How to Spot Fake Bed Bath & Beyond Sale Scams

The recent bankruptcy and store closures of home goods retailer Bed Bath & Beyond has opened the door for online scammers to take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers. Fraudulent websites impersonating BB&B have popped up promoting unrealistic liquidation sales and clearance on inventory and household items. These fake coupon and deal sites are designed to steal your personal and financial information. As a consumer, it’s important to learn how to identify fraudulent Bed Bath & Beyond websites so you don’t get scammed.

Warning Signs of a Fake Bed Bath & Beyond Website

While scam sites are getting more sophisticated, there are still telltale signs that a website is not the real BB&B:

Website URL - Inspect the domain name for extra words like “clearance” or “liquidation” that indicate it’s not the official site.
Prices Too Good to Be True - Scammers lure victims with unrealistic 70-90% off deals on expensive products. Legitimate sales won’t offer these exaggerated discounts.
Grammar/Spelling Errors - Typos, bad grammar, and misspellings indicate an unprofessional scam operation.
Contact Info Missing - No legitimate physical address, customer service number, or email is provided.
Pressuring Tactics - Language tries to create false urgency about limited inventory.
Credit Card Logos Don’t Link Out - Clicking card icons doesn’t open a real payment processor site.
No Secure Checkout - No https, padlock icon, or SSL encryption on the checkout page.

How the Bed Bath & Beyond Shopping Scams Work

While scam websites may look convincing at first glance, their tactics for stealing your information become clear upon closer inspection:

Fake Discount Codes - Promotional codes don’t actually work if you try to apply them in the cart.
Bogus Shipping Fees - Deceptively low product prices hide exorbitant shipping/handling costs.
Phishing Payment Pages - Entering card details sends the info to scammers, not a real payment processor.
Never Delivering Orders - No physical warehouse exists to fulfill purchases. The site just takes your money.
Selling Your Data - Personal info like name, email, and address gets sold on the dark web.
Stolen Credit Cards - Scammers use collected card numbers to make additional fraudulent purchases.
Impossible to Cancel - Fake sites make it difficult to get refunds or stop recurring bogus charges.

Protect Yourself from Bed Bath & Beyond Scam Websites

If you want to score real savings and deals from BB&B, be proactive against scams by following these tips:

Only Shop Directly at BedBathandBeyond.com - Bookmark the valid URL and access it directly rather than clicking ads.
Verify Sales on the Official Site - Check the legitimate website for any liquidation offers before providing your info.
Use Credit Cards Not Debit - Credit cards have stronger fraud protections if your data gets compromised.
Look for Secured Checkout - Ensure the payment page has https, a lock icon, and is hosted by a valid provider before entering info.
Create Strong, Unique Passwords - Don’t reuse passwords across sites in case scammers obtain your login credentials.
Monitor Financial Accounts Closely - Carefully review credit card and bank statements to identify any unauthorized charges.
Enable Credit Fraud Alerts - Set up transaction monitoring with your card issuer to detect suspicious purchasing activity.
Avoid Entering Personal Details - Never provide confidential information to unfamiliar or sketchy websites.

The bankruptcy of a major retailer like Bed Bath & Beyond generates buzz that scammers capitalize on. Be a savvy online shopper by learning to quickly identify and avoid the red flags of a fake BB&B website. With vigilance, you can enjoy safely shopping the real deals and discounts from this popular home store.

Make sure to check out our other scam guides.