Alereen.com Reviews: A Scam Coldwater Creek Website!
Alereen.com lures buyers with a fake ‘Coldwater Creek Clearance Sale -Prices as low as $4.99‘ offer, then proceed to scam buyers with no delivery of items and extra credit charges.
Yes, we all love discount, especially when it’s from known brands. However, in this case, Alereen.com discount is not legit. The first red flag is the company mentioned on its contact page Ectr Miracle Limited. It is a shady China based company linked to many untrustworthy online stores. Don’t let the address fool you, it is just a virtual address. Online stores owned by the company engage in credit card fraud, no delivery of items, and bait & switch scam.
Alereen.com Warning Signs That Prove It’s a Fraudulent Store
Not a Legit Coldwater Creek Store
Alereen.com is posing as Coldwater Creek (a clothing brand) on Instagram and Facebook, whereas in reality it has no affiliation with the brand. The website is actually committing a crime. Even the products displayed on the website do not belong to the store. They have stolen the images from coldwatercreek.com and are passing it off as theirs.
Recently Registered Website
The websites are all registered between September 2023. This means the website has been open for barely few months. So the store has no reputation and could easily shut down any time.
Poor Customer Support
Alereen.com has not provided a working email with which they can be reached. The email address provided as [email protected] is not functional. Moreover, there is no phone number provided.
Offers Too Good To Be True Discounts
The scammers set up Ads on Tiktok, Instagram and Facebook, using clearance sale and discount offer’ as a hook. Customers are lured with the tempting discounts and countdown timer which creates a sense of urgency. In reality, price point difference
Fails To Deliver Ordered Items
After placing an order from Alereen.com, the website does not send a confirmation mail or tracking number. The store then proceed to swindle buyers by not delivering anything.
What To Do If You’re a Victim of Alereen.com Scam
Contact Your bank To Cancel The Transaction and Get a Refund
The first thing you should do is contact your bank to inform them about the fraudulent purchase. Through the chargeback system, you can get your money back from the transaction if you file a dispute claim. You could also request for a credit card freeze. That way, your bank would block any future transactions on your credit card, ensuring that scammers are unable to exploit it.
Update Your Passwords and Enable Two Factor Authentication
The second step you should take is updating your passwords. This should be done if you’ve used the same password you used on this Alereen.com on other websites or applications. You should also go an extra step of enabling two-factor authentication. This would keep you protected from data breech.
Meanwhile, you should beware of any fraudulent email from Alereen.com. Do not click on any suspicious link in the email, as it could be a phishing scam. Clicking on the link might install malware on your phone which could compromise your device’s security.
Report the Scam
Report the scam to relevant authorities and organizations. This includes:
- Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): If you are in the United States, you can file a complaint with the IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov/.
- Your Local Consumer Protection Agency: Contact your local consumer protection agency or the equivalent regulatory body in your country.
- Better Business Bureau (BBB): File a complaint with the BBB if the online store is based in the United States.
How To Shop Smartly Online & Protect Yourself From Online Store Scam
Aside from the obvious too good to be true discount sale, here are other ways to identify a scam website;
Search for Reviews Online
Are there customer reviews online? (It is advised that you sit it out if there are no customer reviews of the store. However if you’re not patient enough to wait you can send a mail to us to verify if the store is legit)
Find Out If The Website Has SSL Encryption
find out if the website is secured with SSL encryption. (https and padlock symbols). If the padlock symbol doesn’t appear near the website’s URL, then it means your personal and financial information is at risk at the store.
Verify The Physical Address
Does The website provide return address? If Yes (Copy the address and paste on your browser. Google map would show if it is a real warehouse address or a residential address) If the address has also been used by other websites you’d see reviews in search results.
Check The Website’s Age
How old is the website? The domain age of a website tells a lot about a store’s legitimacy or transparency. Websites below 6 months old are often considered unsafe. You can find out a website’s age by checking on Who.is ( a free domain checker tool)
Read The Store’s Returns and Refund policy
If the policy isn’t available or if it isn’t clear, you should quit shopping.
Use Secure methods of Payment
When an online store’s payment methods lack the necessary encryption and security measures to protect customers’ sensitive financial information, it puts you – the shopper at risk of unauthorized transactions.
Conclusion
Alereen.com is a scam website luring unsuspecting buyers with its discount sale. Don’t let the low prices deceive you! The store does not deliver items after purchases are made. Just like Sambicycles, Mantiard, and Beambead, Alereen poses a fraud risk to buyers.
