Flin Flon residents expose scam boutique exploiting wildfire tragedy

Flin Flon residents are sounding the alarm after discovering targeted Facebook ads from a boutique claiming to operate in their community and asking for support due to the wildfires.

The problem? It’s a scam.

“I can’t believe they’re just trying to take advantage of the tragedy that’s happening here,” said Cyndi Pedwell, owner of Ped’s Threads.

The fake website has all the hallmarks of a legitimate business: customer reviews allegedly written by residents of nearby communities, a privacy policy, contact information, and a variety of payment options.

But on closer inspection, the boutique’s Facebook page shows troubling signs. The profile picture is 99 per cent AI-generated, and the website was created just this month.

“This hurts for Flin Flon,” Pedwell said.

Pedwell, who owns a real clothing shop in Flin Flon that was forced to close due to the fires, says the scam boutique’s backstory eerily mirrors her own genuine struggles.

“The pandemic was already a major challenge for us,” said Pedwell. “Our main mining company moved away a couple of years ago, which was another hit to our economy. Now, these fires are yet another blow.”

Pedwell also lost her home in the fire. She had been approached to design a t-shirt in support of fire victims and firefighters, but now worries the scam has undermined her credibility.

“If I go ahead with it now, it might not seem legitimate,” she said. “It could fall on deaf ears. I feel like our community may have lost a real opportunity to fundraise because of this.”

CityNews reached out to shopify and the purported shop owner themselves but did not receive a response from either.