Online shopping scams promoting fake Steve Madden clearance sales at 90% off have proliferated lately across social media platforms. Sophisticated fraudsters are leveraging the Steve Madden brand and website design to create convincing fake storefronts offering deeply discounted shoes and boots. However, the rock-bottom prices are only a ploy to steal money and information from consumers.
This article will examine how the Steve Madden clearance sale scam ensnares victims, common patterns to watch out for, and steps to take if you made the mistake of purchasing from one of these fraudulent websites.
Overview of the Steve Madden Clearance Sale Scam
The Steve Madden clearance scam preys upon the popularity and reputation that Steve Madden Ltd. has built since its founding in 1990. The company’s trendy footwear and accessories are staples at major retailers.
Scammers assume most consumers have heard of Steve Madden, making them more inclined to trust websites promoting huge clearance sales on the brand. But in reality, these sites have zero connection to Steve Madden.
The fake websites feature the Steve Madden name, official logo, images of real products, and claims of clearance discounts up to 90% off or more. However, it is all a façade to dupe visitors into handing over their personal and payment details.
After placing an order, customers will either receive nothing or cheap, poor quality knockoff shoes clearly not worth what was paid. Attempts to contact customer service go unanswered, confirming it was all fraudulent.
By the time victims realize they have been scammed, the websites have disappeared. The perpetrators have laundered their ill-gotten credit card payments into cryptocurrency or overseas accounts.
Next, we will break down exactly how each phase of this scam works to defraud consumers.
How the Steve Madden Clearance Sale Scam Works
The Steve Madden scam demonstrates sophisticated techniques to falsely mimic legitimate online shoe retailers. Understanding each step in their process reveals how unsuspecting shoppers get swindled:
1. Fake Website Set-up
The first step is quickly assembling fake store websites made to appear as authorized Steve Madden outlets. Easy-to-use ecommerce templates allow customizing elements like domain name, branding, product listings and urgency messaging.
The domain name will include some variation of “Steve Madden” plus clearance sale keywords like “blowout,” “warehouse,” “outlet,” or “liquidation” to imply special savings. A convincing “.com” is added.
Next, the Steve Madden logo is inserted to lend an air of authenticity. Fake taglines like “Authorized Discount Retailer of Steve Madden” are common to further dupe visitors.
Finally, real Steve Madden shoe images and descriptions are scraped from stevemadden.com to populate the product listings. This saves the scammers work while still luring in victims.
2. Social Media Ad Blitz
To drive traffic to their scam websites, the fraudsters launch aggressive Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok ad campaigns. The compelling ads promise clearance discounts up to 90% off on popular Steve Madden styles.
The ads leverage the brand recognition of Steve Madden to get attention, using actual product shots from past seasons that no longer are sold on the real website. This tricks users into believing the special deals are legitimate.
Clicking these social media ads leads directly to the fake Steve Madden websites where urgency cues like countdown timers and “limited supply” banners pressure shoppers to purchase immediately before the false markdowns disappear.
3. Checkout and Purchase
When a victim visits the fraudulent site and attempts to purchase deeply discounted Steve Madden shoes in their size, the scammers have succeeded.
The checkout process mirrors a real ecommerce site, requiring the customer to input their personal and payment details to place the order. False claims about secure checkout and money-back guarantees help overcome any hesitations.
After submitting payment, the customer may be shown a confirmation screen suggesting the order is being processed and shipped. But in reality, nothing is fulfilled and the victim’s credit card info is used for fraudulent charges or sold on the dark web.
4. Covering Tracks
Once purchases start rolling in, the scammers cover their trail. The temporary sites are quickly deactivated so victims cannot investigate or leave negative reviews.
The merchant accounts and web hosting services enabling the scams are obtained under false pretenses making it very difficult to trace the puppet masters. Money is rapidly laundered through cryptocurrency exchanges.
Then the scam repeats with new domains, social ads and unsuspecting targets. The Steve Madden brand recognition enables the scam to be recycled indefinitely on new victims.
Next we will highlight the red flags to watch out for with fake Steve Madden websites and social media ads.
Red Flags of the Steve Madden Clearance Sale Scam
Being able to recognize fraudulent shopping sites masquerading as authorized Steve Madden retailers can prevent you from getting scammed. Watch for these telltale signs:
- Too good to be true prices – Genuine sales might offer discounts, but up to 90%+ off across all products is unrealistic and indicates a scam.
