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We have been trying to keep you informed and aware of fake tool store scams, where customers are lured in by impossibly low prices.
There is a new trend where the scammers will impersonate popular tool brands, such as Ryobi, Dewalt, and now Milwaukee Tool.
Readers have been reporting fake stores to us, and I’ve been relaying URLs to tool brands who have legal teams in place to take action. There might not be a lot that they can do to take down all of the fake and scam storefronts, but they can certainly take down impersonators that use trademarked branding in their URLs.
Read More About Recent Tool Scams
Milwaukee says that they have seen an increase in the number of scam sites posing as the official Milwaukee Tool website or as a distributor, and that they are actively working hard to out a stop to these sites.
One thing to keep in mind is that Milwaukee Tool does not sell direct to consumers. Refer to their list of authorized dealers to find a distributor near you.
Milwaukee Tool has set up a new Fraudulent Site Reporting Page, where you can provide additional information should you come across a suspicious storefront.
They also provide advice should you or someone you know be scammed by a fake tool store:
If a purchase has been made from a fake website, we recommend the following actions:
1. Inform your financial institution as soon as possible, they can help prevent further charges
2. Report the questionable website to Milwaukee Tool using the following link so we can investigate it further: https://www.milwaukeetool.com/support/fraudulent-site
They ask How Did You Find This [Suspected Scam] Website? with the following options to select:
- Facebook Ad
- Instagram Ad
- Google Search
- Google Sponsored Ad
This matches the discovery methods that we have been hearing about.
As for how to recognize scam stores, here are some tips: Scam or Not? Tips for Assessing Unfamiliar Online Tool Stores.
