Last Updated: Feb 01, 2012
On this page, you’ll find the list of fraudulent online store sites (URL) that you should avoid. There’s also a short list of recommended sites, so don’t confuse the two lists.
How this list got started
A while ago someone asked whether xxvtns.com was legit. Ever since then, I’ve noticed more of these fraudulent e-tailers. Most frauds I’ve come across have been Chinese stores.
They appear and disappear fast. Many of them are operated by the same scammer. They are able to get the word out fast with the help of Facebook ads, Craigslist, and spam to name a few.
Some fraudsters target people looking for dropshippers. *Look below for a recommended dropshipper.
Recommended
If you’re eager to find good deals, take a look at the sites I found below. If I find more, I’ll list them here. Lots of electronics and other neat stuff. They’re all U.S. only I think.
– The infamous WOOT… They offer extreme deals per day.
- – Sells good-as-new refurbished / returned goods. Some prices are outstanding while some are so-so.
- There’s also my own collection of stores organized into a directory I put together. Stores listed there are all legitimate, and I have coupon codes for some of them, too. I hope you find them useful. The directory is also a way for you to support my site.
Scam List
Below scam e-tailer websites pose as a legitimate vendor (mostly a Chinese exporter). If you visit the sites below, you’ll notice that most of them only accept Western Union (+ other money transfer services) and bank T/T transfers. This is the number one sign of a fraudulent activity. Even if a store accepts credit cards, don’t trust them as they could be after your credit card itself. Stay away from websites below. To quickly look up a site, use “ctrl+f” or “/” (only available in some browsers) to search.
- abercrombiefitchczech.com
- aceeltd.appee.co.uk
- agreesell.com
- apple-trades.com
- auvice.com
- besteway.com
- besttoshopping.com
- bigbizmall.com
- bowtechlimited.appee.co.uk
- bravoarea.com
- bsook.com
- buyonsalecheap.com
- cellphonesgloballimited.media.officelive.com
- charmvalue.com
- chinacheapwholesale.net
- chinasprint.com
- daashop.com
- dhgatebuy.com
- dilones.com
- dontilo.com
- dontons.com
- douele.com
- dvstage.com
- easydirectstoreonline.com
- easydirectstoreonline.net
- ecinbox.com
- elec-sell.com
- elecbest.com
- elecbestshop.com
- elecsforsale.com
- elecshop123.com
- elect-trade.com
- electronichot.com
- fantastikltd.appee.co.uk
- favorelecs.com
- first-best.com
- forbestshop.com
- genunies.com
- gladseller.com
- goodproductshops.com
- google-elec.com
- gsxrparts.org
- gucseller.com
- highbargain.com
- hk-pshop.com
- hkmingfa.com
- honorshop.com
- hugesell.com
- indoglobaltrading.com
- instinctmall.com
- jollysale.com
- justcanon.net
- justnikon.net
- kanyamobiles.com
- keepoffer.com
- keepseller.com
- kindsale.com
- kleansweep.com
- kuada.page.tl
- legalsalts.netau.net
- likesshops.com
- mcsslimited.com
- meixin-shop.com
- melysale.com
- my-storeonline.co.uk
- ncere.org
- newelegg.com
- newsalecn.com
- offerelec.com
- onlineshop247limited.media.officelive.com
- originalmarter.com
- ouseall.com
- pengshuna.com / pengshunfa.com
- pickelec.com
- pinkhotstore.com
- praise-true.com
- preciousdeal.com
- prefergoods.com
- sagelybuy.com
- salelecmall.com
- saleghdhair.com
- securebizmall.com
- sellonsales.cc.cc
- sharinggoods.com
- shopmallonlinestore.virtualfreelancer.net
- shoppingparadises.com
- shoppingtvus.com
- shopyshopus66.com
- showelecs.com
- smilesell.com
- sun-trusted.com
- sup-quality.com
- taiwan-purchase.com
- tdseller.com
- tobizbuy.com
- toolscamera.co.uk
- top-electronics-deals.com
- trade4all.webnode.com
- trade600.com
- tradeeltd.appee.co.uk
- tradeshopping888.com
- ukitat.com
- ukoutdoorsalestore.com
- usefuldeal.com
- vacuum-parts.net
- verygoodnikes.com
- viapaypal.com
- vibrantsale.com
- walafa.com
- wells-cameras.com
- wholesale-watchess.com
- wholesalelaptopsell.com
- world-electronics-central.com
- world-electronics-online.com
- worthshow.com
- xxvtns.com
- yunfenge.com
* wwshipping.info and cornwadeserves.com are fake shipping companies that trick people into believing that they have a valid tracking code. Thanks to users, Assie and Abu Haneefah, for reporting. They are supposedly UK companies, but like many UK scams, they seem to be of Nigerian origins. I have to say, the Nigerian scammers are quite creative sometimes. But Chinese tend to make better websites. Nigerians are actually making better looking sites now.
