Consumers beware – scammers are using social media ads and fake websites to lure shoppers into purchasing heavily discounted Ralph Lauren products that never arrive. This detailed guide will uncover how the Ralph Lauren clearance sale scam works, provide tips on spotting fraudulent sites, and explain what to do if you become a victim.
Overview of the Ralph Lauren Clearance Sale Scam
The Ralph Lauren brand carries an air of luxury and prestige, so it’s no wonder why scammers leverage the name to execute elaborate discount scams. They will set up convincing fake ecommerce shops boasting clearance sales with Ralph Lauren products discounted up to 90% off. Prices usually range from $29 – $49 per item.
After completing a purchase, customers will either receive:
- Nothing at all
- A cheap, poor quality item that is completely different than what was ordered
- A random low-cost product like a pair of sunglasses or bracelet
This scam works because the fake online stores appear legitimate at first glance. They use the Ralph Lauren name, official branding, steal product images directly from the company’s site, and even list fake physical addresses and customer service numbers. However upon closer inspection, these sites are completely fraudulent.
The most common places these ads and websites pop up are:
- TikTok
And the usual slogans scammers use include:
- Warehouse Sale
- Outlet Store
- Store Closing Sale
- Going Out of Business
- Clearance Sale
- Limited Time Offer
- Free Shipping
If a deal seems too good to be true, it likely is. Ralph Lauren very rarely offers discounts greater than 25%, so seeing items discounted 70% – 90% off should raise immediate red flags.
While the ads and websites differ slightly, the core scam method remains the same across the board…
How the Ralph Lauren Clearance Scam Works
From start to finish, here is exactly how the Ralph Lauren clearance scam unfolds:
1. Scammers Create Convincing Fake Website
The scammers will purchase a domain name attempting to mimic Ralph Lauren’s official site. For example:
- ralphlaurenoutletstore.com
- ralphlaurenclosingdownsale.com
- ralphlaurenwarehouseclearance.net
They design the site to closely resemble a legitimate Ralph Lauren portal, incorporating branding colors, logos, product imagery, and the overall look and feel. The site will also display convincing features like customer reviews, an About Us page, Shipping & Returns policy, and Contact page with phone/address.
Of course, all of this is fabricated to trick customers. But at face value, it offers a sense of legitimacy.
2. Scammers Drive Traffic to the Site
Using the fraudulent site as a base, scammers next invest in digital ads to drive consumer traffic. Most commonly, these ads appear on:
- Facebook and Instagram – Video ads and sponsored posts showcasing the “blowout clearance sale”
- TikTok – Video ads modeling products and touting low prices
- Search engines – Ads ranking highly for keywords like “Ralph Lauren outlet” and “Ralph Lauren sales”
- Text messages – Blasts reading “Ralph Lauren Warehouse Sale! Up to 90% off for a limited time only!”
When users click these ads, they are sent directly to the fake outlet site primed with expectations of scoring major deals on Ralph Lauren apparel.
3. Customers Make Purchases on the Site
Upon landing on the fraudulent website, customers browse what appears to be a wealth of highly discounted Ralph Lauren products up to 90% off retail prices.
The site will display convincing countdown timers like “Limited Time Only!” and “Sale Ends Soon!” to create a sense of urgency. Fake customer reviews praising the outlet deals also help persuade visitors.
Duped by the seemingly amazing prices, customers add items to their cart and input payment information – without realizing the site is a total scam.
4. No Order Confirmation After Purchase
This is the point where victims begin realizing they have been scammed.
Shortly after completing a purchase and submitting payment info, there is no order confirmation or shipping details sent. The site may display a fake “Thank you! Your order is being processed” message.
But in reality, no order is being fulfilled and no products will ship. There is no legitimate company tied to the website.
5. Inability to Contact the Seller
More red flags arise when customers try contacting the fraudulent seller to check on their order status.
Emails sent to the address listed on the Contact Us page go unanswered. Phone calls to the listed support number are sent to voicemail or disconnected. Mailed letters to the listed warehouse address result in returned mail stamped “undeliverable”.
Victims cannot get ahold of a real person to inquire about their purchase, confirm shipping, or request a refund.
At this point, they begin to realize the harsh truth – no items will arrive and their payment information is now compromised.
6. Credit Card Charge Appears for a Fraudulent Company
Shortly after the purchase, victims may notice a pending charge or withdrawal from their credit card or bank account.
But the charge won’t come from Ralph Lauren or even match the fake store name. It will show as a transaction with some obscure company or business name unrelated to Ralph Lauren.
This is a final red flag signaling illegitimate activity. Of course, no products ever get shipped.
7. Scammers Disappear and Launch New Sites
Following a wave of fraudulent transactions, scammers quickly take down the fake website. They disappear with the money and victim’s payment information in hand.
Then the process starts over again. New fake Ralph Lauren outlet sites launch utilizing different domain names and web designs. Different ads pop up across social media to send fresh traffic.
And the scam cycles through the same deceptive process, defrauding even more unsuspecting consumers.
