BedBathClose.com is a deceptive website masquerading as the well-known retailer Bed Bath & Beyond. This fraudulent site exploits Bed Bath & Beyond’s recent bankruptcy announcement and store-closing sale, offering massive discounts that are simply too good to be true.
- Unrealistic discounts: BedBathClose.com offers discounts ranging from 50-80% on a wide range of home goods, including furniture. These discounts are far beyond what would be considered realistic for high-quality furniture items.
- Poorly constructed site: BedBathClose.com is a badly built site and lacks the professional polish seen on a legitimate retail website. This includes weird font, issues like broken links, inconsistent layouts, and overall clunky navigation.
- Plagiarized images: The scammers behind Bedbathclose.com appear to have lifted images directly from the legitimate Bed Bath & Beyond website, as well as used screenshots from the site. This has made them grainy and pixelated.
- Fake trusted score rating: The site has a “trusted store” rating on the bottom right of the page, which is self-assigned and lacks endorsement from any recognized authority. This tactic is a typical strategy used by scam sites to falsely convey trustworthiness.
How to avoid being scammed when shopping online
Scammers are constantly coming up with creative ways to swindle victims out of their hard-earned cash, so it’s important to take steps to protect yourself. Here are a few ways to avoid scam websites when shopping online:- Shop with trusted retailers: Stick to well-known and established online stores that have a good reputation. Avoid shopping on websites that you’ve never heard of before or that look unprofessional.
- Look for the HTTPS lock: When you’re on a website that’s secure, you’ll see a padlock icon in the address bar and the URL will start with “https://” instead of “http://”. This means that your information is encrypted and protected from hackers.
- Beware of phishing emails: Scammers often send phishing emails that look like they’re from legitimate retailers. These emails may contain links to fake websites or ask you to enter your personal information. Never click on links in emails or enter your personal information unless you’re sure you’re on the real website of the retailer.
- Be careful about social media ads: Scammers often use social media ads to promote fake products or websites. Be wary of any ads that offer products or prices that seem too good to be true.
- Read customer reviews: Before you buy anything, read customer reviews to see what other people have said about the product and the retailer. If you see a lot of negative reviews, it’s best to avoid the product or retailer.
- Be careful about what information you share: Only share your personal information with retailers that you trust. Avoid giving out your Social Security number or credit card information unless it’s absolutely necessary.
- Do your research: If you’re buying something from a new or unfamiliar retailer, take some time to research them online. Read reviews from other customers and see if the retailer has a good reputation.
- Be suspicious of deals that seem too good to be true: If you see a product that’s priced significantly lower than it is on other websites, it’s probably a scam.
- Don’t wire money to sellers: Wiring money is like sending cash, and it’s very difficult to get your money back if you’re scammed.
- Use a secure internet connection: Avoid shopping online when you’re using public Wi-Fi, as these networks are less secure.
