Many shoppers have recently reported seeing ads on social media for DeWalt power tools and accessories on blowout clearance sale for up to 90% off. However, these are actually scams designed to rip off customers. This comprehensive guide will uncover how this scam works, red flags to spot scam websites, and most importantly, how to avoid getting cheated.
Overview of the DeWalt Clearance Sale Scam
This scam centers around sham online stores that mimic the real DeWalt website. These fraudulent sites advertise massive clearance sales with up to 93% off all power tools and combo kits. Various misleading slogans are used such as:
- “Total liquidation”
- “Going out of business”
- “Final clearance sale”
- “All tools must go!”
These websites are designed to lure in shoppers with promises of incredibly low prices on premium DeWalt products like the FlexVolt tool systems and 20V MAX line. However, customers who place orders at these scam websites wind up either:
- Receiving nothing at all – This is the most common outcome. Orders and payments simply vanish after being submitted.
- Getting cheap knockoffs – Low quality imitation tools made from inferior materials that in no way match the advertised goods. These counterfeit tools often have flawed motors, weak batteries, soft gears and other issues making them hazardous.
- Receiving used or damaged goods – Some orders arrive with products that are very apparently not brand new. They may be counterfeits, returns, defective items, or from liquidation auctions. Often these tools show rust, cracks, discoloration or abuse damage inconsistent with a new item.
- Getting completely wrong items – Victims sometimes receive products that are totally random and unrelated to what they ordered. This demonstrates the scam sites have no actual fulfillment.
On top of never receiving the real DeWalt tools ordered, victims also have their personal and financial data stolen during checkout on these phony websites. Full names, addresses, phone numbers, and credit card details are all illegally collected by the scammers.
According to extensive research, these fraudulent shopping websites are part of an interconnected network of thousands of scam sites being run out of China. This massive criminal network manages an array of fake retail stores with the sole purpose of stealing victims’ money and information.
Below, we will break down exactly how this clearance sale scam ensnares victims and ways to avoid getting deceived.
How the DeWalt Clearance Sale Scam Works
This scam employs an organized methodology to mislead and take advantage of customers at every step:
Step 1: Building Elaborate Fake Sites
Sophisticated sham websites are constructed to pass as the real DeWalt store:
- The logo, images, branding and product photos are stolen from the legitimate site.
- Similar domain names are created using misspellings or extra words.
- Fake promotions like “Up to 90% off tools!” are posted.
- The Terms of Service and Privacy Policy are copied from other scam sites.
- A bogus phone number and address are listed. Customer service options are removed.
Step 2: Promoting the Fake Sales
The scam stores are heavily marketed through paid ads and social media posts:
- Facebook ads use enticing images of deeply discounted DeWalt tools and combo kits. Headlines urge users to click through to the fraudulent site.
- Targeted posts in DIY, tools and contracting groups expose the sham deals to potential victims.
- Individual accounts are paid to promote the fake sales on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter using affiliate links.
- Search and shopping ads optimized for terms like “DeWalt liquidation” also direct traffic to the impersonator sites.
Step 3: Swindling Shoppers into Buying
Highly manipulative tactics are used to convert visitors into making purchases:
- Prices like “combo kits only $39!” create perceived exclusivity and urgency. In reality, the scammers will never fulfill these prices.
- Countdown timers, limited quantity alerts and other psychological ploys pressure hasty impulse buys.
- At checkout, users’ credit card and personal information is quietly collected and likely sold.
- Fake security seals are displayed to feign legitimacy, when in fact no real protections exist.
Step 4: Taking Money Without Fulfilling Orders
Once victims place orders, a few things may happen:
- Most often, no shipment goes out and the order disappears. This maximizes the scammers’ profits.
- In some cases, cheap imitation tools are sent out to satisfy credit card chargeback requirements. But these knockoffs in no way match what was ordered.
- Rarely, an entirely random product is shipped instead of the order. This makes it appear something was fulfilled, however deceitfully.
- Either way, the scammers have still stolen users’ payment and personal data for identity theft purposes.
Step 5: Repeating the Scam Endlessly
Since the fake sites are disposable to the scammers, common tactics include:
- Quickly shutting down the site after enough payments come through, before customers can pursue refunds.
- Ditching merchant accounts once excessive chargebacks accrue, while keeping the scam site active.
- Reappearing under new domain names once blacklisted, to rerun the same con.
- Never providing any real customer service, only collecting more payments.
