A fraudulent Coldwater Creek closing sale promotion spreading on social media has been deceiving shoppers into providing payment and personal data to fake websites. But the viral ads and deals are completely fabricated. This comprehensive guide will uncover how this scam works and provide advice to shop safely online.
Overview of the Fake Coldwater Creek Closing Sale Scam
In recent months, sponsored advertisements on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok have promoted an unbelievable Coldwater Creek closing sale with extreme discounts up to 80% off sitewide.
These viral social media ads are a complete scam orchestrated by cybercriminals aiming to profit by spreading fake deals, stealing user data, and defrauding consumers through fraudulent websites.
When users click on the compelling ads boasting deep Coldwater Creek discounts, they get redirected to convincing but fake e-commerce sites impersonating the brand’s now-defunct website. These scam websites proceed to rip off victims by:
- Charging cards for orders that never ship out
- Sending poor quality knockoffs instead of genuine products
- Shipping used, damaged or tampered goods
- Sending random cheap products unrelated to orders
In addition to scamming users out of money, the fake sites also harvest personal and financial data during checkout, including names, addresses, credit cards, phone numbers, and email addresses. This leaves customers at huge risk of identity theft on top of losing funds to the scam.
Meanwhile, the scam call centers disappear after successfully processing fraudulent payments. Coldwater Creek of course has no connection to these deceitful websites wrongly using their brand identity to lure and defraud customers.
How the Fake Coldwater Creek Closing Sale Scam Works
Here is an in-depth look at how the cybercriminals operate this scam from start to finish:
Step 1. Scammers Create Fake Coldwater Creek Ads
The first step is creating convincing sponsored ads touting a huge Coldwater Creek closing sale. The ads get posted on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and elsewhere claiming extreme markdowns due to the brand shutting down.
The ads showcase the Coldwater Creek logo and product imagery without permission to mislead viewers into thinking the sale is real. But the promotions are completely fabricated since Coldwater Creek closed long ago.
By advertising irresistible discounts on clothing and accessories, they aim to entice customers into clicking. But it’s only a trap.
Step 2. Shoppers See the Ads on Social Media
As the fraudulent ads spread across various social platforms where the scammers pay to promote them, they pique the interest of deal-seeking online shoppers.
At first glance, the ads appear legit, falsely affiliating themselves with the Coldwater Creek brand. To the average viewer casually browsing, the sale seems credible and compelling.
Seeing coveted products deeply discounted due to the alleged store closing triggers many users to click out of a desire to take advantage of deals. But it’s only a ruse orchestrated by scammers.
Step 3. Users Get Funneled to Scam Websites
When an interested user clicks on one of the fraudulent social media ads for the Coldwater Creek closing sale, they get redirected to a fake e-commerce website.
These scam sites closely imitate the real brand website design by stealing logos, product photos, branding and more. However, red flags like the URL and prices reveal it’s an imposter site.
The scammers operate entire networks of these types of fraudulent retail websites to funnel traffic from their bogus ads and ensnare victims.
Step 4. Shoppers Place Orders on the Fake Sites
On the imitation site, customers browse seemingly accurate products just at steeply discounted prices. Deceived by the scam, many will add items to their cart and enter payment details.
In reality, no authorized closing sale is happening and no merchandise is being sold. But the professional-looking fake sites have succeeded in stealing user payments and information.
After submitting orders, victims receive emails thanking them for their purchase. But nothing actually ships out from these fraudulent domains.
Step 5. Scammers Steal Users’ Money and Data
During checkout on the imitation sites, unsuspecting shoppers enter their address, credit card information, email, phone number and other personal data.
The criminals operating the sites steal this sensitive information to use in other fraud schemes or sell on the dark web.
After unlawfully charging a victim’s card, the scam call centers disappear without shipping anything. Users are left confused and defrauded without any valid avenue to pursue refunds.
The criminals behind the sites are already long gone, having accomplished their goal of stealing funds and personal data from deceived online shoppers lured in by the fake ads.
How to Spot the Scam Ads on Facebook
Watch out for these signs of fraudulent Coldwater Creek closing sale ads on Facebook:
- Sponsored posts touting a “Coldwater Creek Store Closing Sale” or “Going Out of Business” sale with extreme discounts like 90% off.
- Links in the Facebook ads go to shady URLs unrelated to Coldwater Creek’s real former website.
- Grammar, formatting, and spelling errors throughout the ad copies.
- The Facebook page behind the ads has no history, posts, or followers.
- Comments on the ads from users asking if it’s a scam or complaining about fraud.
