There’s a big problem going on right now – fake tool stores that look real enough to fool even savvy shoppers. I recently posted about a fake Ryobi Tools scam store, and it appears that there are now fake Dewalt Tool stores.
A reader brought this to my attention, with a link and asking if it’s complete BS. It’s good that they asked, but that there was any uncertainty as to the scam store’s illegitimacy is a big problem.
These “stores” are NOT LEGIT.
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I have posted about fake and scam tool stores before, and it’s an increasing problem. Things are getting worse now, as the storefronts are copying official imagery and branding assets. They’re throwing up fewer red flags and tricking more people.
Here’s what you might see for certain Dewalt-related search terms on Google – listings with low prices and a link to “Dewalt Tools.”
The example sent to me was for a Dewalt impact wrench, and I found other listings such as for Dewalt Tools. These are located in the ads and paid placements of a Google search.
This is what you see when you visit the website. Dewalt branding, the iconic Dewalt yellow and black color scheme, and a storefront that looks legitimate at the surface.
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If you look down the page, the store is branded “Dewalt Store,” although the URL does not match.
This is what the homepage looks like on mobile.
Below a couple of promotional images and marketing claims, including a section about “3 reasons to buy recon,” you’ll find “Hot Sale” items – listings of Dewalt cordless power tool batteries at impossibly low pricing.
I found TWO websites like this thus far, and there could be others.
The fake Dewalt Tools stores aren’t just “selling” cordless power tools, they also have listings for Tstak and ToughSystem tool boxes, outdoor power tools, plumbing tools, hand tools, lasers, and more.
Here’s what a https://lookup.icann.org/ search turns up for the two domains:
Created: 2021-07-02 15:43:05 UTC
Created: 2021-07-02 15:43:08 UTC
What this means is that the two “Dewalt Tools” store URLs did not exist prior to a few weeks ago. When looking at a website’s registration information, the “Created” information relates to the creation date of that domain.
I found another store with a focus on corded power tools.
Created: 2021-01-29 15:17:58 UTC
That particular fake/scam Dewalt Tools storefront is one of the first Google search ads for “Dewalt Store.”
While it’s possible for companies to establish new tool stores and storefronts, these are often fly by night sham and scam stores that can easily disappear as quickly as they appear. Once they do enough damage, they might repeat the same under new domains and URLs.
When one fake storefront is shutdown or earns a reputation for scamming people, a lot of damage has already been done. The people or companies running these fake storefronts can simply copy their entire sites over to new domains and start over.
It also seems that there are many such scam stores operating at the same time. The storefront with impossibly low-priced Dewalt corded power tools seems to have been up for nearly half a year now.
Readers have asked us about scam storefronts before, and they usually mention coming across them via Facebook ads. This is the first time I have seen product listings myself, and via Google shopping ads.
Yes, the storefronts and their ads look convincing at the surface, but please don’t fall for it! I have NEVER heard of any positive outcomes.
Sometimes the result is “they took my money and I never heard from them again,” other times it’s “they took my money and sent me a fake tracking number for something else sent to my zip code.”
Don’t fall for the scam!!
There are other “gotchas” when you look at the storefronts, such as social media links that don’t go anywhere, and the absence of any phone number or address. Other signs, such as nonsensical “about” pages” are further indication that these fake stores aren’t at all related to Dewalt.
This fake/scam Dewalt Tools store looks pretty real, but it’s not. There are ways they could make it look even more real and legitimate, but the WHOIS information doesn’t like.
If a price looks too low to be true, it almost always is. That tiny percentage of “I can’t believe I bought it for that price!” instances is what sows doubt and leads shoppers to want these low prices to be true. But they’re not.
When you spot an impossibly low price at a reputable store, you might place the order figuring “what’s the worst that could happen?” If it’s a once-in-a-lifetime low price, or a price mistake that’s honored, you win out. If your order is cancelled, there’s no harm done. But that’s not true here. If you give these fake stores your personal information or financial information, a lot of harm can be done.
Do NOT take the chance with unknown stores or storefronts.
When in doubt, drop me an email or direct message and I’ll check it out.
Here are some more posts about scam stores, which include tips on how to assess unfamiliar stores for yourself:
Don’t Fall for This Ryobi Tools Scam Store
Is it a Scam? Tips for Assessing Unfamiliar Online Tool Stores
Super Low-Priced Cordless Power Tool Deals Might be Scam
Beware of Dewalt and Milwaukee Cordless Power Tool Scams
Mike
Anyone who does even minimal research would realize that at those prices the merch is stolen or the site is fake. I suppose the real purpose of these sites is CC number harvesting as very few people pay via non-recoverable means these days.
