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Scams and fraud

Fake sale ads for big-name retailers. Don't be conned.

(53 Posts)
Elegran Sun 19-May-24 12:22:52

There are a lot of ads on Facebook at the moment touting Seasalt reductions of 80% off- but they are not by genuinely by Seasalt. They are by a copycat site which uses photos of the outside of Seasalt shops, pictures of genuine Seasalt goods and references to Seasalt Cornwall. However they are scams, just after your details, probably from the same stable as the scam "M&S 90%-off sales" that nearly caught me a few months ago. Make sure that anything you order really IS from Seasalt. malwaretips.com/blogs/seasaltcornwallsale-shop is a warning about them. Seasalt themselves also have a warning on their website.

Georgesgran Wed 26-Feb-25 05:26:09

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smmstore Wed 26-Feb-25 05:21:13

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Lovetopaint037 Sat 14-Sept-24 22:24:59

MiniMoon

My Facebook feed is flooded with adverts for iPad Pro's being given away, only payment for postage. I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole. Hundreds of comments from people who have supposedly won one, I don't believe any of them.

They keep doing it. Supposedly Amazon, Aldi, etc etc all have lap tops, iPads etc just waiting in their warehouses waiting to give to over 25’s! They are yours for £3. The adverts are followed by posts from pleased recipients. Have assumed they just want your card details for the payment. The old warning “if it seems too good to be true then it is”.

M0nica Wed 24-Jul-24 14:11:53

I never read Facebook ads, just delete them. i have been getting more than usual at the moment, but cannot remember who they were.

I work on the basis of not responding to adverts - ever - on anything. If something catches my eye (about once or twice a year) I go back to the parent site, by googling it or using a saved bookmark.

cassar Wed 24-Jul-24 09:25:29

the Seasalt ad caught me too while I was at home with covid. on the phone now with my credit card provider to block payment and hopefully have money returned. I was initially surprised when a PayPal acknowledgment in Chinese appeared (don't use PayPal) and then no further communication - then I found this very helpful thread!

LottieLouise Fri 24-May-24 17:40:52

Like another poster said, If it is too good to be true then it is.

petra Fri 24-May-24 17:38:03

Desdemona

How are Facebook allowed to get away with showing scam advertising?

How are FB allowed to get away with content that has caused hundreds of deaths to children.
Sexual Predators.
Eating disorders.
Suicide.
Bullying.
Unrealistic beauty treatments.
Scams are way down on the list.

Wishes Fri 24-May-24 17:10:56

Also be vigilant when googling for a specific item.

DH got scammed by a clone fishing site. He did admit it seemed too good to be true. (that screams scam!)

The bank did refund.

jaynen Thu 23-May-24 09:24:01

Argh...site not sire. 😖

jaynen Thu 23-May-24 09:22:47

I was caught out by the joules one....luckily the bank refunded me. Never use the links on Facebook etc. always go to the sire.

vivvq Tue 21-May-24 23:28:07

I have reported the Seasalt scam to Facebook and I know from experience that they will do nothing. When you look at website address you will see that it is "seaselt" .com. If you are suspicious about any site check the Web address against the genuine site. Facebook is rammed full of fake ads, so don't trust anything.

Dianehillbilly1957 Tue 21-May-24 23:19:25

I got scammed by one of these on Facebook advert, thankfully it wasn't a fortune and I got my money back. But I did feel a complete idiot! Now I know to ignore these ads and actually go online and put in company name for details. Don't go via Facebook!!

Milest0ne Tue 21-May-24 22:02:58

On my facebook page there is an ad for Seasalt saying that some of the shops are closing down due to reduced profits. It was posted by an address in NY. USA

Thisismyname1953 Tue 21-May-24 21:15:10

I cancelled Facebook during covid . I was sick of all the fake adverts and fake people . It’s so much nicer without it .

Desdemona Tue 21-May-24 18:23:27

How are Facebook allowed to get away with showing scam advertising?

JaneJudge Tue 21-May-24 18:08:48

i clicked on the sea salt advert too

Lucyd Tue 21-May-24 18:00:17

I got caught out by the seasalt one and I am usually so cautious. I phoned the bank but they said even though it is highly likely to be fraudulent I need to wait 15 days in case I actually do receive the goods. If I don't then they would refund the money. Fe.t such a twit but so many people seem to have fallen for it. There are loads of different fake sites and they look remarkably similar to the real ones.

thomasina34 Tue 21-May-24 17:35:52

I have warned people time after time, these fake ads, have fake reviews, that people get paid to write, something like 10 pound for every 5000 reviews, but because there are reviews on the ad, people think it is all true they will not listen

Yearoff Tue 21-May-24 17:27:30

I was nearly caught by a joules scam. Unbelievable prices. As my granny used to say “if something seems to good to be true…..”

Nandalot Tue 21-May-24 17:12:29

Elegran, thank you for all your informative advice.

AlisonKF Tue 21-May-24 16:52:24

After being caught once - the moral is NEVER to order from Facebook. Go to manufacturer's site and also look for reviews.Be very suspicious fof low prices.

deedeedum Tue 21-May-24 15:25:30

Thank you for this, I nearly succumbed to this on Face Book this morning but decided to think about it. Reinforces the advice, never buy off Face Book.

Cagsy Tue 21-May-24 15:23:44

I'm sorry people have been caught out, I never order anything through FB, if I see something I like I go to that company's own web site. For others I Google the name and you usually find a lot of disgruntled customers and so avoid.

Strangwendy Tue 21-May-24 15:08:52

I have and they did! Thankyou!

Strangwendy Tue 21-May-24 15:06:25

After reading comments from others on this page I contacted my bank and cancelled my card and will refund my money! I’m glad I’ve banked with the same bank for nearly 40 years! If it looks too good to be true it isn’t! I checked every detail on the advert and it was a brilliant forgery!