited time🔥✈️Next day shipping.Pokemon TCG,Magic the Gathering,One Piece TCG,Star wars… all kinds of classic magic&trading card games are on sale at reduced prices.” These purposefully manipulative ads drive traffic to slick scam sites ready to steal credit card information.
The Board Game Bliss scam has robbed countless enthusiastic players who thought they were getting incredible deals on quality games for their collections. The scammers have refined their techniques to better mimic legitimate sellers. Stay vigilant and protect yourself from these fraudulent outlets pretending to be a favorite hobby store.
How the Board Game Bliss Closing Sale Scam Works
Here is a step-by-step look at how this predatory scam operates to steal money from shoppers:
1. Scammers Set Up Enticing Fake Store Pages
The first step is for scammers to create online store pages designed to mimic the look and feel of Board Game Bliss. They’ll use the company’s logo, images, and branding throughout. The pages will advertise a store closing sale with prices like 90% off all products.
These pages are hosted on scam sites made to look like real online retailers. They’ll use Board Game Bliss product photos and even steal content from the real company’s website to seem legitimate.
2. Fake Ads Promote the Sales on Social Media
Once the scam store pages are ready, the scammers promote them through social media ads. They’ll run enticing ads on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more advertising the closing sale.
The goal is to target board game enthusiasts who will find the low prices irresistible. The ads use compelling slogans like “Going Out of Business,” “Clearance Sale,” and “All Stock Must Go!”
3. Shoppers Make Purchases on the Scam Sites
When players see the ads and visit the scam sites, the low prices and legitimate appearance convince them it’s a real sale. The sites will have Board Game Bliss branding everywhere, showing off products at 75-90% off.
The scam pages will also have fake customer reviews, policies, and contact pages to seem trustworthy. Duped shoppers end up purchasing products from the scam sites.
4. Shoppers Receive Nothing, Knockoffs, or Random Items
After making a purchase on the fake closing sale sites, customers experience one of a few outcomes:
- They receive nothing at all after payment.
- They receive a cheap counterfeit or knockoff version of the game they ordered.
- They receive a random cheap item like a bracelet or pair of sunglasses.
Either way, the shoppers never get the high-quality board games they paid for at a steal of a price. The scammers take their money and disappear without a trace.
5. No Recourse for Scam Victims
When buyers realize they’ve been scammed, there’s little they can do. The sites provide fake contact information or no contact details at all. Email addresses go unanswered.
Most payments are made through crypto, gift cards, bank transfers, etc. making retrieving funds almost impossible. The scam sites also vanish quickly after enough purchases roll in.
Essentially, the shoppers are left high and dry without any board games or refund options. The scammers make off with the profits and move on to the next scam site.
How to Identify Fraudulent Board Game Bliss Scam Websites
With how convincing the Board Game Bliss scam outlets are designed, it can be tricky for shoppers to determine what sites are fraudulent. Here are some telltale signs to watch for when assessing a potential scam site:
Recently Created Domains and Pages
The scam sites are hastily set up just to run this closing sale scam. Research any domain name via WHOIS lookup tools. Fraudulent pages will have very recent creation dates, often within the past 1-2 months. They don’t have an established online presence.
No Verifiable Contact Information
Authentic retailers provide multiple ways to contact them, such as phone, email, and physical addresses. Scam sites will lack this or only have an email that goes unanswered. Any info they do provide is unrelated to Board Game Bliss.
Ridiculous Discounts Up to 90% Off
Real closing sales will have modest discounts, rarely exceeding 50% off MSRP prices. Discounts of 75% or higher are almost always scams trying to entice victims. No retailer could afford to offer 90% off all inventory.
Copied Design Elements and Plagiarized Content
Scammers steal product images, descriptions, and other content from the real retailer. Look for identical passages of text across sites. The overall branding and templates are copied from the authentic business.
High-Pressure Tactics and Made-Up Deadlines
Scam sitespush a false sense of urgency with claims like “Going out of business this week only!” or “Limited time clearance sale!” This pressures shoppers to purchase from the fraudulent outlet before realizing it’s fake.
No Secure Checkout Process
Legitimate websites use encryption and other security measures for purchases. Scam sites often have unreliable methods like direct bank transfers. There’s no protection for your payment details.
Lack of Reviews and Online Reputation
All legitimate retailers have reviews on platforms like Google and TrustPilot. Scam outlets won’t have these since they are brand new. Do your research to ensure any unfamiliar store has satisfied customers.
Stay vigilant when shopping online. Verify an outlet is legitimate before making purchases. Only provide information to trusted retailers you can thoroughly verify. Follow these tips to avoid the Board Game Bliss scam’s convincing counterfeit websites.
How to Identify the Board Game Bliss Scam on Social Media
The scammers rely heavily on social media ads to promote their fake closing sales and drive traffic to their scam sites. Here’s how to look out for this scam across popular platforms:
On Facebook, the scam ads will appear in your feed or in Facebook Stories. Warning signs include:
- Prices too good to be true like 90% off all games
- High pressure slogans like “Going out of business!”
