Popular home goods store & 5 Below rival warns shoppers not to be fooled by impersonators as it clos
A MUCH-loved home goods store and Five Below rival is worried about shoppers being tricked by online impersonators as it closes outlets across the US.
Dodgy websites and Facebook pages are claiming to be Christmas Tree Shops - but you risk being scammed if you click on them, warns the Middleboro-based firm.
Discount home goods retailer CTS is going out of business after filing for bankruptcy in May.
The chain shocked shoppers after announcing it was to close down all 65 stores by the end of next month.
However, this weekend will see the early shuttering of many stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, according to the Christmas Tree Shops website.
Those closing Sunday, July 30 are in Natick, North Dartmouth, Orleans, Pembroke and West Dennis, as well as in Nashua and Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
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The chain has been advertising a massive "going out of business sale" in its final weeks.
CTS said that "everything must go" including home decor, patio items, kitchen and dining plus pieces to spruce up bedrooms and bathrooms.
Its website added that customers could make huge savings, as prices will be chopped by 30 to 70 percent off the lowest ticket price.
SCAMS
But, before this weekend's big sell-off, it warned that scammers are busy trying to fool shoppers into parting with their cash.
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Fraudsters are posing as the Christmas Tree Shops on the web.
The firm said: "Christmas Tree Shops does not sell online.
"There are several websites and Facebook pages claiming to be us. Please make sure you're on our official website and Facebook page before providing any personal information."
Recently released Federal Trade Commission data shows that consumers reported losing nearly $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022, an increase of more than 30 percent over the previous year.
The most commonly reported to the FTC were imposter scams, followed by online shopping scams.
HUGE SALES
CTS is a 53-year-old chain founded on Cape Cod.
Although it had hoped to stay open after closing some stores, its lawyers told the bankruptcy court a fortnight ago that it could not buy inventory to restock shelves.
This has resulted in lost sales and its current liquidation sale, reported Mass Live.
The liquidation is being managed by Hilco Merchant Resources.
It said: "At the going out of business sales, shoppers can take advantage of discounts up to 50 percent off the lowest ticketed prices throughout the store, with all Christmas and other holiday items being 50 per cent off the lowest ticketed prices."
After filing for bankruptcy May 5 this year, Christmas Tree Shops had initially planned to close just 10 stores.
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But when the Massachusetts-based retailer defaulted on its $45 million bankruptcy loan, the list of closures extended to every single store.
If you’re planning to grab a last-minute bargain, note that CTS stopped honoring gift cards as of July 21.
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