WilkoClosing.com is a fake website that claims to be selling Wilko products at clearance prices. The scam works by luring shoppers in with unrealistic discounts of up to 90%. Once a shopper places an order, they are either not sent anything at all, or they receive cheap counterfeits, used or tampered goods, or completely wrong items. In some cases, victims have also reported their personal and payment information being stolen.
- Unrealistic discounts: Genuine retailers rarely offer more than 50% off at maximum. Discounts above 70% or 90% are almost always scams.
- No valid contact information: WilkoClosing.com has no valid customer service phone number, physical address, or live chat. This lack of contact details prevents reaching anyone with issues.
- Opaque ownership and operation details: The site completely lacks transparency about who owns or operates the business. Opaque sites should never be trusted with purchases or data.
- Sloppy website: Overall, WilkoClosing.com is a badly designed website with misspellings, grammatical errors, and inconsistent formatting.
- Stolen product images: Reverse image searching product images from WilkoClosing.com often reveals that they are stolen from other sites.
- Reliance on social media ads and influencer posts: WilkoClosing.com relies on Facebook/Instagram ads and fake influencer posts to lure in victims rather than organic traffic. This is because the site has been flagged by Google so it doesn’t feature as a search engine result.
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.