- Links to shady looking domains instead of the real website
- Stolen images from BoardGameBliss.com used in the ads
- Recently created Facebook pages with no existing followers/engagement
Instagram is also commonly used for this scam. Watch for:
- Instagram Stories promoting blowout closing sales
- Posts with unbelievable discounts up to 90% off
- Accounts recently created with no reputation or followers
- Comments disabled on scam posts to prevent exposure
- Links in bios directing to fraudulent Board Game Bliss websites
TikTok
On TikTok, beware of:
- Video ads touting warehouse clearance events and liquidation sales
- Accounts with zero followers rapidly posting scam videos
- Links in bios and captions pointing users to phishing sites
- Dubious payment methods promoted like gift cards and bank transfers
- AI-generated voiceovers and stolen footage used in scam videos
Always scrutinize social media ads and deals closely. Dig into suspicious accounts and domains before clicking any links. Stick to ordering directly from the real website rather than third-party outlets. Stay vigilant across platforms to avoid this rampant scam.
What to Do If You’ve Fallen Victim to the Scam
If you unfortunately fell for the Board Game Bliss closing sale scam, here are some steps to take right away:
- Contact your bank if you paid with debit/credit card – Report the fraudulent charge. Your bank may be able to reverse it if caught early enough.
- Report the scam ad – Alert the social platform like Facebook that carried the scam ad. This may get the ad account shut down.
- Gather evidence – Save screenshots of the scam website, ad, and transaction records. This will help your case.
- Alert authorities – File reports with groups like the FTC, FBI, IC3, and your local law enforcement. They can investigate.
- Warn others – Share your experience in board game communities to make others aware of the scam. This helps prevent future victims.
- Learn from this – Study common shopping scams to avoid being victimized again. Only shop established sites you trust.
While recovering losses may be difficult, reporting the scam can potentially protect others from being preyed upon. Be vigilant about where you shop online.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Board Game Bliss Closing Sale Scam
1. What is the Board Game Bliss closing sale scam?
The Board Game Bliss scam involves fake websites or social media pages impersonating the popular Canadian board game store Board Game Bliss. These scam outlets falsely claim to be having a closing down or liquidation sale with absurd discounts like 90% off all products. However, the sites are fraudulent and will simply steal money from shoppers.
2. How does the closing sale scam work?
Scammers create fake e-commerce sites copying Board Game Bliss’s branding and content. They advertise unrealistic closing discounts to lure in shoppers. Victims purchase games but receive nothing or cheap knockoffs. The scammers pocket the money and shut down.
3. What platforms does this scam appear on?
The scam is prevalent on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. Scammers run enticing ads promoting the fake sales. The ads target board gaming communities and link to elaborate scam sites ready to steal credit cards and bank details.
4. What are some red flags of the closing sale scam?
Red flags include prices too good to be true (like 90% off), pressuring language about limited time deals, scammy payment methods, and no customer service contact details on the site. Any site loudly advertising liquidation sales should be approached cautiously.
5. What happens if I purchase from a scam site?
If you purchase from a Board Game Bliss scam site, you will likely never receive your items. At best, you may receive a cheap counterfeit instead of the advertised game. You will have no recourse to recover lost funds or products.
6. How can I spot fake Board Game Bliss outlets?
Scam sites will be recently created and have no internet history or reputation. They often have slight differences from the real site URL. Scam outlets also lack a real company address and any valid customer service contacts.
7. What should I do if I encounter a scam ad or site?
If you come across a suspicious Board Game Bliss ad or site, report it immediately to the platform it appears on. Avoid purchasing anything from scam outlets. Legitimate shops will have long operating histories and valid contact details. When in doubt, confirm a site’s authenticity.
8. How can I protect myself from this scam?
Stick to reputable, long-standing retailers you trust when shopping online. Beware of “too good to be true” closing sales from unknown sites. Search for reviews of unfamiliar stores before purchasing. Only provide payment information to established retailers with a proven track record.
9. What should I do if I was already scammed?
If you fell victim to this scam, immediately contact your bank and report the fraud to authorities. Gather evidence like screenshots and transaction records. Be vigilant about additional scams targeting you again. Educate yourself on identifying retail scams to avoid being victimized in the future.
10. How can I stay up-to-date on new retail scams?
Follow consumer protection groups on social media and sign up for scam update newsletters from organizations like the FTC and BBB to stay informed. Report any suspicious shopping sites or sales you encounter to warn others. Share scam awareness information in your community to prevent victimization.
The Bottom Line
The Board Game Bliss closing sale scam takes advantage of enthusiastic shoppers looking for unbelievable deals. Scam sites and ads impersonate a popular retailer to fool victims into purchasing. Shoppers end up empty-handed, with cheap knockoffs, or random junk.
Protect yourself by learning the red flags of online scams. Stick to reputable retailers you know and trust. Report any scams you uncover to make others aware. If misfortune strikes, contact banks and authorities immediately. Stay vigilant and keep board game night fun and scam-free.