- Temporary domain names – Scammers use new domains registered for less than a year or so. Legitimate brands invest in permanent domains.
- No physical address – Check for a real street address on the “Contact Us” page of the website. Scam sites won’t have one.
- Non-working contacts – Phone numbers, emails, and live chat on scam sites are fake or non-responsive. No real support team exists.
- Poor writing/design – Sloppy grammar, typos and formatting signal an unprofessional scam operation trying to mimic a real company.
- No social media history – Beyond the ads, scam websites have no Facebook pages or Instagram profiles that real brands use to engage customers.
- Insecure checkout – Legitimate sites will display “https” in the URL bar during checkout. “http” means your data could be at risk.
- No refund guarantee – Fraud sites won’t back their sales with satisfaction guarantees or easy return policies common among genuine retailers.
Stay alert for these red flags when shopping online and trust your instincts. Only purchase directly from a brand’s official website or authorized major retailers to avoid clearance sale scams.
How to Spot the Fake Steve Madden Websites
When evaluating potential online shoe stores promoting unbelievable Steve Madden sales, there are telling signs that a site is not actually authorized:
Recently Registered Domains
Rather than invest in an established domain, scam sites use new domains often registered in the past several months or less to quickly launch their schemes. Check the WHOIS domain lookup for the true creation date. Fraudulent sites may use domains like “stevemaddenblowoutsale.com” that were just registered recently.
No Contact Information
Genuine retailers provide actual physical addresses, customer service phone numbers and email contacts on their websites. Scam sites either show no information or fake details. Any working number will not connect to a real Steve Madden support representative. Emails go unanswered.
Extreme Prices
Steve Madden shoes retail normally in the $50 – $150 range typically. So seeing prices discounted up to 90% on the latest styles should instantly seem illogical. While authentic clearance sales do offer discounts, prices that seem implausibly low are a clear warning sign of a scam.
Copied Site Content
One clue is scam sites featuring identical products, SKUs, images and descriptions as the real Steve Madden website. This is because scammers simply steal content rather than photograph their own inventory. Reverse image searches will reveal where the photos originated.
Formulaic Urgency Messaging
Be wary of websites littered with slogans like “Going out of business”, “Limited time only” and “Clearance prices” to create false urgency about the deals. These tactics pressure customers to purchase before the discounts disappear – but it’s all fabricated by the scammers.
No Social Media Presence
Unlike authentic brands, scam websites lack any associated social media accounts on platforms like Facebook or Instagram that customers can use to vet the business. A lack of engagement reveals the website’s fraudulent nature.
By recognizing these common scam patterns, you can avoid getting ripped off by fake websites posing as authorized Steve Madden retailers promising clearance prices. Only purchase directly through stevemadden.com or established retail partners.
How to Spot the Fake Steve Madden Sale Scam on Social Media
How to Spot the Scam on Facebook
Watch for these signs of fraudulent Facebook ads and posts promoting unrealistic Steve Madden sales:
- Prices discounted up to 90% or more on premium Steve Madden shoes should raise red flags.
- Slogans like “Warehouse clearance sale going out of business” create false urgency to buy from their site.
- Images in the ads are stolen directly from the Steve Madden website and catalogs rather than the scammers’ own inventory.
- Links go to lookalike sites with the Steve Madden logo but no real affiliation with the company.
- The Facebook page behind the ads has almost no followers or engagement, revealing its fake status.
- No physical address, working number, or support email are provided by the scammers.
How to Spot the Scam on Instagram
Watch for these signs of a fraudulent Instagram post pushing Steve Madden discounts:
- The Instagram account promoting the sale has zero history – clear sign of a scam page.
- The captions promise over 90% off or major clearance prices on Steve Madden shoes that are too good to be true.
- As with Facebook, the photos are stolen from Steve Madden’s website and not the scammers’ own inventory.
- Links in bios/posts go to phony sites ready to steal your information and money.
- No business details like a real address or customer service contacts are provided.
How to Spot the Scam on TikTok
Identify Steve Madden clearance sale scams on TikTok using these tips:
- Scam accounts have no followers and repost the same few videos endlessly to lure victims.
- The videos tout prices like “Steve Madden shoes just $9.99 today only!” using stolen product images.
