Delores Rosado of Copperas Cove was surfing the Internet when she came across a website declaring Joanna Gaines was leaving the national television show, Fixer Upper, to start her own skincare line.
The website was promoting a skincare product called Zarza with pages upon pages of false testimonies, reviews and celebrity endorsements.
The website offered a free trial-sized sample if the customer was willing to pay a $5.95 shipping and handling fee.
But, in order to purchase the sample, Rosado was required to input her personal information including her credit card before adding a sample to the online shopping cart.
However, once she did so, the website would not let her leave the page until she chose another free sample she would pay another $5.95 for in shipping fees and an item at full price. She was instantly charged for all three items.
Worried, Rosado went back to the website and found the same false testimonies, reviews and celebrity endorsements but for a new product. She also found the terms and conditions at the bottom of the website that told her she had agreed to pay $89.95 plus $5.95 shipping and handling each month for more products if she didn't call and cancel her membership within 14 days.
She also read in the fine print that her membership enrolled her in a company called Sociallity AccessNow which is free calls to licensed doctors 24/7 every day of the year. When she called to cancel her enrollment with Sociallity AccessNow, someone answered, but informed her she had to first cancel with Zarza before she could cancel with them.
Rosado and News Channel 25's Brooke Bednarz called the number provided twice during business hours and were greeted with a pre-recorded message asking us to call back during business hours.
Rosado received the three items in the mail, but can't return them because she has yet to get ahold of anyone who works with Zarza.
Rosado immediately went to her bank and canceled her credit card, but the bank clerk informed her she would be responsible for any additional orders Zarza added on before her card was canceled. She is still waiting to find out if she will be charged again.
News Channel 25's Brooke Bednarz has reached out to Chip and Joanna Gaines' public relations team to find out if they are taking any steps to stopping this scam that is falsely using their name. We are waiting for a response.
Joanna Gaines did post a warning about the skincare scam on her Instagram account back on July 21.
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