With the rise of digital media and technology, there has been an increase in the numbers of online scams utilising innovative techniques such as love scams as well as commission based part time jobs.
Recently, a Malaysian shared how she got scammed after unknowingly buying a pair of branded sandals from a fake website.
In her tweet, Sueanna explained that she thought that the website was legit. “It was too good to be true.”
“There were many RED FLAGS I did not notice. I was just too foolish.”
She had reportedly bought a pair of Dr Marten sandals for Raya from a website that she initially thought was legit.
⚠️ I just got scammed. I wanted to buy a pair of Dr Marten sandals for Raya. I thought the website was legit. It was too good to be true.
DO NOT BUY from
martensmalaysla(.)comThere were many ?RED FLAGS? I did not notice. I was just too foolish. pic.twitter.com/gEO4p96ZwG
— ꜱᴜᴇᴀɴɴᴀᴊᴏᴇ 〄 ?☠️️ (@sueannajoe_) March 22, 2022
She then proceeded to list down all of the “red flags” she initially hadn’t realised but only found out later.
She explained that the email she received was weird and that the website name, was not even Malaysia but Malaysla with a lower-case letter L.
1. Email I received was weird
2. The website name, not even Malaysia but MalaysIa with a lower-case L ??♀️
3. Links go back to the site when it's supposed to be other sites
4. The social media links just go to the login page
5. The website SMS to approve transaction goes elsewhere pic.twitter.com/cR4wVlhzc0— ꜱᴜᴇᴀɴɴᴀᴊᴏᴇ 〄 ?☠️️ (@sueannajoe_) March 22, 2022
Furthermore, the links to that were supposed to go to other sites were not working and only lead back to the original site.
“The social media links just go to the login page and the website SMS to approve transaction goes elsewhere,” she mentioned.
How it happened
Sueanna explained that she actually went to the physical store when she was in London. “Then at that time my card was rejected because system was down. Had to go back so never mind,” she said.
She then went on to check the store online and found the website which was selling the shoes for super cheap. “In my head oh maybe online promo. Why la whyyyy,” she added.
She urged netizens not to be rash and stupid like her. “The website seemed damn legit. But yes so many red flags. I usually don’t buy wearables online, prefer physical store. I guess not my rezeki. Haih. Bye I wanna go cry at my stupidity.”
Similar websites
In a follow up tweet, Sueanna explained that she had found a Reddit page from 2 years ago of users complaining about fake websites “selling” Dr Martens shoes.
Read this on Reddit. Similar, but this one was tricky as the website name looked legit. Didn't realize the I and L
I tried contacting them through the website, enter and error. So yeah. ? pic.twitter.com/8MB8P3rxyc
— ꜱᴜᴇᴀɴɴᴀᴊᴏᴇ 〄 ?☠️️ (@sueannajoe_) March 22, 2022
What’s worse is that the scam does not seem to be secluded to Dr Martens’ products. Netizens shared that there are plenty more scam websites out there pretending to be big international brands.
“Be careful. Seems like there are more and more fake websites like this. They target famous brands that do not have an official store in Malaysia,” commented one user.
Have you ever been scammed in such a way? Let us know in the comments.
Also read: Elderly Penang Woman Loses RM3.9 Million To Fake ‘Oppa’ Love Scam