- Text overlays make false claims about huge savings and limited-time offers.
- Links promised in captions actually go to fraudulent sites to steal your data once you purchase.
- No seller information is provided and comments are disabled by the scam account creators.
Carefully scrutinize social media sellers promising unreal clearance prices on major brands. Only purchase through verified brand accounts and websites to avoid clearance sale scams.
What to Do if You’re a Victim of the Scam
If you placed an order through one of these fake Steve Madden websites and either received nothing or counterfeit shoes, you unfortunately got scammed. Here are the important next steps:
File a chargeback immediately – Alert your credit card provider to dispute the charge as fraudulent and request a chargeback. Provide any evidence like screenshots to support your case.
Report to the FTC – Submit a scam report through the Federal Trade Commission so these fraudulent websites are on their radar for potential law enforcement action.
Warn others – Post on social media or review sites warning that the website that scammed you is fraudulent. Spreading awareness helps prevent others from being victimized.
Monitor financial accounts – Keep close watch on all your financial accounts and credit reports for any signs of further misuse of your personal information by the scammers.
Change passwords – If you reused the same password across multiple sites, change it everywhere as a precaution. Criminals who steal passwords often test them on other popular platforms.
Though unlikely to recover lost funds, remaining vigilant about protecting your information and reporting the scam limits additional damages. Share your experience to make more online shoppers aware of tactics used in clearance sale scams.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Steve Madden Clearance Sale Scam
What is the Steve Madden 90% off scam?
This scam involves fake ecommerce websites promoted via social media advertising huge clearance sales on Steve Madden shoes – up to 90% off or more. However, the sites are fraudulent and designed to steal money and information from shoppers. Victims receive nothing after placing orders or low-quality knockoffs.
How can I identify the fraudulent websites?
Watch for red flags like unbelievable prices, recently registered domains, missing contact information, grammatical errors, stolen images, fake urgency slogans, and no social media presence. Any authorized Steve Madden retailer would not offer such unrealistic prices or untraceable websites.
Are the shoes sold authentic Steve Madden?
No. These scam websites have no actual relationship with Steve Madden. The shoes pictured are stolen images from the real website. At best victims might receive counterfeit shoes, but most likely orders are never fulfilled once payment data is obtained.
Why are they able to use the Steve Madden brand?
The scammers simply steal the Steve Madden trademark, product images, and descriptions without permission, passing themselves off as authorized retailers. But Steve Madden does not partner with any websites offering its shoes at 90% off or through social media ads.
How can prices be so low?
The huge discounts are completely fabricated with no basis in reality. Scammers know such unbelievable prices will entice bargain seekers to order without closely evaluating the website’s legitimacy.
What if I already placed an order?
If you provided your payment information, immediately contact your card issuer to dispute the charges and request a new card number to prevent further fraud. Monitor your statements closely for additional suspicious charges. Check your credit reports also for any wider identity theft.
How can I report these scams?
Notify the FTC about the fraudulent website, social media accounts, and any details you have about the scam. This helps law enforcement track the scammers. You can also file complaints directly with Steve Madden to make them aware of brand misuse.
How can I avoid these clearance scams?
Be wary of unbelievable prices promoted on social media from unfamiliar sites. Vet sites thoroughly for red flags before purchasing. Only buy directly from stevemadden.com or authorized major retailers you trust. And always trust your instincts – if an online deal seems suspicious, walk away.
The Bottom Line on the Steve Madden Clearance Sale Scam
Savvy consumers know real bargains on premium brands that seem too good to be true often are. The Steve Madden version of this clearance sale scam relies on FOMO and the brand’s popularity to bait unsuspecting shoppers into handing over their money and data.
But after placing orders through the convincing fake websites, customers are left empty-handed. Any attempt to reach customer service reveals the sham, but by then it is too late.
Protect yourself by being wary of unbelievable discounts promoted through social media ads and unfamiliar websites. Research the site thoroughly and watch for red flags indicating a fraudster imitating an authorized retailer. Only shop directly on stevemadden.com or with reputable stores you trust.
If you got duped by one of these scams, immediately file disputes and monitor your information closely for any signs of identity theft. Report the website and social media accounts to aid law enforcement and public awareness efforts. Avoid becoming another victim by being an informed consumer and trusting your intuition when online deals seem suspicious.