These are probably just a handful of many scam stores out there. Plus, a new one pops up everyday and older ones disappear quickly. It’s tough to keep up with them.
Their tactic (This applies to most of the sites above but not all)
- Speed matters. The site springs up quick and advertise via spam, Facebook, Craigslist etc with too-good-to-be-true prices on brand name merchandise.
- A customer makes a purchase and sends the money using a banks transfer or Western Union (and other money transfer services). No Paypal or credit card will be accepted as they won’t be able to hold on to the money once the customer complains to Paypal or CC company.
- Most times after you pay for the product and supposedly shipped, they will claim that the product is being held in customs and that you will have to pay a fee (usually $50 or so). They will makes it sound as though they are helping you out saying they will cover half of the customs fee. In any country, this is not how customs work. It’s the receiver that receives the notice, not the sender. This is how they swindle a little extra from you.
- You’ll never see the product in any case.
- After a while when they are either satisfied with the site’s performance or they feel that their tail is getting too long, the site will be shut down. Most sites don’t seem to last more than a year.
- They start up a new one with a similar website design, and the cycle continues.
If you come across one not listed here, look for the following signs
- Deals too good to be true.
- Located in China (nothing against the Chinese. I’m Asian myself).
- Only accepts Western Union or Money Mart type of service and bank transfer as a payment.
- They are getting more sophisticated now, at least on the surface. The new guys could be African or Russian and they even register the company in UK — I’m guessing there is an exploitable aspect to UK’s company registry — to make themselves look legit. They also put credit card logos and Paypal logo on their sites, but will not often accept them once you actually try to checkout. These are hard to verify as scam.
- When you come across an unknown store, first remember how you got there. If you got there via email ad (spam; and I’d even be suspicious of Facebook and Craigslist ads), then there’s your first sign.
- Second, if the prices are much lower than other vendors, be suspicious. Especially, Apple products will not be sold at a deep discount no matter what.
- Third, try calling them or check out their address on Google Map Street View to see if you can see their physical store/office.
- You can also search the address on any search engine to see if that address belongs to someone else.
If you want to report a site, leave a comment below.
* If you’re looking for a legitimate drop-shipper, I can recommend you one that I know. Try . If you sign up via this link, you get instead of 7 days.
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kanyamobiles.com
toolscamera.co.uk
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DISQUS vs Intense Debate
643 Comments
oh and can you PLEASE have a look at this one weddingdressesshop.co.nz
It’s weird because its in china and its website is a .co.nz, which would suggest new zealand (i am in new zealand), but i went through the checkout process (without actually buying anything) and it totally lets you pay with paypal… does that mean its ok?
No it does not mean it’s okay. That one looks like a scam as well. All the products look like random dress pictures from different places. The best case scenario is you receive a fake low quality good.
And you’re right about a Chinese site with a co.nz URL being weird.
found a dress on here ive been trying to find for aaages however they only accept bank transfer or western union, and they have the paypal symbol on the bottom – can you check it out?
bridalsfactory.com/
p.s, your verification that i am human is REALLY cool.
I’m almost certain it’s a scam. It’s Chinese and the fact that there is a logo but no way to use Paypal means it’s a shady site.
p.s. Please read the rules before posting. You need to omit “http” and “www” from the URL to avoid linking.
I think louisvuitton-cheaphandbagsoutlet.com got me. They have already taken my money. Please someone help me figure out what to do.
I think it’s a counterfeit outlet. Did you pay by credit card? If you don’t hear from them, call your credit card company and try to get a chargeback.
Does anyone know about ecinbox.com
It’s a scam. Adding ecinbox.com to the list.
