Dosh dilemma – conned by fake closing-down sale, Craig wants to know what are his rights

Craig thought he’d bagged a bargain. He was scrolling through social media one evening when an ad popped up - a well-known sportswear brand claiming to be closing down.

‘Everything must go’,  it said, promising up to 75% off, and Craig, needing a new tracksuit, clicked on the link.

The website looked convincing, with branded images and ‘premium’ shipping that made it all feel urgent and official. So Craig made the purchase and waited… and waited. The tracksuit never came.

Smelling a rat, Craig rang the real retailer, which told him, there is no closing down sale and the website he bought from wasn’t connected to them at all.

Realising he’d been scammed, Craig wants to know what are his rights and what he can do about it.

Fake ‘closing-down’ and ‘clearance’ sales are one of the most common online scams doing the rounds this year. Scammers are taking advantage of the economic climate, with many real businesses shutting their doors, it's easier than ever to pass off fake sales as genuine.

How these scams work

Here’s how fraudsters trick people like Craig:

• You see an ad on social media promoting a massive sale, often with familiar brand names.
• You click onto a fake website that looks real.
• A timer rushes you to make a decision (usually five minutes to check- out).
• During checkout, they gather your personal data like your address, email and payment details.
• They often add non-removable ‘VIP’ shipping to bump up the total cost.
• The payment page looks real but your money goes straight to the scammer.
• And then nothing arrives. You've lost your money and shared your personal information.

Craig, you do have rights, here’s what you can do

If you’ve fallen for a scam like this, don’t panic. There are steps you can take:

Report the scam to:

• Action Fraud
• Trading Standards using Citizen’s Advice online form.
• Online platforms: report the ad on Facebook, Instagram or wherever you saw it.

Try to get your money back

• If you paid by debit or credit card, contact your bank and ask about a chargeback.
• If you used a credit card and the item cost more than £100 and under £30,000, you’re protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
• If you paid with PayPal, use the Resolution Centre to open a dispute.
• If it was via a bank transfer or other method, call your bank immediately. They may be able to reverse the transaction if it's caught in time.

How you can stay safe from scams like this

Flashy ads that offer branded items for heavily reduced prices can be very tempting. But here are some quick ways to protect yourself:

• Remember the golden rule, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
• Check the website carefully, does the web address look odd or slightly misspelled? Or, a web address that’s missing the padlock symbol or the ‘https’ at the start, can be a tell-tale sign it’s dodgy.
• Don’t rely on the contact information in the ad, always double-check a company’s official website before buying.
• Pause before you pay. Take a breath, or better still, talk it through with a friend. Scammers rely on speed and panic to catch you out.

We hope this helps Craig and you manage to recoup the money.