Warning: Online Joann Fabric and Crafts sale might be a fraudulent endeavor.
Going-Out-Business Sales and Scams: A Warning About Joann Fabric and Crafts
When a retail giant like Joann Fabric and Crafts announces bankruptcy and store closures, the temptation for bargain hunters can be irresistible. But beware, as scammers are taking advantage of this popular trend, posing as Joann Fabric and Crafts and advertising phony online clearance sales on social media sites like Facebook, Pinterest, and Nextdoor [1][2][3][4].
How the Scam Operates
These fake sale ads give a glimpse of eye-catching deals and provide a pathway to counterfeit websites, where you can supposedly purchase inventory items. Your payment goes straight into the pockets of the fraudsters––your charge will display something other than Joann, and you won't receive the ordered items [1][2].
Avoiding Online Sale Scams
Whether it's a sale with supposedly great deals or a liquidation event like Joann's, exercise caution before diving in. Scams capitalize on our emotional responses to urgency, so don't blindly dive into limited-time deals or pricing that seems too good to be true [1][2].
Don't click on online sale ads, instead, go directly to the company's website by typing in the URL. In Joann's case, there is an explicit notice on the website about the fraudulent online sales that states: "There are no other authorized Joann shopping sites" [1][2].
If you still choose to shop clearance sales, pay with a credit card and keep receipts. Credit cards provide better fraud protection than debit cards, so you can dispute charges if you don't receive the goods [1][2][4]. Also, maintain all purchase records and receipts in case you need to report fraudulent charges.
Don't forget to share scam warnings with friends and family, and report suspected scams to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for a safer shopping experience [2].
Sources:- [1] Federal Trade Commission (FTC) press release, 7 March 2025, https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2025/03/fit-into-pandemic-demand-some-resellers-impersonating-joann- [2] Joann Fabric and Crafts notice about fraudulent online sales, 5 March 2025, https://www.joann.com/legal- [3] USA Today article on Joann Fabric and Crafts bankruptcy, 4 February 2025, https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/02/04/joann-fabric-craft-store-files-bankruptcy-second-time-in-11-years/63832049007/- [4] Consumer Reports advice on deceiving online sales, 5 March 2025, https://www.consumerreports.org/shopping/how-to-recognize-and-avoid-deceptive-online-shopping-sites/
- The ongoing Joann Fabric sale scam, pertaining to business and finance, has been a topic of general-news and crime-and-justice, with scammers posing as Joann Fabric and Crafts on social media sites like Facebook, Pinterest, and Nextdoor, requesting payments that go straight into the pockets of the fraudsters and never deliver the ordered items.
- In the finance world, when shopping Joann Fabric clearance sales, it's advised to pay with a credit card and keep receipts, as credit cards offer better fraud protection than debit cards, allowing you to dispute charges if you don't receive your goods.
- To enhance financial safety and combat online retail scams like the Joann Fabric sale scam, it's crucial to share scam warnings with friends and family, and report suspected scams to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), promoting a safer shopping experience for all.