- No actual contact info besides a link to the phony website.
- No affiliation with Coldwater Creek’s now defunct social media pages.
Use caution with Facebook ads promoting unrealistic Coldwater Creek markdowns that seem questionable. Verify the brand is still in business.
Identifying the Fake Instagram Ads
Here are signs of fraudulent Coldwater Creek closing sale ads found on Instagram:
- Posts advertising “Coldwater Creek Store Closing Sale – 80% Off!” and other fake sales.
- No mention of the real @coldwatercreek Instagram account which is now inactive.
- Links in bios redirect to scam sites like “coldwaterclosing.org” instead of their real defunct URL.
- No evidence in the account that the ads are affiliated with the brand.
- Comments from users asking if it’s legitimate or complaining about never receiving items.
- Very limited engagement and followers on the Instagram account posting the ads.
Use skepticism when you see improbable Coldwater Creek deals on Instagram from unrecognized accounts.
How to Spot the TikTok Scam Ads
These signs can help identify fake Coldwater Creek closing sale ads on TikTok:
- Video ads falsely claiming Coldwater Creek is holding a closing sale with savings up to 85% off all remaining merchandise.
- Links in bios redirect to sketchy scam websites completely unrelated to Coldwater Creek’s real former site.
- No indications the account posting the ads is associated with the now defunct brand.
- Comments asking if the deals are real or saying items never arrived after ordering.
- The TikTok account behind the ads has zero other posts or followers.
Beware of TikTok ads enticing users with unrealistic discounts on Coldwater Creek products from mysterious accounts. Apply extra scrutiny before clicking.
What to Do If You Fell Victim to the Scam
If you mistakenly supplied your information to one of the fraudulent Coldwater Creek closing sale websites after clicking their convincing ads, take these critical steps:
Immediately Contact Your Bank
Notify your credit card provider or bank right away, explain you were scammed by a fake website impersonating Coldwater Creek, and dispute the fraudulent charges. Acting quickly gives you the best shot at reversing the charges.
Provide all details about the phony site that defrauded you. Make it clear you were deceived into providing data and do not authorize any additional charges.
Monitor Accounts Closely
Keep vigilant watch over your financial accounts and credit reports over the next few months for any signs of unauthorized activity. Report any suspicious transactions as soon as possible.
Change All Account Passwords
Even if you only entered credit card details, change all your main online account passwords as a security precaution. Make each password long, unique and complex.
Place Fraud Alerts on Credit Reports
Consider placing initial 90-day fraud alerts with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion if the scam website has your SSN or other identity theft risks. This prompts scrutiny of new lines of credit.
Watch Out for Targeted Scam Attempts
Review any communications referencing the fraudulent Coldwater Creek orders carefully. The crooks may use stolen info to launch follow-up phishing attempts via email, phone calls or texts.
Report Fake Websites to Authorities
Supply details on the fraudulent website to the FTC, FBI IC3, BBB and state attorney general to aid law enforcement in shutting down these scammers. Reporting these impersonation sites is crucial to prevent continued victimization.
Avoiding Future Scam Closing Sales
Looking ahead, consumers should be on high alert about similar seasonal scam sales tied to other defunct brands. To shop safely:
- Verify if brands still exist before believing social media ads.
- Beware deals too good to be true with extreme discounts off normal prices.
- Only provide info directly on sites you have fully vetted and trust.
- Check for obvious flaws like grammatical errors, missing contact pages and no reviews.
- Confirm URLs match legitimate domains, not lookalikes.
There are no shortcuts when it comes to safely evaluating closing sales advertised on social platforms. Savvy consumers must thoroughly scrutinize both the ads and websites to avoid falling prey to convincing scams.
The Bottom Line: Closing Sale Scams Are Common
The bottom line is that viral social media advertisements luring customers with unbelievable discounts on limited-time Coldwater Creek closing sales are completely illegitimate.
The ads are bait used to direct consumers to elaborate fake websites designed to steal credit card and personal data under false pretenses. Any submitted orders and information provided merely goes directly into the hands of scammers, not Coldwater Creek.
If you fell victim to one of these closing sale scams, immediately notify relevant institutions to report fraudulent charges and accounts. Avoid providing data to unfamiliar sites you are sent to via social media ads, no matter how compelling the promotions may seem on the surface.
When evaluating closing sales advertised on social platforms, it’s essential apply due diligence before believing sponsored posts – even from brands you may recognize. Verify brands are still operational and cross-check sales for validity before making purchases.
