Beware of Makita SCAMS and Fake Stores

New fake Makita tool stores are targeting Black Friday shoppers with deals that are too good to be true.

I was double-checking Makita combo kit pricing and came across multiple advertisements that all featured impossibly low prices. We have covered tool scams before, but this is the first time I have seen Makita cordless power tools used as the bait.

Here is what two of the listings looked like:

Reminder: Many scam and fake store product pages feature low inventory counts and high “eyeball counters” to manipulate you into a state of urgency. Some stores – but not this one – also have countdown timers to further push you to action.

Other listings are a little plainer, but the prices are still suspect. This is not real – you are NOT getting a full 15pc cordless power tool combo kit for less than $75. In reality, this kit sells for more than 20X that amount.

Yes, there are some really good Makita cordless power tool deals for Black Friday and the holiday shopping season this year. Here is a look at all of the real Makita Black Friday 2021 tool deals we’ve learned about so far.

The old adage is true – if it seems too good to be true… beware.

Here is a list of legitimate Makita tool dealers:

Acme Tools
Amazon
CPO
Home Depot
Tool Nut

I’m sure many of you have your own favorites as well. But let’s say you come across an online retailer you have never seen before, or maybe you are new to online shopping. How do you know if it’s a scam?

The first thing to do is to look up the website’s registration domain. You can do that via the ICANN Lookup Tool at https://lookup.icann.org/ , or other such WHOIS lookup services.

The store in the first image above, which is advertising the “Black Friday 2021 Early Deal,” was first created on 11/11/2021. The second was created on 11/4/2021. Another fake storefront that I checked was created on 11/3/2021.

Do you think it’s safe to trust online storefronts that only just launched?

Sometimes older domain names can be used, and a website’s registration might have been created several years ago. In that case, there are additional red flags to look for.

Does the store have any social media links? If the social media links work – most times they do not – do they link to real accounts that actually match the store’s name?

Does the store have seemingly random categories? If an online store is advertising Makita cordless power tool kits but their two main product categories are watersports equipment and fashion dresses, something’s fishy.

If you suspect an online store to be fake or a scam, do NOT give them your financial information.

I have not yet seen storefronts that spoof Makita’s branded pages, but I’m sure they’re out there. Makita does NOT sell tools directly. If you come across a store that mimics the real Makita website, double check the domain name.

To report websites that you believe to be fake or scams, you can report them to Makita via their contact form. Makita USA provides additional advice and instructions for anyone that might have fallen for fraudulent listings:

If you have made a purchase or become aware of any similar fraud or scam, please contact Daniel Rhodes, General Counsel at 800.462.5482, x4215 and report the fraud to your credit card company and/or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/

If you’re interested in other examples, we have previously reported about other instances of tool scams.

Please stay vigilant. With Black Friday nearly upon us, I’m sure there will be many more scammers seeking to dupe you and your loved ones.