Fraudsters exploit bankruptcy of Dutch home retailer Fonq in social media scams
Online scammers are exploiting the bankruptcy of Dutch home goods retailer Fonq in a coordinated fraud campaign that also echoes earlier schemes that followed the collapses of Casa and Blokker, according to Dutch authorities and consumer fraud monitors.
The Fraud Helpdesk confirmed it has received initial reports about fraudulent advertisements circulating on TikTok and Instagram that lure bargain hunters with promises of up to 90 percent discounts. The ads direct users to a fake website posing as an official Fonq liquidation store, AD reports.
The scam operates through the domain FonqOfficialStore.com, which criminals are using to conduct phishing attacks aimed at stealing payment data.
The website is designed to appear legitimate, presenting itself as a bankruptcy clearance sale with thousands of heavily discounted items and a seemingly trustworthy web shop certification badge, AD noted.
One consumer, Cecile, said she became suspicious before losing money. “There are multiple people who already ordered but are not receiving confirmation. My bank refused the payment; otherwise, I would have lost money too,” she told the outlet.
Authorities said anyone who has already lost money should contact the Fraud Helpdesk and file a police report. Dutch police have officially registered the fake shop as fraudulent. The site has since been taken offline, but officials warn that similar versions may reappear under different domains.
Fraud specialists say the tactic is not new. They note that similar scams appeared immediately after the bankruptcies of retail chains Casa and Blokker, generating dozens of reports at the time.
To help consumers identify fake stores, the Fraud Helpdesk issued a practical warning: always verify whether a displayed web shop trust mark is clickable.
In legitimate cases, clicking the badge should open a separate page showing verified company details, including Chamber of Commerce registration information. If nothing happens when clicking the logo, consumers are advised not to proceed with any purchase.
The scale of online fraud has also triggered growing frustration among Dutch financial institutions. The Dutch Banking Association (NVB) has called on technology companies to intervene more aggressively, arguing that much online fraud originates on social media platforms. The NVB described current efforts to combat fraud without tech industry cooperation as “mopping with the tap running.”
According to the latest national fraud figures, total losses from online scams have risen to 25.8 million euros. Losses specifically tied to phishing increased to nearly 2.6 million euros.
“Online fraud is a major societal problem,” said NVB chair Medy van der Laan. “I truly hope social media companies are willing to help further reduce the damage caused by online fraud.”
Major tech companies including Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, and TikTok have rejected the criticism, previously telling Het Financieele Dagblad that they actively remove illegal content from their platforms.