I love clothes, so it should come as no surprise that I’m a big fan of the occasional bout of retail therapy.
Of course, just because I believe in treating myself to something pretty now and again doesn’t mean I believe in running up credit card debt for a mood boost.
As a result, I consider myself a consummate bargain hunter, with an eye toward spinning straw into gold with homemade projects like these cute kicks made with shaving cream!
Naturally, in between DIY projects, I also make a habit of trawling local secondhand stores on the hunt for diamonds in the rough, and doing clothing swaps with friends for a little wardrobe shake-up!
One trick not in my thrifty fashion playbook? Trendy online wholesale retailers.
If you’ve ever done any online shopping, you’ve probably seen the ads pop up for websites selling incredibly cute clothes for prices that seem too good to be true.
What do you think of these dress scams? Let us know in the comments below!
At first, it might seem like the ultimate opportunity to indulge in a little fast fashion, but pay attention to the voice in your head saying that those prices can’t possible be for real.
You know what they say: “If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.”
I have definitely been tempted by these pretty items in the past, but tend to avoid new retailers if I can't try things on in-store, so I never went ahead and ordered.
Unfortunately, lots of other women on the internet weren't as lucky… These online shoppers ended up with a slew of online shopping horror stories.
Clearly, most of these fast fashion online boutiques are little more than complex scams that put your pocketbook, your dress sense, and even, in some horrifying cases, your identity at risk.
As BuzzFeed noted in an expository article revealing the inner works of these fashion scams, dozens of Facebook groups have cropped up in recent months devoted to policing a handful of popular fashion sites that fleece buyers worldwide for money, and in return send shockingly substandard products.
Women in these Facebook groups have taken to submitting pictures of the product shot of the item they ordered, alongside the item that they actually received.
Users complain that the materials is often staff and synthetic, clothes are badly cut and poorly put together, and oftentimes, the sizes are so tiny they would fit a child. Sometimes, the items received are merely bad.
At other times, they are truly unwearable, with women receiving garments that gap, don't cover key areas, and are entirely different colors or styles from what was ordered.
It's tricky to put an exact face to the many names circulating through the world of internet retail scams, but a few names and locations crop up again and again.
Almost all of these retailers seem to originate from other countries.
One of the primary ways they bilk people is through attractive, professional-looking ads that are peppered with beautiful product shots — which are generally stolen from high-end retail sites — and low, low prices that might appears almost random.
These prices include numbers like $22.74 and $17.06. These ads can trick people, because they appear in trustworthy places like Facebook and on news sites.
It's worth noting that most everyone is trying to crack down on these retailers, and eliminate those ads wherever possible.
These businesses operate in a handful of different ways.
It's important to note that, while undoubtedly a scam, these companies rarely fail to fulfill orders. Your money is unlikely to be directly stolen by these websites, but the likelihood of receiving a substandard product is high.
Secondly, while they themselves aren't likely to steal your money, they may be vulnerable to (or cooperate with) hackers, meaning that your credit card info and identity could still end up in disreputable hands.
You will also find that, in most cases, they will refuse to return your money for an unsatisfactory product.
So what can you do to protect yourself from these scam artists?
If you have already purchased products from one of these sites, and are worried, you can see if you can contact the site or PayPal directly and have your account closed and information removed.
Since this isn't a sure thing, make sure to keep an eye on your debit and credit card statements, and set up alerts with your bank for suspicious activity. If you or your bank notice something irregular, put a freeze on your card and, if necessary, cancel it.
If you haven't ordered from one of these sites, keep an eye out for tell-tale signs like inconsistent photos or weird pricing.
Check for reports on Better Business Bureau, and do some research before purchasing from a new site. With perseverance and an eye for detail, you should be able to avoid losing any money to these substandard companies!
If you have seen ads for these companies, or companies like them, please make sure to SHARE this information with friends and family, especially fashion lovers, to make sure that no one you know gets scammed!
