[email protected] Scam 2023: Beware of Websites Using This Email Address
Beware of online stores using [email protected] as its email address. [email protected] is associated with numerous fraudulent online stores.
Bedbathandus.com, Stanleyna.com, runyule.com, sirrd.com, etc. are just few of the websites that have used this email address.
How Does The [email protected] Scam Work?
The email address is used by scammers who operate this way;
- Lure buyers you with clearance sale or cheap prices of items
- Debits buyers for the item
- Does not send a tracking info (or sends a fake one)
- Fails to deliver the items bought
What To Do If You’ve Already Shopped From Websites Using [email protected]
The first thing you should do is; contact your bank or financial institution to cancel the transaction. If you do this quickly, you can get a chargeback immediately. However, in the case of completed transaction, you should file a dispute claim.
The second step you should take is updating your passwords. This should be done if you’ve used the same password you used on the site on other websites or applications. You should also go an extra step of enabling two-factor authentication.
Thirdly, beware of any fraudulent email. Do not click on any suspicious link in the email, as it could be a phishing email. Clicking on the link might install malware on your phone which could compromise your device’s security.
Easy Steps To Protect Yourself From Online Shopping Scam This 2023
According to FTC, online shopping fraud is the most reported fraud category of 2023. Below are steps to take in order to stay safe and avoid this kind of scam;
Check the Domain age – How old is the website? (You can do so by visiting who.is)
Website Security Check – find out if the website is secured with SSL encryption. (https and padlock symbols).
Find Out Its Physical Location – 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)
Check For Reviews – 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 It Has Social Media Presence – Do the social media icons work? (A lot of fraudulent websites provide social media buttons but they don’t work. It is advised that you check if the buttons really take you to the store’s social media page)
Beware of the returns and refund policy before purchasing – If the policy isn’t available or if it isn’t favorable to customers, you should quit shopping.
Use secure methods of payment that protect the buyer – payments portals like PayPal make it easy to get your money back.