Hey, this forum is so useful….but i lve in the UK, do you know any amazing sutes like secondipty or woot who deliver in the UK?? I was so gutted to learn these sites do not ship to the UK.
PLEASE HELP!!!
Thanks
Hmm. I’ll update the page if I find something, but I don’t know of any. Sorry. Maybe someone else knows.
Not to worry, tahsnk so much though for you help…..I think these two sites are fake….could have a look and let me know.
Thanks again
ouyaglobal.com
AND
tk-electronic.com
I have made a small order from the top siet and never heard anything back. SHOCKING!!!
Good hunting people!
Both look like scam sites.
There is one more to add to your list – imensgifts.com
It is a scam, they bill you but never mail the product, and then they are not reachable.
Does anyone know about toolscamera.co.uk/see_all.html, they are selling top gaming computers for much less than the cpu alone that is listed in the computer.
What do you think that means?
I looked at the site and it’s a Chinese scam site.
Hi does anyone know anything about Pinkhotstore.com (also know as Electronics Store) they have a LG TV at half the price of local retailers in my country, site looks ok although McAfee site advisor says that they havent tested this site yet, gone to checkout and instead of having a section to enter your card details they say they will email payment details, thought this seems a bit dodgy so didnt go any further, Ive googled the site and cannot find any thing about this company other than what they have put, is this a scam site or just a genuine foreign website .
It’s a scam. It’s a typical Chinese electronics scam site. You wouldn’t want to order a TV from China even if the site was genuine due to shipping, customs, warranty, compatibility and other issues.
northfacetopshop.com
Hi, I have ordered a pair of designer shoes from shoppingonlineshoes.com. I paid with VISA. I’m now a bit worried because when I have tried to go to the website it is now saying it is temporarily unavailable, yet I have managed to find the exact same looking site under a different address. I’m guessing this is more than a coincidence??
What you’re describing sounds like a typical counterfeit site. Call Visa and tell them the site you bought a merchant from is gone, and try to get a chargeback. If you want, you can try waiting a week or so. You might receive a fake good in the mail.
xpndeal is a Chinese fake website that pops up with deals too good to be true, takes money via Western Union or money transfer, gives a fake tracking number then asks for more money because the goods are apparently held with customs which is a lot of baloney!
They turn the web site on and off to try to escape being caught.
DON’T BUY ANYTHING FROM THEM!!!!!!!!!!!
usawholesaleshopping.com
I haven’t bought from there, but I am thinking about it, could youu tell me if its a good site? :-)
It’s counterfeit and/or a scam site. The site is registered to “dfsf” with a bogus email and address. I’m 100% sure it’s not legit. Don’t buy from them.
Hi, I had previously purchased some jeans from tis site for Christmas and they were never shipped…. I ordered from this site—–> truereligionjeans4sales.com
is this site a scam?? They gave me some tracking number that “conveniently” never works… :/ Ur help is appreciated
Thanks
Looks like a counterfeit outlet. If you look here: you can see it has a bad reputation. Keep us posted on the order’s progress. Keep contacting them. Best case scenario, you’ll get a fake. Wait a week and contact your CC issuer to get a chargeback.
hello I have recently been to this site and purchased a dress from there it all went dodgy could you please tell me if this is a legit site.prettyflowergirl.com
Doesn’t look like a scam site at first glance. Have you been able to contact them? What went wrong?
I’m worried about the site Downs-Jacket-Sale.net, I have gone as far as submitting my personal details before I paid thank god when I started to realize the site didn’t measure up! Do you think this is a legit site?
Kind regards
Melaniw
is there any way to recover our money back
I’m afraid I’ve never seen a case where someone got their money back after using Western Union.
i also recently sent usd 250/- to one MR UMAR AHMAD via western union in favour of one Daniel James address was Selangor in Malaysia for cheap mobile phone.i got it from Dubai City Ads site,there are lot of persons advertising on that site beware all are fake/ scammers.They advertise cheap cost of mobiles and it is buy 2 get one free and so on,the email in my case is iphonesmobilesstoreinc@gmail.com.No units received as according to him cannot ship as vat and other charges too high instead asking for more money and then will send 16 units shipped through cornwadeserves.com alongwith tracking code.i knew it is a fake shipping site and number and thanks to you it is confirmed,please beware of ads placed on Dubai City Ads.most not genuine check before sending funds.
