There has always been an inherent risk in online shopping – after all, how do you know if you’re going to get exactly what you ordered?
One Malaysian Instagram store, run by a so-called social media influencer, decided to take that one step further by not giving their customers what they paid for, at all. Yeap, their customers paid for items but never received anything.
This was reported online by multiple social media users, including Joyce Phung, who took to her Instagram page to share a PSA, warning netizens to beware the influencer and her multiple stores.
The Instagram store in question is FavcosmeticsKL, owned by the person behind another store called Ecobobacup. As explained by Sofea (@sofeariana) in a Twitter posting, the owner has since opened a new Instagram account and threatened legal action against the whistleblowers.
So you SCAMMED people from FavcosmeticsKL (up to RM15,000++) then someone found ur new business and exposed you, you’re the one seeking “legal help??” None of this would’ve been a problem if you would give people their hard earned money back.
— ✧・゚sofea ・゚✧ (@sofeariana_) August 6, 2019
Joyce had apparently done some digging and came to the realisation that there were many, many more people that had fallen for FavcosmesticsKL’s scam, and did some calculating.
FavcosmeticsKL was apparently selling something called a ‘Make-Up fridge’ for RM105.00, which according to Joyce, they had received about 150 orders for – though no Make-Up fridges were delivered. They had made a profit of almost RM16,000 (RM15,750 to be exact, if delivery charges were not included) through the Make-Up fridge scam.
Another Instagram store, Bash Clothing, had previously successfully collaborated with FavcosmeticsKL, but unfortunately, things took a turn the second time around as FavcosmeticsKL had promised to send out the prizes to their giveaway winners but didn’t follow through, as reported by Likely.
That said, there are some netizens who pointed out that the influencer had originally sold FavcosmeticsKL off to a new owner earlier on, and people are also questioning why she has not spoken out to clear her name. If Bash Clothing had closely worked with FavcosmeticsKL, wouldn’t they know who they’re talking about?
Sofea has even pointed out that the influencer lives a somewhat lavish lifestyle as portrayed on her private Instagram page. So the question is, if she’s rich, why would she need to cheat people out of their money?
Hence, it’s really important to make sure you know the online store that you’re buying from is legit by ensuring that it’s a credible business by checking reviews beforehand. The safest thing to do is to stick with stores that are recommended by friends who’ve made purchases before.
We hope all the cheated customers of FavcosmeticsKL receive their refunds sooner rather than later (or rather than not at all).
Shop responsibly, kids!
Also read: M’sians Call For Boycott After Cosmetics Millionaire Aliff Syukri Calls Lady ‘Ugly’ on Live TV