Stuart
There are 3 types of ways a shopper can approach fake or scam tool brand storefronts.
1) “Definitely a scam.”
2) “Could be a scam, but I want it to be true.”
3) “Ooh, a great deal, take my money.”
The scam stores are looking real enough that they are increasingly convincing.
When Google of Facebook show ads to these storefronts, that gives a false sense of credibility.
Someone sent me hate email a few months ago, accusing me of recommending a fake store that had scammed them. I had no idea what they’re talking about, but it seems they clicked on a Facebook ad when browsing my page. I/TG have nothing to do with Facebook ads – Facebook alone receives 100% of the payments.
The moment you click a fake store link, there’s already a false suggestion of credibility. Then, there’s the convincing branding and presentation. Finally, shoppers want the low prices to be true. Some don’t completely fall for the trickery, but take a “what’s the worst that could happen?” stance.
You can say “I can’t believe anyone would fall for this,” but the cons are getting more sophisticated and more convincing.
Part of the problem is that this also seems to be especially targeting mobile users, where vetting a store could take longer than on a computer. Checkout processes have also become faster, and so there’s less time to back out or think things through.
MM
Maybe this is just me, but in all my years of using the internet–since the days of Dial-up modems, Prodigy and AOL–I don’t think I’ve even once clicked on an internet ad intentionally. The mere fact that someone is paying to shove the ad in my face is enough to make me avoid clicking it, and I refuse to feed the system by giving it clicks. Ironically most of the ads I see online are for things I’ve already bought. On the rare occasion an ad happens to catch my eye–perhaps once every 6 months or so–I’ll manually navigate to the company’s website from the URL bar to specifically avoid clicking the ad.
And again, perhaps this is just me, but I certainly don’t consider anything from Facebook or Google to be automatically trustworthy. Google is a search tool, it finds things. It finds scam sites just as easily as it finds legit sites. I’m not sure where this implicit trust comes from. Facebook is worse: from several high-profile scandals involving leaks of customer’s personal information to inconsistent and arbitrary censorship of its user base it is the antithesis of trustworthy to me and has proven time and time again it does not care one bit about its customers, it only cares for its own political agenda and, of course, money. Again, I’m not sure where the trust comes from. It certainly doesn’t come from reading the legal agreements that both sites have in place.
hvacIQguy
How incredibly true. I see so many BLATANTLY fake sites now. I buy a lot of industry specific tools, when I’m searching for a tool that is priced at $333.74 (in this example I’m using the Fieldpiece SC680 digital multimeter) and if you research that, you’ll find that every reputable seller ANYWHERE is selling it for almost exactly the same price. And from storefronts that (if that is your industry) you know very well. Then there will be one for $99.95 from XYZEMP.com. But it seems to be even worse than that. Anymore, I won’t buy anything from anyone if I can’t meet them IN PUBLIC/CROWDED PLACE (somewhat), And even then, you better be careful. If you’re buying something you don’t know a lot about, you better do your research. I’ve been ripped off on every platform that I’ve had dealings with. I buy HVACR tools like Fieldpiece and Testo probes and gauges. All these digital, wireless, blue tooth tools. Then the manufacturer will update a tool, and barely change anything, if anything at all about that tool. Someone on marketplace or any one of these “LetGo” type sites will sell you a Fieldpiece SRS2, but advertise it as an SRS3. You won’t figure it out until you start to wonder why it won’t connect to blue tooth, and realize, you’ve been dooped RITE IN YOUR FACE!!! Through your own (like you were talking about☝️Up there) WANT to believe, and even though you know you looked rite at BOTH model numbers from the scale AND remote. Still🤦🏼♂️……. some people man… some frikin people got audacity the size of Texas, don’t they?🤣😂
Doug N
Yes, I’ve been seeing these more often at the top of any google search for power tools. It’s unfortunate because the ads look identical to genuine ones, except for the ridiculous prices.
Kane
> other times it’s “they took my money and sent me a fake tracking number for something else sent to my zip code.”
I believe this is a key part of the scam. If there’s a delivery record, the payment processor will deem that the “seller” has fulfilled their part of the transaction. The buyer/victim now has to argue the point further, which takes time.
I have heard of scammers stringing along the early victims with “I’m sorry, there was an address mixup. We will resend the package.” Several more weeks pass; by then, they’ve scammed enough, close up the site, lather, rinse, repeat.