Warning Signs of a Fake Ralph Lauren Outlet Website
While the fake websites appear convincing at first glance, upon closer inspection there are some clear warning signs to recognize:
Scam Sites Use Very Similar Domain Names
The domain name will be some variation of the Ralph Lauren name plus keywords implying a major discount. Examples include:
- ralphlaurenoutletstore.com
- ralphlaurenclosingdownsale.com
- ralphlaurenwarehouseblowout.com
Misspellings like “ralphlaurenoutletstorre” should also raise suspicion.
Unbelievable Discounts Up to 90% Off
If a website promotes Ralph Lauren products discounted 70% to 90% off, it is a scam. Ralph Lauren rarely offers more than 25% – 40% off even on major holiday sales.
No Verified Contact Information
Scam sites will list phone numbers and addresses that are completely unreachable or disconnected. Email addresses also tend to use free providers like Gmail or Yahoo rather than official company domains.
Poor Grammar and Spelling
Fake sites contain grammar, spelling errors, and other sloppy mistakes throughout. Legitimate brands carefully proofread and edit content.
No Social Media Presence
Fraudulent outlets won’t have active social media accounts matching the website domain name. All images used are also stolen from other sources.
Template Web Design
Scam websites tend to use stock templates and very limited customization. A real company site is completely customized and branded appropriately.
Reviews Seem Suspicious
While fake sites display glowing customer reviews, if you look closer they seem duplicated and generic. Real brands have mixed reviews that read authentically.
Recently Created Domain
A WhoIs domain lookup will show scam sites were registered very recently, often within the past few months or less. Established companies have long-standing websites.
When assessing a supposed online Ralph Lauren outlet, be sure to verify that none of these red flags are present before making a purchase. Utilize scam detection tools like the BBB, TrustPilot, and scamadviser.com to research seller legitimacy.
How to Identify the Ralph Lauren Scam on Social Media
Spotting the Scam on Facebook
The most common Ralph Lauren Facebook scams are video ads and sponsored posts showcasing fake blowout sales or closing down offers. Here’s what to look out for:
- Videos modeling Ralph Lauren products with on-screen text touting “Warehouse Clearance Sale! Today Only!” and “Going Out of Business – 90% Off”.
- Posts with stolen Ralph Lauren catalog images saying “Ralph Lauren Outlet – All Items Up to 80% Off Limited Time Only!”
- Phony Facebook pages and profiles using the Ralph Lauren name and logo promoting clearance sale links in posts.
- Ad captions with typos, bad grammar, and too-good-to-be-true promises like “Final clearance blowout happening now! Ralph Lauren closing down all outlet locations!”.
- Links in Facebook ads and posts directing to shady URLs unrelated to RalphLauren.com.
- Fake Ralph Lauren Facebook profiles and grup purporting to offer huge member-only discounts.
Spotting the Scam on Instagram
Watch for these signs of fraudulent Instagram Ralph Lauren deals:
- Sponsored posts showcasing Ralph Lauren clothing at “50-80% Off!” and directing to fake outlet sites.
- Instagram photo galleries of Ralph Lauren products stolen from the official website to portray special access to clearance items.
- Instagram Stories promoting “Limited time only, Ralph Lauren warehouse clearance!” with swipe up links to scam sites.
- Instagram influencers and accounts recommending suspiciously deep discounts on Ralph Lauren goods “up to 90% off today only!”.
- Instagram DMs from bots offering Ralph Lauren coupon codes for 70% off or $100 gift cards.
- Video ads on Instagram Reels showcasing Ralph Lauren fashion with on-screen text offers like “Ralph Lauren Closing All Stores – Everything Must Go!” and ‘clearance” links in captions.
Spotting the Scam on TikTok
On TikTok, the Ralph Lauren scam usually surfaces as:
- Video ads with fake Ralph Lauren employees announcing a huge warehouse shutdown sale with styles up to 80% off.
- TikTok accounts pretending to showcase behind-the-scenes footage at Ralph Lauren outlets with extreme closeout discounts.
- Short TikTok clips focused on Ralph Lauren products and directing viewers to click shady links in the caption and bio for blowout deals.
- Influencer TikTok videos recommending going to alleged Ralph Lauren outlet site URLs to shop major savings on clearance items before locations close.
- TikTok Live streams making dubious claims like “I have exclusive Ralph Lauren discount codes for 90% off all merchandise this week only!” and driving to linked scam sites.
- Stitch videos replying to Ralph Lauren clothing TikToks with dubious messages like “These are all on blowout clearance right now at the Ralph Lauren outlet before it closes – click link in bio to shop!”
What to Do If You Are a Victim of the Scam
If you placed an order through one of these fraudulent Ralph Lauren websites and never received your items, here are important next steps to take:
Step 1: Contact Your Bank or Credit Card Company
Call your bank or credit card provider immediately to report the fraudulent charge. Request a chargeback to reverse the transaction and get your money back. Provide any evidence you have like receipts, screenshots, or credit card statements to help your case.
Step 2: Monitor Your Accounts Closely
Keep vigilant watch over your bank account and credit card statements for any suspicious charges or activity. Scammers may have accessed your payment information to commit further identity theft or fraud. Place an initial fraud alert and sign up for account monitoring alerts.
