Scam website

robatwork

The saddest part of this tale is that because it "appeared on a search" the OP somehow thought that conferred a sense of legitimacy to the site. I don't know how we get the message out there that a high ranking on google means nothing. Searching is still the wild west it was in 2002. Perhaps google themselves should be more proactive with checking their own results but cries of censorship are hard to silence.

soolin

robatwork said:

The saddest part of this tale is that because it "appeared on a search" the OP somehow thought that conferred a sense of legitimacy to the site. I don't know how we get the message out there that a high ranking on google means nothing. Searching is still the wild west it was in 2002. Perhaps google themselves should be more proactive with checking their own results but cries of censorship are hard to silence.

I agree. I’m not sure it is still the case but it used to be that the dodgy ‘pay extra to do something easy’ sites like getting your passport renewed or applying for an EU health card appeared higher in a google search than the real HMRC or legit sites. 

Pollycat

soolin said:

robatwork said:

The saddest part of this tale is that because it "appeared on a search" the OP somehow thought that conferred a sense of legitimacy to the site. I don't know how we get the message out there that a high ranking on google means nothing. Searching is still the wild west it was in 2002. Perhaps google themselves should be more proactive with checking their own results but cries of censorship are hard to silence.

I agree. I’m not sure it is still the case but it used to be that the dodgy ‘pay extra to do something easy’ sites like getting your passport renewed or applying for an EU health card appeared higher in a google search than the real HMRC or legit sites. 

For passport renewal, gov.uk comes top in a google search.

However, for driving licence renewal there are 4 'ads' for companies that charge a fee that are higher than gov.uk.

Pollycat

The same outfit have reappeared with a slightly different name.

The outcome is better.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6230638/cheap-dr-martens-or-so-i-thought-be-careful#latest

Claddagh_Noir

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6230638/cheap-dr-martens-or-so-i-thought-be-careful#latest
I posted on the thread above. Earlier this week, a family member was victim to what the OP has been subjected to. They too had received sunglasses instead of the desired item.   As Soolin mentioned above,  sadly, it is a case of naivety. When searching for a website make sure you have an internet security/antivirus package that highlights that the searched website is genuine.  The first two that come up for DR MARTENS do not have the badge at the end of the URL saying that the website is safe, it had Ad as prefix.  

mattyprice4004

Anyone that gets caught by these sites must shop with their eyes closed - it's so blatently a scam site.

Why on earth would Docs reduce their price from £180 to £26? Then there's the typical Chinese scam site layout, the Chinglish and the clunky checkout.

I won't go as far as to say people daft enough to fall for these sites only have themselves to blame, but c'mon. It's not 1995, the Internet is not new - if people fall for these kinds of sites, they really need to do a course in online safely or limit themselves to Amazon etc.

mac.d

Sadly, for some people the thought of a bargain is just too much to resist.

mobileron

Why do people use there Debit card online,use a credit card please then its the banks loss not yours.

DiddyDavies

mobileron said:

Why do people use there Debit card online,use a credit card please then its the banks loss not yours.

If the cost of the items is under £100 each, there is no advantage to using a credit card over a debit card and as many of these scam sites advertise at prices vastly below the normal cost, I doubt if there are too many of them selling at £100+.

MattMattMattUK

DiddyDavies said:

mobileron said:

Why do people use there Debit card online,use a credit card please then its the banks loss not yours.

If the cost of the items is under £100 each, there is no advantage to using a credit card over a debit card and as many of these scam sites advertise at prices vastly below the normal cost, I doubt if there are too many of them selling at £100+.

The main advantage is that with a debit card you would have to wait to get your money back, or, if they emptied your bank account it would be empty whilst you got the matter resolved. If using a debit card it would not matter as it it would only be against a credit limit whilst you got it resolved so no impact.