Latest news with #PalisadesBoutique
CBS News
06-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
"Scammers are everywhere," woman accuses online retailer of exploiting LA wildfires
A woman looking to help the thousands of lives upended by the Los Angeles wildfires condemned stores looking to exploit the tragedy for some quick cash. "These people are despicable and deplorable, and taking advantage of a terrible tragedy," the woman, who wished to stay anonymous, said. "It's just extremely wrong." After organizing clothing drives for wildfire survivors, the woman found a Facebook ad for the store Sophia & Mason. She decided to spend $100 after being touched by the owner's story of being a single mother who had just lost her business. After placing her order, she went back to the store's Facebook page and read in dismay that other customers were calling the business a scam. "For someone to try to benefit off of other people's misery, it's just terrible," she said. "It's unethical, and it's extremely wrong. It's just — it's awful." The CBS News Confirmed team analyzed the ad posted on Sophia & Mason's page and found that it contained characteristics indicating it was manipulated. They cited the hand gestures, how the person's mouth did not match the words spoken and a mirror reflecting a curtain behind it. After analyzing the video, CBS News Confirmed found that the website originally said the LA wildfires destroyed its physical store. However, they edited the About Us page to say they were working out of a friend's home after closing their physical store before the fires. The edits were added after KCAL News aired a story highlighting Palisades Boutique, which claimed to have lost its physical location during the Palisades Fire. The two websites pushed closing sales with steep discounts. However, the clothing items on their website appeared to be inexplicably marked up compared to similar items found on Amazon, Walmart, and Shein. "Everyone needs to make a buck — but not like this," the woman said. "It's awful. Take your energy and actually do something positive for the world. I mean, it's just terrible." Meta deleted the pages of Sophia & Mason and Palisades Boutique, who also claimed the Los Angeles wildfires destroyed their stores.
CBS News
26-02-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Online store claims fire destroyed its Palisades Village shop. Records show the location didn't exist.
Many people supported local businesses affected by the Palisades Fire by shopping online to help owners rebuild. One of the businesses that claimed to have lost its physical location is Palisades Boutique. "Originally located in the heart of Palisades Village, our boutique was a destination for timeless, sophisticated styles," the boutique wrote on its website. "However, after the devastating fires that swept through Los Angeles, our physical store was lost." However, a resident raised concerns about the store after Palisades Boutique launched its "closure sale." "Rather than letting our passion fade, we chose to embrace this challenge by transitioning to an online platform," the store wrote. "Through this store, we are offering our remaining inventory at exclusive prices, ensuring that each piece finds a new home." With help from CBS News Confirmed, KCAL News discovered several inconsistencies within the clothing store's website. "Originally located in the heart of Palisades Village" On its "About Our Boutique" page, the company wrote that the store "became a staple in the Palisades community" after opening in 2018 and included two photos demonstrating the damages caused by the Palisades Fire. However, the before-and-after images show a Starbucks across the street from the Palisades Village. While many of the buildings surrounding the shopping center burned during the fire, The Palisades Village remained largely unscathed after its owner, billionaire developer Rick Caruso, hired private firefighters to protect it. The Palisades Village does not list a Palisades Boutique on the shopping center's website and staff confirmed that they do not have a tenant with that name. KCAL News has not found a business license with the name "Palisades Boutique" on the California Secretary of State's Office website. "Palisades Village was more than just our home—it was where our story unfolded, where we met our customers, and where we built something special," Palisades Boutique wrote at the bottom of its homepage. The CBS News Confirmed team found that Palisades Boutique registered the website on Jan. 27 and updated it in February. An archived snapshot of the website from Feb. 9 shows the company's name above the words "Opening Soon." The company's Facebook page was registered in April 2023. The name of the page changed to Palisades Boutique in February 2025. The profile photo also has visual inconsistencies that indicate that it may be AI-generated, according to CBS News Confirmed. "Offering our remaining inventory at exclusive prices" Without a physical location, the boutique decided to hold a "closure sale" to clear out its remaining inventory. The website's homepage boasts deals "up to 80% off." "Now, we're offering one last chance to shop our carefully curated collection before we say goodbye. Each piece carries the spirit of Pacific Palisades—timeless, effortless, and full of life," the company wrote at the bottom of the homepage. "Once it's gone, it's gone forever. Thank you for being part of our journey." The CBS News Confirmed team found that several clothing items from Palisades Boutique's "carefully curated collection" appear to be items that are also sold on Amazon, Shein and Walmart, but at much higher prices: Palisades Boutique also states that its warehouse is in Asia on its "Return Policy" page. "Our warehouse is located in Asia, so be aware of potential shipping costs and strict customs," the store wrote. "The cost of return shipping typically ranges between $35 and $60." The store stated on its website that it would donate 10% of every order to the LA Fire Relief Fund. The company also posted on its Facebook page that it made a $100 donation to support the nonprofit relief effort. "Every order placed is not just helping us rebuild, but also helping the community around us," Palisades Boutique wrote on the Facebook post. "This is just the beginning. Thank you for standing with us. Together, we are making a difference." The LA Fire Relief Fund confirmed the $100 donation but stated that it did not have an arrangement with the company. "We have no relationship with Palisades Boutique. We do not have an arrangement with them to receive 10% of their orders. Our system automatically kicks out a receipt when someone donates to us. We checked our records after receiving your email and discovered they just made that donation today and we have received nothing from them prior to this," LA Fire Relief Fund stated.
