Phony E-mail Spreading Rumors of Closure of Several Retail Stores

Talbots Inc. at Hingham and Massachusetts has confirmed that the unidentified e-mail, claiming that the retailers have planned to shutdown all its J. Jill and Talbots stores, is completely a hoax, as reported by patriotledger on November 20, 2008. The tagline "Talbots closing all stores" is making its appearance among the top 100 search items on the "Hot List" of Google Trends.

The fake e-mail is asking the buyers that before the gift cards loose their value, the shoppers should use them up as they will not be entertained post holidays.

Talbots commented that the e-mail is spreading fake information and there are no plans to shut down the stores of any of its brand.

Further, on linking to a website "1stnews.org", a similar sort of phony report can be seen, which states that some of the Talbots's stores may even get closed before Christmas. The e-mail listed the businesses that are shutting or are about to be shut. It also advised the consumers to avoid the use of credit cards or to purchase gift cards at the stores listed in the e-mail.

The e-mail listed the closure plans of stores owned by various retail chains, few of which were announced some months back. However, it conveyed some inaccurate information like that announcing the proposed closing of 155 Circuit City's stores. Though Talbots has abandoned approx 100 stores, including all Kids and Men's stores, in 2008, but no proclamation regarding any further shutdowns has been made. Presently, the company is operating 283 J. Jill stores and 595 Talbots stores.

Talbots declared on November 6, 2008 that it will make attempts to sell out the concerned Quincy-based J. Jill chain; however, nothing has been announced regarding the closure of any of the J. Jill store. The company further added that it is quite certain to find a buyer for this concerned division.

Moreover, the fraudulent e-mail has also listed a women's garment store, Cache, stating that it is planning to shut all its stores, totaling about 300. A spokeswoman at the company clarified that though the Cache shuttered down 20 stores in 2008 as a part of its reorganization plans, but they are not intended to close the other ones.

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» SPAMfighter News - 12/5/2008