A post advertising a clearance sale at Wilko has been declared fake by administrators and fact checkers. The post, which had been shared on Facebook, was advertising hugely discounted products with claims of 'clearing 8,000+ products in the warehouse', following the company's fall into administration back in August.
Administrators PwC has confirmed to FullFact the post has nothing to do with the company, which is still at risk of folding, and the offers listed are "not genuine". The post does not originate from Wilko's Facebook page but it does use Wilko branding, and links to a third-party site appearing to sell Wilko products.
PwC has reminded Wilko customers that they are unable to purchase items online and all Wilko sales are now in-store only. FullFact has concluded the adverts are fake and designed to scam customers.
Read more: B&M steps in to buy up to 51 Wilko stores in £13m deal with administrators
The post contains pictures of products seemingly being sold at ridiculously low prices - a suitcase set for £7.99 or an airfryer for £7.35. It says: “We have to clean up the remaining 8000+ products in the warehouse! !
“To thank everyone for your continued companionship and support, the lowest price during clearance is only £1.9!
“Don’t miss the store closing offer [sic].”
Shoppers have previously been warned of scams and fake websites following the downfall of the brand. A spokesperson for PwC, the administrators appointed by Wilko, told Full Fact: “We have been made aware of a number of fake wilko websites which are offering wilko products at heavily discounted prices.
“These websites are not genuine and have been set up to scam users, the only legitimate wilko website is www.wilko.com.
“We would like to remind our customers that all wilko sales are now in-store and you are unable to purchase items online.”
Wilko went into administration on August 10 and a number of names have been thrown into the hat to purchase all or some of the compant. While the future remains uncertain for most of the 400 stores - and thousands of jobs - it was today confirmed that discount store B&M had bought 51 Wilko shops for a reported £13 million.
Press Gazette reports it does not expect to need regulatory clearances for the acquisition.
“The consideration is fully funded from existing cash reserves and the acquisition is not expected to be conditional on any regulatory clearances”, B&M said in an update to investors.
The government has confirmed that no Wilko stores will close immediately, but would be shut 'as and when required'.
Redundancies for some Wilko staff began last week, with administrators confirming that 269 people in the company’s Worksop support centre would be having their last day with the business. Redundancies at the company’s Worksop and Newport warehouses are also due to start early this week.