Hello i’ve sent money to a company in Malaysia name HA Trading they always ask for the money to be sent western union they gave me a tracking number with cornwall delivery i was checking the validity of it and now i see is a scam can you check if this company really exist and if its legit.
Sorry to hear. Cornwall is a known fake carrier. If you got a tracking number to check on that website, you got scammed.
Full Name: HA TRADING SDN BHD
Address: Lot 1326 & 1376, Section 66, Ktld, Pending Industrial Estate, Jalan Perdana
City: Kuching
State: Sarawak
Zip Code: 93450
Country: Malaysia
This is the company they became quite abusive when i told them i’m not sending anymore money because i saw that the courier is a scam is there anyway you can catch these people.
down-jackets-sale.net
barbour-sale.com
Both look like counterfeit outlets.
hey.. I had post an add before stating i was scammed for $2500usd from a site online selling iphones its called (kampalamartcom) and name Williams McAnothony. I have him on msn block and he have change to new location (bizchumcom) and name is Willian Anthes Randy but same email and Adds. He locating in the USA & Uk Before was Malaysia & UK. SO PPL WATCH OUT FOR HIM WHEN U SHOP HE GOES ALL THE WAY OUT WITH HIS FRIENDLINESS, AND KEEPING TELLING YOU NEED TO SEND MORE MONEY FOR TAX AND THIS AND THAT. HE EVEN GOT A FAKE SHIPPING COMPANY (cornwadeservescom) with tracking number and will send all proof that’s fake and not legit.
BE WARN!!
THX
The two sites you listed look like classified listings. Like all classified listings, they’re infested with scammers.
kanyamobiles.com
Hi Admin,
I am in the middle of a transaction more than 20K USD with dvstage.com for the very first time (Actually I haven’t payed them yet)! I have found that the online vendor dvstage.com is included here in your scam list. I have also come across the following report IDs (Report: #577151, #631622, #565705) from ripoffreport.com. There are also other bad reports from webutation.net/go/review/dvstage.com, even more from google results.
During my conversation with one of their Sales Consultant, they have explained the actual reason behind their only accepted payment system through Liberty Reserve as follows:
“We process the payments by LibertyReserve because they give us the opportunity to avoid all the business taxes perfectly legal and by this way we are able to offer you the best deals from the market. LibertyReserve is for you, not for us because trough this payment system you can purchase a brand new product for a good price. If you prefer to pay by credit card or bank wire you will purchase the same products for a much bigger price because these transactions are recorded and like any other company we will have to pay huge taxes for the sale.”
I know that the legitimacy of Liberty Reserve could be well justified due to its widespread use with various online trading platform regulated by Government Financial Authority. So would you please explain their above excuse for the exclusive acceptance of Liberty Reserve e-Currency could be TRUE or NOT?
The dvstage.com have certified their site by Geotrust SSL certificate & McAfee SECURE Certificate Logo on their site. In this case would you please explain how could a scam site get and maintain such Certificates or doesn’t it matter at all for proving legitimacy of any online business?
I would also be thankful to you, if you could provide me your expert advice about trading with dvstage.com. Thanks in advance.
Well, the site isn’t working at the moment.
However, if you get many feedbacks saying it’s a scam, then it’s likely a scam. So, why choose to deal with them?
The certificates you speak of are probably fake. Are they clickable? If so, are you directed to a legitimate URL with verifiable information? Anybody can put up an image on a website. Plus, neither SSL cert or a McAfee cert indicate that the site is scam-free. Do they even have SSL? Do you see “https” in front of the URL?
As for their excuse for using LibertyReserve, I say BS. I don’t know much about LibertyReserve, but from what I hear, it’s the payment processor of choice for pozi schemes and scammers. I would not deal with LibertyReserve.
20K is a LOT of money to risk on a highly likely scammer. Plus, you want to give $20,000 to someone who wants to hide their sales to avoid taxes?
Hi i found this site after i’ve been scammed by smilesell.com $948.00 what can be done?
Can these people be caught?
That’s a lot of money. I’m afraid not much can be done. These guys are in China and I assume you’re not. You can try contacting the , but they won’t be able to help you much in terms of getting your money back.