Little Tikes toys have been a beloved choice among American children since the late 1960s when the company was established. However, caution is advised when ordering Little Tikes products online, as newly released documents from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have uncovered numerous fake websites posing as legitimate Little Tikes retailers. These fraudulent sites will accept payment for orders but fail to deliver any products in return.
Gizmodo recently obtained 308 complaints filed with the FTC over the past five years regarding Little Tikes scams. The complaints reveal that unsuspecting consumers were duped by unknown con artists who created websites that closely resembled official Little Tikes properties. These sites, such as LittleToke.com and LittleTikes.best, featured enticing deals on toys and appeared authentic to unsuspecting parents.
Many individuals were drawn to these scam sites through Google, Instagram, and Facebook ads promising incredible discounts. Despite initial excitement over the supposed clearance sales, customers soon realized they had been scammed when their orders failed to materialize. Some recipients even received unrelated items like knock-off sunglasses or scarves in an attempt by scammers to dispute chargebacks.
Complicating matters further, Little Tikes did not sell toys directly to consumers online until recently, leaving a void that scammers exploited by creating fraudulent websites to meet demand. Despite the prevalence of these scams, Little Tikes has not provided guidance on where customers can safely purchase their products online.
Gizmodo has shared 60 complaints received from consumers to raise awareness about these fraudulent practices. The complaints, while lightly edited for clarity, underscore the need for vigilance when shopping online and highlight common warning signs of potential scams.