Let’s play a game. Open up Facebook or Instagram right now and scroll for five minutes. Odds are, you’ll see an ad offering an insane deal on a big-name brand—Herman Miller chairs for $129, or Cotopaxi backpacks at 80% off. Maybe the ad looks perfect: real product photos, official logos, even a “store closing” story or free shipping for orders over $50. Too good to be true? You bet.
But if you think you’re too smart to fall for a scam like this, think again. These fraudsters are getting more sophisticated by the day, and their scams are everywhere.
The Real-Looking Scams: Herman Miller and Cotopaxi
Take a look at these actual ads that ran on Facebook and Instagram:
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Herman Miller’s Facebook Ad: The page claims to be “HermanMiller-US,” uses the real logo, and promises an “Outlet Event” with up to 70% off. There’s a polished photo of their iconic chairs, prices slashed from $1,995 to $129, and a breathless call to “Shop Now—before we run out!”
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Cotopaxi’s Instagram Ad: Same playbook. Big, bright Cotopaxi logo, a colorful spread of backpacks, and the promise of “Up to 80% OFF. Free Delivery. No Excuse Free Return.” Tap the ad, and you’re whisked off to a site offering “Best Sellers” at prices that make REI look like a scammer by comparison.
You’re probably thinking: “How is this even allowed?” Here’s the uncomfortable truth—Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, makes it way too easy for scammers to run paid ads, and often does little to stop them until it’s too late.
What Happens When You Click?
Let’s say curiosity (or hope) gets the best of you. You click “Shop Now.” What happens next?
You land on a fake site that looks professional, borrowing every trick from real e-commerce.
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Slick Product Photos: Usually stolen directly from the brand’s website.
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Wildly Low Prices: Every chair, pack, or shirt is 70–80% off, no exceptions.
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Urgency: “Store closing soon! Limited time! 3–5 days delivery!”
But here’s the latest twist: fake trust signals. On the Cotopaxi scam site, a green “Trusted Store” badge pops up in the corner. Click it, and you see a menu of impressive-looking (but meaningless) certifications:
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Certified Secure
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100% Issue-Free
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Verified Business
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Data Protection
All are “Certified ✓.” All are completely made up.
This is pure theater. There is no independent authority handing out these seals—these are just images and words designed to get you to drop your guard.
You might even see a “countdown timer” (“Sale ends in 08:17:35!”) or a fake inventory counter (“Only 4 left in stock!”). All of it is meant to rush you through to checkout.
Here’s the reality:
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If you buy, your money’s gone. The product never ships.
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Your data is at risk. Scammers now have your card, address, and maybe more.
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By the time you realize it’s a scam, the site is gone—and the scammers are on to the next fake store.
Spotting the Red Flags: How to Catch a Scam Before It Catches You
Scam sites can look incredibly convincing, but there are always tells if you know what to look for. Here are the most important red flags—now including the crucial domain age check:
1. Unbelievable Prices – A $1,995 Herman Miller chair for $129? Cotopaxi bags for $25? If it feels like you’ve stumbled onto a secret clearance that no one else knows about, stop. These prices aren’t just rare—they’re impossible for legit retailers, even during the biggest sales.
2. “Everything Must Go!” and Fake Urgency – Scam ads love dramatic backstories: warehouse closings, “outlet events,” “store shutting down forever,” or “only a few left in stock!” These are psychological tricks to rush your decision-making and shut down your skepticism.
3. Suspicious URLs – Always scrutinize the web address. Genuine brands have simple, official URLs (like hermanmiller.com or cotopaxi.com). Scammers add hyphens, extra words, or weird suffixes: “hermanmiller-us.com,” “cotopaxi-store.shop,” etc. If you’re unsure, Google the brand and follow the top link—or type the URL directly.
4. Check the Domain’s Age (Whois Lookup) – This is a powerful but underused tool. Scammers set up new websites constantly.
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Use a free Whois lookup service (whois.domaintools.com, who.is) and enter the website’s URL.
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Look for the “creation date.”
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If the site is just a few days or weeks old (like the Cotopaxi scam site—only 13 days old!), it’s almost certainly a scam.
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Most legit brands have websites that are years old, not weeks.
5. Fake Trust Badges and “Trusted Store” Pop-ups – Those green checkmarks, “certified secure” labels, and “Trusted Store” pop-ups mean nothing if you don’t recognize the issuer. Scammers add these to create a false sense of legitimacy. Real brands rarely display random trust widgets in the corner.
6. Bad Grammar and Awkward English – Watch for weird phrasing like “No Excuse Free Return” or “Before Out of Stock!” These mistakes are common when scammers rush to copy/paste and translate.
7. Payment Red Flags – Legit sites will let you pay with major credit cards, PayPal, and sometimes Apple/Google Pay. Be skeptical if they push you toward debit cards, Zelle, Venmo, wire transfers, or cryptocurrencies—these are much harder to recover from if you get scammed.
8. No Real Customer Service – Check for a genuine customer service number, business address, and working email. If you can’t find a way to reach a human, or if the only “contact” option is a sketchy form, that’s a problem.
9. Over-the-Top Reviews or No Reviews – Fake sites may flood their pages with glowing reviews and five-star ratings—or have no reviews at all. Search independently for reviews before trusting what’s on their site.
How to Protect Yourself: Building Your Scam-Defense Toolkit
You don’t need to be a cybersecurity pro to stay safe, but you do need to stay alert. Here’s how:
1. Gut Check—Is It Too Good to Be True? – Pause. Breathe. If you wouldn’t believe this deal from a friend, don’t believe it from an ad. Great deals exist, but legendary deals are usually just that—legends.
2. Always Check the Official Brand Site – Before buying, open a new tab and Google the brand. Go to their real homepage and look for any mention of the sale. If you can’t find the same deal, that’s a huge warning sign.
3. Use a Whois Lookup for New Stores – If you’re on a site you’ve never heard of, look up the domain age. Anything less than a year old is highly suspicious for a major brand.
4. Stick to Credit Cards – Always pay with a credit card for extra fraud protection and chargeback options. Avoid debit cards, gift cards, Zelle, Venmo, or bank transfers.
5. Ignore Trust Badges You Don’t Recognize – Those green checkmarks, “certified secure,” and “trusted store” badges are easy to fake. Only trust certifications from major, well-known organizations (like Norton Secured, BBB, or TRUSTe)—and even then, verify by clicking the badge and seeing if it links to a real third-party site.
6. Research the Seller – Search for “[store name] scam” or “[URL] reviews.” If you see posts on Reddit or consumer complaint sites warning people off, believe them.
7. Look for Contact and Return Policies – Real brands have clear return policies, a working customer service number, and a real address. If any of these are missing or vague, proceed with caution.
8. Report Suspicious Ads – Help others by flagging scammy ads on Facebook and Instagram. It won’t stop all scammers, but it slows them down and gets fraudulent ads removed faster.
9. Enable Alerts and Monitor Statements – If you buy something online and later suspect it’s a scam, monitor your credit card statements and enable purchase alerts so you’ll know instantly if something’s off.
Bottom Line:
When it comes to online shopping, a healthy dose of skepticism is your best friend. Trust your instincts, double-check the details, and never rush into a deal just because the ad tells you it’s your last chance.
Remember: In 2025, scammers are professional—and so is your defense. If it’s too good to be true, it almost always is.
Disclosure: The scam sites and ads described in this article are in no way affiliated with Herman Miller, Cotopaxi, or any legitimate brands. All examples are of fraudulent third-party activity.
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