Nike In Depth

Sections on this page
  1. Types of Fake Nike Scams
  2. How To Beat Fake Nike Scams
  3. Protection Against Fake Nike Scams

Everyone knows the Nike brand. It is one of the most well-known shoe brands and a frequent target of counterfeiters and scammers, resulting in numerous variations of fake Nike prototypes.

Nike started small in 1964 as a company called Blue Ribbon Sports and was founded by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman. Knight and Bowerman were both runners who saw a need for a new type of shoe that gave the right kind of support.

After some disagreements with a Japanese shoemaker that Blue Ribbon was in business with, Nike rebranded itself in 1971. The iconic "Waffle Trainer" shoe was released shortly after and quickly became a major success.

Nike became a public company in 1980, and the company has only continued to grow since then. Nike's shoes have had celebrity endorsements by Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and many other athletes.

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Types of Fake Nike Scams

Because Nikes have been in demand since the company first started and Nike comes out with new shoes all the time, Nike is one of the top brands that scammers counterfeit.

Deep Discounts on Fake Nikes

Nikes can cost a lot of money. Scammers and counterfeiters know this and set up complete e-commerce sites with deep discounts on Nike shoes to attract sneaker fans and make money fast. Your purchase will go through fine most of the time, and you will get shoes in the mail. The problem is that instead of authentic Nikes, you will be shipped counterfeits. Most of these sites are short-lived and disappear within days or weeks.

Since these are fly-by-night websites, the scammer will use social media and messaging apps to notify thousands of people of the "deal" to generate a lot of customers. They may even set up social media accounts to make the fake Nike site look more legitimate.

Beware of Fake Nikes on Popular Sites

Fake Nikes, including fake Nike Air Jordans and Air Force 1 sneakers, are also often sold on classified sites like Craigslist, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace.

Fake Nike Giveaways

In this scam, both the Nikes and the giveaways are fake. Scammers flood social networks and messaging apps with notifications about a free Nike giveaway. Clicking the link will take you to a website where you have to enter personal details or possibly pay a "small fee" or shipping charge to get the free Nikes.

Once you enter your credit card details or personal info, the scammer will have them, and your identity and money are stolen.

Fake Nike Job Recruitment

This scam has nothing to do with fake shoes but with a fake job at Nike. Scammers who run this type of scam set up a fake social media account that claims that you can become a Nike brand ambassador just by jumping through a few hoops, like:

  • Having a certain number of social media followers
  • Reposting messages
  • Following other accounts

Most of the time, the scammer is just trying to build a social media following to the fake account but could scam people into entering personal details on a phishing site.

How To Beat Fake Nike Scams

When you run into Nikes at a fraction of their retail price, it may be hard to resist buying right away—scam websites can be very convincing. Here are some tips to help you determine if you are dealing with a fake Nike scam.

Do Your Research

If you are directed to a website with deep discounts on Nikes from a social media or message link, do your due diligence before you make a purchase. If the website lists an address for the business, copy it, paste it into Google, and check it out in Google Map's street view.

Does it look like a valid business? Also, search for reviews of the website online. Are there any? Were past customers happy with their purchases?

Question the Source

If you got a link to an online store selling Nikes in a message, question how you got it. Do you know the person well? If you do, would they send you a link like this? It could be possible that someone you know had their account hacked. Contact them some other way and find out if they actually sent you the link.

Inspect the Website

Look at the website in detail. Does it have an address? Is there a way to contact the site owners? If not, it could be a site set up specifically to sell counterfeits quickly. Do they have social media accounts that look legitimate? If anything seems suspicious, go with your instincts and don't make a purchase.

Don't Share the Link Yourself

Scammers want you to spread their messages without thinking. If you run into a Nike deal, don't share the link with your friends or on social media until you have checked it out for yourself.

Protection Against Fake Nike Scams

If you run into a website selling fake Nikes, you should report it. Here are some other things you should do if you have been scammed into buying fake Nikes.

Contact Your Bank or Credit Card Company

Call your bank or credit card company if you have already purchased the fake Nikes or entered your details on a phishing site. They may be able to work with you to stop payment on the transaction.

If you entered your credit card details online to buy the fake Nikes, your credit card account could be at risk. You should cancel your old card and request a new one to prevent any fraud.

Report Fakes to Nike

Nike doesn't like fake copies of their shoes being sold, so they do all they can to prevent the illegal manufacturing, trafficking, and selling of counterfeit Nikes. Report any fake Nikes to them by emailing [email protected]. Be sure to include pictures of the fake shoes and the website or name and location of the store you bought the shoes from to help them stop the scammer.

Contact Details

Nike


Phone: +1 (800) 344-6453
Website: https://www.nike.com/
Contact page: https://www.nike.com/LiveChat

Verified.org

Verified Contact Details

It's important to verify links and contact details to beat imposters.

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