This demonstrates how the scam’s entire business model is structured around deceit, theft, and exploiting victims. Next, we will uncover how to detect their fraudulent sites.
8 Warning Signs of a Fake DeWalt Website
While the impersonator sites try hard to mimic the real DeWalt shopping experience, some key red flags can reveal their deception:
1. Lookalike Domain Names
Shady domains will try to imitate the real site using tricks like:
- Misspellings (dewalttool.com)
- Slight variations (mydewaltstore.com)
- Subdomains (outlet.dewalt.com)
- Different domain extensions (.net instead of .com)
None of these lead to the legitimate website.
2. Unbelievable Discounts and Prices
Seeing premium kits advertised for $39 or $99 is an obvious indicator of a scam. Legitimate retailers cannot offer brand name power tools at such absurdly low prices.
3. High Pressure Tactics and Fake Scarcity
Phrases like “almost sold out!” or “sale ending in 2 hours!” are intended to overwhelm critical thinking and create hasty impulse purchases. Authentic sites do not use such forced scarcity gimmicks.
4. Lack of Contact Information
There should be phone numbers, a physical address, live chat box, and contact email clearly displayed. Scam sites will have little or no legitimate contact info.
5. Whois Data is Hidden
A Whois domain lookup should reveal ownership details, but scam sites use “private registration” to hide who registered it.
6. Generic Terms of Service and Privacy Policies
These legal pages are copied from other scam sites instead of being custom drafted. They may be completely irrelevant to tools and retail.
7. No Social Media Presence
The real brand has Facebook, Instagram, YouTube accounts with long histories. Fraud sites exist only as the fake online storefront.
8. Poor Spelling and Grammar
Sloppy writing riddled with blatant mistakes signals foreign scam operators rather than a U.S. based business.
Multiple red flags indicate an extremely high probability of the website being totally fake. Exercise extreme caution if these issues are present. Next, we will cover what victims can do if they unfortunately fell for the scam.
Identifying DeWalt Clearance Scams on Facebook
- Ad shows expensive DeWalt combo kit for only $39 – unrealistic pricing.
- Video promotes huge savings from a “store closing sale” or other enticing slogans.
- The video may be AI-generated deepfake content, not real DeWalt media.
- Ad account name seems vague, not the official verified “DeWalt” Facebook page.
- Clicking the ad leads to a suspicious URL.
How to Catch DeWalt Clearance Scams on Instagram
- Instead of linking to DeWalt.com, the link in bio goes to a sketchy lookalike domain.
- Photo shows premium DeWalt toolkit on sale for 90% off – too good to be true.
- Caption uses slogans like “clearance sale!” and “free shipping” to lure shoppers.
- Image may be stolen from the real DeWalt website or a deepfaked fake image.
- Account itself seems suspicious – recently created, no posts, no engagement.
Spotting DeWalt Clearance Scams on TikTok
- Video advertises site-wide DeWalt savings up to 90% off – unrealistic pricing.
- Caption urges clicking the link before fake “limited time offer” expires.
- Link goes to an unverified domain instead of official DeWalt website.
- Footage stolen from DeWalt or uses AI deepfake technology to seem authentic.
- Account has no posting history and zero verification badges.
Scrutinize social media ads with unbelievable DeWalt deals, stolen media and suspicious links for multiple red flags indicating likely scams.
What to Do If You Are a Victim of the DeWalt Clearance Sale Scam
If you placed an order at one of these sham websites and never received your items, take these steps immediately:
Step 1: Contact Your Credit Card Company
Call your credit card provider and inform them the charges were fraudulent. Request an immediate chargeback to reverse the charges and refund your money. Provide any emails or order documentation. Act quickly as chargeback rights expire.
Step 2: Monitor Your Credit Reports and Statements
Review credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion for any signs of new accounts opened fraudulently in your name. Also carefully scrutinize bank and credit card statements for any additional suspicious charges by the scammers.
Step 3: Reset Online Account Passwords
Change the passwords on any online shopping, social media, and financial accounts if you used similar credentials on the scam site. Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible for enhanced security.
Step 4: Place Fraud Alerts on Your Credit
Contact the credit bureaus to place fraud alerts on your credit reports. This makes it harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name. Renew these alerts every 90 days.
Step 5: Report the Fraudulent Website
To protect other potential victims, report the scam website to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. File a complaint with the state attorney general. Reporting the site to online threat blacklists can also get the domain blocked.