DAVID PERKINS
I only shop at reputable stores. And any ad that is grossly underpriced, is just ignored as fraud.
But a site, that wasn’t grossly underpriced and showed a sale item 10 or 20% off regular retail would get my attention. Enough for me to look to see if they had good customer service. I think those sites might actually get more suckers.
Rog
“but the WHOIS information doesn’t like.” I believe you meant lie.
Thanks for keeping people informed about these scam sites!
Stuart
Thanks, *fixed*!
A W
On mobile, it still says “but the WHOIS information doesn’t like.”
Scott
I have been seeing these since last year. One red flag is that they show the Paypal logo but it is not an option at the actual checkout. I wanted to use Paypal to provide an additional layer of protection, but them not offering it or another payment service is a sign of a questionable merchant.
It is worth price shopping since there are deals to be found.
Frank D
The problem is Google accepting these into the advertising programs and pushing these stores as number 1 2 3 on related search results, with feedback loops (just like viral videos) where people click, spend time, etc and then the site will rank up rapidly.
One thing I come across often is unheard of web stores, usually clothing or house merchandise, having giant batches of skus and copied manufacturer pages for powertools and outdoor power equipment parts. And they’ll have huge indexes of these tool or parts brands; hidden behind a simple clothing store, while there is no way they are a legitimate tool brand seller or repair parts distributor that we see in NA. I always report them … I wish google didn’t keep making it harder and harder to do so.
Peter Hoh
I wonder if legitimate sellers have realized that FB’s willingness to run these scam ads has made many of us unwilling to click on any ads posted on FB.
Jim Felt
When Facelessbook finally takes note that will be a celebratory day indeed but I’m not holding my breath for that to happen.
Jerks.
Champs
I’ve seen a Milwaukee store like this as well. Slick design, but prices to make you wonder if there’s a missing digit really gave it away.
Jim Felt
They’re hoping/counting on “your” greed will blind you to the otherwise obvious scam.
And they wouldn’t keep popping up if they didn’t work.
Gordon
I just saw a “store” selling tool cabinets for $99 delivered. Their ad was a photoshopped photo of a Milwaukee tool cabinet in a Home Depot, with a $99 price tag.
“customers can purchase up to 3 during this sale”. Easy $300 for them.
MFC
Nothing is free unless it’s from someone who really loves you.
These stores do not love you.
Do not get into their black van because they are offering shiny toys.
If the item is from a website you’ve never heard of, at a price that is more than 20% discounted, then you’ve found a scam.
If you can’t call them, it’s a scam.
If there aren’t any reviews, it’s a scam.
If google has no history of then, it’s a scam.
Obviously there are flukes in systems and people get in on the flukes, but they happen at places that are known, and those flukes get fixed quickly.
There are a few reasons why stores discount items:
Too many.
Not enough space.
Too many.
No one is buying at the price.
New stuff coming in and not enough space.
Hoping you’ll buy more than discounted item.
Too many.
Notice how none of the reasons are: Just cuz.
Scammers are getting really good at this so it’s time to put on our thinking caps and use good judgment, not impulses.
Kevin
I really wonder who is dumb enough to fall for these websites. The business of dealing tools operates on pretty close to razor thin margins, which is in part why all the reputable retailers pages look very polished. These pages look very thrown together in comparison, or something reminiscent of what web browsing looked like 2 facades ago. I mean, Times New Roman font, c’mon! Anyhow I’d say if it’s the slightest bit suspicious, it’s most likely illegitimate, and one could always check the SSL certificate for the site. They try and idiot-proof online retail as much as reasonably possible, and the world invents a better idiot.
fred
Well put
The old expression said: you can make something fool-proof but not damn-fool proof – and those damn-fools will get you every time.
Kevin
That’s the truth, there must be a lot of damn-fools out there making it worth the scammers’ time to keep putting the sites up. I think I’m going to put up a site selling admission for the fountain of youth I’ve got in my backyard. First 100 costumers will get a complimentary bag of magic beans.
fred
At least your “fountain of youth ” would have a physical presence and/or actual location. Scam stores seldom have anything more than an email address.
Being an old codger I still like to visit actual tools stores – or at least did so in the pre-pandemic days. It drives my wife nuts – when we are travelling – that I might take the time to pop into one – even though I’m unlikely to buy anything. But go figure – I also like to visit cemeteries and found that ones in Arlington, Brooklyn, New Orleans, Savannah, here in the US and European ones in Paris, Normandy, Luxembourg, Munich, Milan and London were worth a visit. When we were in Munich – we walked through the Ostfriedhof – which was interesting – but the nearby Dictum hardware store was even more so for me. BTW – Dictum does sell online – but not at impossibly low prices.