Step 3: Report the Incident
File reports about being scammed through the following institutions:
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Step 4: Warn Others About the Scam
Post about your negative experience on consumer warning sites like Ripoff Report and ScamGuard to help prevent others from falling victim. Leave bad reviews about the fraudulent website on TrustPilot and other directories.
Report the fake ads, website, and social media accounts used to the appropriate platforms to try getting them removed. The more reports that come in, the sooner these scam outlets can be taken down.
Step 5: Adjust Security Settings
Going forward, adjust security settings on all your online accounts and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. Never save payment information in online retail profiles.
Be extra cautious about clicks ads links, even from sources like Facebook that you expect to be legitimate. Hover over links to view the URLs before engaging.
Step 6: Only Order From Official Site
In the future when purchasing Ralph Lauren products, only order directly through RalphLauren.com or an authorized retailer like Macy’s to guarantee authenticity. Check that HTTPS and a padlock icon are displayed in the URL.
Step 7: Learn to Identify Red Flags
Review the warning signs outlined earlier so you can effectively identify fraudulent websites yourself moving forward. Refrain from impulsive purchasing based solely on an Instagram ad or “hot deal” text message. Vet sites thoroughly before placing orders.
Stay vigilant about online scams targeting all your favorite brands and retailers. While the Ralph Lauren clearance scam ensnares many victims, by taking precautions and utilizing scam detection tools, you can avoid joining their ranks.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Ralph Lauren Clearance Scam
1. How does the Ralph Lauren clearance scam work?
Scammers create fake ecommerce websites advertising clearance sales on Ralph Lauren products at unbelievably low prices, up to 90% off. The sites appear legitimate, using Ralph Lauren branding and stole product images. Through ads on social media and search engines, they drive traffic to the fraudulent outlet sites. Customers place orders but receive nothing or a cheap, random item. The scammers disappear with their money and payment details.
2. What payment platforms do these scams take place on?
The fake Ralph Lauren outlets accept all major credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. They may also instruct users to pay through Zelle, PayPal, Venmo or other money transfer platforms. Cryptocurrency payments are also sometimes accepted.
3. What are some red flags of a fraudulent Ralph Lauren website?
Warning signs include unbelievable discounts over 25% off, recently registered domain names, no social media presence, stolen images, bad grammar/spelling, no real contact info, template site design, suspicious reviews, hidden domain ownership, and more.
4. What social platforms do the scam ads appear on?
Most commonly Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Google advertisements. Scam ads may also appear on Snapchat, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube and other platforms.
5. What should I do if I fell for the Ralph Lauren clearance scam?
Immediately contact your credit card company or bank to report fraudulent charges and have payments reversed. File reports about the scam with the FTC, IC3, BBB and consumer sites. Monitor your accounts closely and enable two-factor authentication for better security.
6. How can I spot fake Ralph Lauren websites in the future?
Vet sites thoroughly for red flags before placing any order. Only purchase directly from RalphLauren.com or authorized retailers Macy’s, Nordstrom, etc. Be wary of too-good-to-be-true deals on social media ads or texts. Use scam detection tools like BBB and TrustPilot.
7. Are the products sold on these sites authentic Ralph Lauren items?
No. The websites are completely fraudulent. Any items sent are cheap counterfeits or random products unrelated to what was ordered. No real Ralph Lauren merchandise is sold through these scam outlet sites.
8. Can I get my money back if I was scammed?
You can request a chargeback through your credit card company or bank to attempt to reverse the charges. Provide evidence to support your fraud claim. Also file a report with the FTC to aid their investigation efforts against scammers.
9. Why does Ralph Lauren have so many of these fake outlet scams?
As a high-end luxury fashion brand, Ralph Lauren carries prestige that scammers exploit. Fake discounts on premium brands like Ralph Lauren are highly enticing to consumers focused on getting deals.
10. How can Ralph Lauren prevent these clearance scams?
Ralph Lauren can report fraudulent sites abusing their trademark to get them taken down faster. They should also raise awareness through ads and social media warning consumers about common online scams regarding their brand.
The Bottom Line
Ralph Lauren remains one of the most prominent global fashion brands, making it a prime target for elaborate clearance scams promising once-in-a-lifetime deals. Scammers create convincing fake websites, advertise on social media, and utilize irresistible slogans like “Warehouse Sale!” to lure customers.
Too-good-to-be-true discounts of up to 90% off Ralph Lauren products should raise immediate skepticism. Upon making purchases, victims either receive nothing or cheap counterfeit items. The scam process is the same across the board, but identifying their deceptive red flags like no contact info, hidden domain owners, and erroneous addresses can help consumers avoid being defrauded.
If you were unfortunately deceived by one of these scams, immediately contact your bank and credit card company. File reports about the incident, alert others to avoid the traps, and adjust your own security settings. Only order Ralph Lauren goods directly from the real RalphLauren.com website or authorized department stores. While the allure of blowout brand name sales is tempting, vigilance and caution is required to steer clear of clearance scams.
