I got a call from my stepdad a few months ago, excited about a fishing kayak that he picked up for $100. Then there was the Stihl battery-powered garden pruner for $20 that hit quite a few of you. Now thereโs a Milwaukee Tool scam running that you need to keep your eyes open for.
How Does the Milwaukee Tool Scam Work?
A lot of these sites are set up as legitimate-looking sites, often selling direct as the manufacturer. The first thing to note is that Milwaukee does not sell direct-to-consumer. If you see a site that looks like youโre getting a deal straight from them, itโs a sure sign that itโs a scam.
Other sites appear to be retailers, and they can be a little tougher to sniff out. These sites typically have deals that are too good to be true, with some sort of deadline that gives you a sense of urgency. Youโll often see something like 80% or 90% off the MSRP, along with a countdown indicating that youโre in the โlast 24 hoursโ of the sale.
Once you give them your credit card/debit card info, the best-case scenario is that theyโll send you a knockoff product in 8 to 12 weeks. The worst-case scenario is they charge more to your credit card and/or sell your info down the line.
You Can Help Fight the Milwaukee Tool Scam
Feel manipulated and mad? You should. These are absolute scum bag tactics (I have more colorful names, but this is a family-friendly website), and theyโve tricked a lot of people into thinking they got a great deal.
If you land on a website that you believe is fraudulent, contact Milwaukee and report it. When you report it, include the following:
- The URL (website address) of the website
- Tell them how you found the site
Click here to report a fraudulent Milwaukee Tool website.
Authorized Milwaukee Retailers
To help you shop with confidence, weโve compiled a list of known online Milwaukee retailers. Note that Amazon is not an authorized Milwaukee retailer.
- Acme Tools
- CPO
- Northern Tool and Equipment
- Ohio Power Tool
- Rural King
- The Home Depot
- Tool Barn
- Tool Nut
There are 27 authorized online retailers; you can view the full list here. It also lets you find local brick-and-mortar stores where you can shop in person.
What To Do If You Got Scammed
If you think you hit one of these websites, the first thing to do is contact your bank or credit card company and have them decline the purchase if they can.
Even if itโs too late to stop the transaction, ask what you can do to block any future transactions from unknown sellers and request new cards.
Dealing with a scam is a pain, but itโs better than your account being drained.
If you happen to get a call from someone at the company because you didnโt complete the transaction or something didnโt work right, do not engage them. Donโt provide them with any personal or financial information, and never disclose your Social Security number. Just hang up.
Lastly, please report the fraudulent site to Milwaukee. The more they can stay on top of these sites, the more quickly they can work to shut them down and ensure that when you buy a Milwaukee product, youโre getting the real deal, along with the performance and quality theyโre known for.
Have a message youโd like to leave for the scammers? Drop them in the comments below!