Kevin
Yeah I hear that, for me there’s no substitute for being able to hold something before you buy it. Some stuff is hard to find in stores but for the most part, if I can get it in a brick and mortar store, that’s where I’m most likely going to get it.
Oleg K
You just noticed? Fake tool stores, same as fake stores for products of any kind are a over the place, ever since the beginning of the pandemic! They even put ads on Facebook and elsewhere, motherfuckers are getting bold… Whenever i see something good good to be true I usually avoid buying it.
Also, eBay made it much easier to commit fraud ever since they changed their policy and require direct payments to bank account, bypassing paypal completely… It’s now harder than ever to find a good deal that won’t bite you in the ass a week later and empty out your bank account.
Jp
That would be some scary stuff but I only shop at the main places mentioned here and harbor freight. So I am safe.
Plain grainy
Has anybody contacted the Better Business Bureau about these sites?
And the consumer protection agency, division of the Federal Trade commission (FTC).
fred
It might not help much because we are talking about scam artists that are more ethereal than real and likely changes email addresses and/or “store” names as often as we might change a pair of pants.
Unfortunately if the word spreads around that some site is a scam – the scammer will likely just move on to creating another one.
Ace1119
I’m not sure that ether the FTC or the BBB can really do much about it. These sites are tricky. They are typically not much more than a web address. It also wouldn’t surprise me if these fake sites are based outside of the United States. It is likely that the best way to get rid of these sites is to contact whoever is hosting the website or the company processing the transitions. Even if the site is taken down it is likely so profitable that another will pop up.
Plain grainy
Well it looks like more resources need to be targeted towards regulating the internet commerce.
Brandon B.
This is why I install ad blockers on every family/friend computer that I am asked to work on.
Gary
I don’t know about you, but I don’t believe anything connected to Google or Facebook. It’s really hard to find any facts on either site when it come to click bait. You should always find the company name and go direct. Never click a link unless you know what your doing. I have run data centers for decades and it still amazes me that people believe anything on social media. It seems like no one wants to do the research to find out what is real and what is opinion, or just plain snareware. Just be careful out there, I got some stories that you wouldn’t believe any one could be that dense. It happens to the best of us. Stay safe.
Max E.SACCHI
Wowwww this is incredible insight, thank you for your time and effort in this every growing Scam ,you’ve opened my eyes and am subscribed to you as of this instant and will spread the word out in the field I’m a NYC Construction worker and a Tool fanatic ,THANK YOU. MAX E.NYC
Emile
[redacted] selling dewalt tools is a scam beware. They got me i feel so stupid .They offer dewalt tools at low price and send you cheap chinese garbage I emailed them to get my money back but no answer.I will try other ways like getting on touch with my crédit card company .I even paid with paypal .I cant believe paypal and credit card company’s deal with scammers .Any suggestions to get m’y money back . Thankyou
Stuart
Dispute the charges.
Doug E.
This just happened to me. I was suppiscious and NEVER do something like this as it was on my Facebook main page. Actually there were multiple sellers, which led me to beleive that it may be legit. I read the whole thing, clicked a link that went to Home Depot website, and thought, OK, third party seller off loading product for this corporation. Placed the order, received an email from Pay Pal, indicating that a payment had been made to the fraud poster’s account. I also received an email with a confirmation that the order was placed. Was to be deliverd within 3-4 business days. 13 days later nothing. Started searching the web I saw this seller was a known scammer. Started searching Dewalt tools/Facebook and came to here. Know one to blame but myself, but would think Facebook would be more aware of what the allow on their main feed, especially with multiple different sellers advertising the product Lesson learned. PS, mine was the multiple dewalt tool scam. Thanks for listening
Brian Maturen
Is authorized tool outlet legitimate?
Stuart
I’m not familiar with them, but there are signs it could be legit.
Joe
This site is selling fake DeWalt tools. They are the familiar black and Yellow designs but instead of the word DeWalt on the tools there is just a DeWa.
[link redacted]
Stuart
Those aren’t fake tools, they just photoshopped the brand name, presumable to avoid or slow trademark infringement takedowns.
Whether 20 Dewalt or “DeWa” tools for under $100, it’s still a scam. Don’t give these companies your money or personal info, all you’ll get is trouble, and definitely not any tools.
Joe
They have now removed the “DeWa” from the images on their website.