Step 6: Leave Online Reviews to Warn Others
Post warnings on consumer review sites like SiteJabber and Trustpilot alerting people to the scam. Use a clear title like “DeWalt clearance sale scam”. Include details of the deceitful practices used. This helps prevent the site from victimizing others.
By taking swift action, you can contain the damage and prevent any further identity theft or financial fraud due to the scam.
How to Avoid DeWalt Clearance Sale Scams: 5 Crucial Tips
Here are key tips to protect yourself from these fraudulent tool shopping websites:
1. Only Purchase Directly From DeWalt’s Real Website
Go directly to dewalt.com for any purchases. Do not click questionable links, popups or ads that claim to offer deals. Manually type the URL every time to ensure you access the legitimate site.
2. Research Unfamiliar Websites Before Buying
Do a quick Google search for reviews of any unfamiliar website before providing payment or personal information. Look for complaints and scam reports. A few minutes of searching can uncover an obvious fraud.
3. Beware Unbelievable Discounts
If an advertised price seems impossible, like $39 for a $600 DeWalt combo kit, dismiss it as a scam. DeWalt does offer promotions, but nothing absurd like 90% off retail prices.
4. Verify Contact Information
There should be a real phone number, physical address and customer service options. Lack of this indicates a shady business.
5. Only Use Credit Cards For Purchases
Pay only via credit card when shopping on new sites. Credit cards have much stronger fraud protections and chargeback rights than other payment methods.
Following these tips and trusting your instincts can prevent you from becoming another victim of tools and hardware shopping scams.
Frequently Asked Questions about the DeWalt Clearance Sale Scam
Shoppers need to stay vigilant against online shopping scams like websites promoting unbelievable DeWalt tools deals. Here are answers to the most common questions about this fraud.
What exactly is this DeWalt clearance sale scam?
This scam involves fake websites that pretend to offer premium DeWalt power tools and combo kits for irrationally low prices like 90% off retail. However, it’s a fraud designed to steal money and personal information from victims rather than actually shipping discounted DeWalt products.
How do they advertise these fake DeWalt deals?
Scammers run Facebook and Instagram ads showcasing videos of expensive DeWalt gear on sale for improbable prices like $39 each. Captions use slogans like “clearance sale!” to entice clicks. Links in the ads redirect to elaborate scam websites instead of the real DeWalt store.
What are signs of a fake DeWalt clearance website?
Red flags include unrealistic low pricing, pressure tactics, missing contact info, recently created domain, grammatical errors, lack of real social media presence, hidden Whois data and more. If multiple suspicious indicators are present, the site cannot be trusted to safely order from.
What happens when I order from one of these scam sites?
Most likely your order will never arrive after payment is taken. Or you may receive cheap counterfeit tools, used/damaged merchandise or an entirely random product. Either way, your payment and personal data gets stolen.
What should I do if I placed an order on a scam website?
Immediately contact your credit card company to dispute the charges. Monitor statements closely for further fraudulent activity. Freeze credit reports to prevent identity theft. Change any account passwords compromised by the scam site. Report the website to authorities.
How can I avoid DeWalt clearance sale scams?
Only order directly from dewalt.com. Vet unfamiliar websites before providing payment info. Beware unbelievable “too good to be true” prices. Never submit personal/payment data to questionable sites. Use credit cards for added protection when shopping online.
Does DeWalt offer real clearance sales?
Yes, genuine DeWalt sales do occur on their official website and through authorized retailers. But real deals will never claim absurdly steep discounts like 90% off site-wide. Only scam websites make such unrealistic pricing claims.
Carefully scrutinize tool dealers online before handing over personal or payment details. Following savvy shopping practices helps avoid clearance sale scams impersonating trusted brands like DeWalt tools.
The Bottom Line
Scam websites promoting unbelievable deals on DeWalt power tools, like combo kits for only $39, prey on unwary shoppers through social media ads and imposter sites. By mimicking trusted brands and using deception, they manipulate victims into relinquishing money and sensitive personal data.
Avoiding these pitfalls requires healthy skepticism when deals seem too good to be true. Carefully analyze website credibility signals before providing payment information or placing orders. Only make purchases through fully verified legitimate retailers. If scammed, promptly dispute unauthorized charges and take steps to prevent identity theft.
Apply caution before giving away your valuable information and hard-earned money. Following smart online shopping practices will help you identify fraudulent websites and steer clear of their manipulative tricks. Don’t let tempting bargains undermine your better judgment.
