Joann, the fabric and craft retailer, is closing. Unfortunately, that means scammers are swarming: Warn the DIY crafters in your life.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a consumer warning this week specifically addressing the Joann Fabric & Craft scammers. The deception is relatively sophisticated. The FTC warned that bad actors are running fake promos online and on social media, promising stellar going-out-of-business deals since Joann is closing. Those ads lead to fake websites that steal consumers' info.
Wrote the FTC:
"People report seeing ads for an online JOANN’s bankruptcy sale while browsing sites like Facebook, Pinterest, or Nextdoor. But JOANN isn’t selling online anymore — their own website says so. So if you click on the ad for a (fake) online JOANN sale, you’ll go to the (fake) JOANN’s website and see (fake) super-cheap deals. If you decide to buy, you’ll pay and get an emailed receipt.
But soon, according to reports, you’ll find out the receipt not from JOANN. Your bank or credit card statement will show you’ve paid someone other than JOANN, and you probably won’t be getting a package to go with that bill."
In short, yes, Joann Fabrics is going out of business, but the Joann going-out-of-business online sale you saw advertised on Facebook or Pinterest is fake. In fact, Joann isn't selling anything online anymore.
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What to do if you see the Joann Fabrics scam?
Per the FTC, the first thing you need to know is that Joann closing sales are in-person only, meaning online deals are, by definition, fake. Do not click those ads and, if you like, report the phony ads to the platform where it's hosted.
In general, the FTC warned that consumers should be wary of "unusually good deals" and to pay with credit cards when possible, since they often offer more protections.
If you clicked one of these ads and entered any personal information, contact your financial institution right away.
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