ringvision.shop $3.99 Indoor Camera: Scam Offer
Fans of Ring home security systems are being lured by ringvision.shop discount. Don’t be tricked! The $3.99 Indoor Camera 2nd Gen + 3m USB-A is not a real offer. Ringvision.shop is a fake website pretending to be an official Ring home security outlets. Behind its low price, hides a subscription based scam.
I’ll be writing a short article exposing ringvision.shop red flags and what really happens when you place an order on the website.
Exposing The Scam
When you get to the checkout page on ringvision.shop, its terms and condition page says it’s a sweepstake you’re subscribing to not an online purchase. It also says ”ACCESS TO THIS MEMBERSHIP COST $19.95 EVERY 7 DAYS UNITIL YOU DECIDE TO OPT OUT OF THE MEMBERSHIP”
In simple terms, instead of paying $3.99 to receive an Indoor camera, customers are being lied into joining a sweepstakes. Every 7 days they’d receive an unauthorized charge of $19.95 on their credit card.
Sweepstakes scam is one of the fast rising scams of 2023 as documented by the FTC. It works this way – disguises as an online store or government lottery, lure people with claims of wining a prize, request for credit card info and personal information, then proceed to charge victims weekly or monthly.
Of course, there’s no prize in the end.
ringvision.shop Red Flags Hidden From Customers
Not The Official ring Online Store
ringvision.shop is pretending to an original ring home security systems website. The fraudster uses ring logo and website design lure unsuspecting buyers. They’ve also linked to ring UK’s pages and social media handles. However, the only ring store is ring.com.
Ridiculous Low Prices
A 90% discount is actually too good to be overlooked, and this is why the scammers are using it as a bait. They know the discount is tempting. As a buyer, you need to be cautious of discounts that are way below the cost price of the items. Always remember the saying; if it is too good to be true, it certainly isn’t true.
Recently Launched Website
Whereas ringvision.shop gives off air as a reputable online store, it was actually launched few days ago. 31st January 2024. Who.is data also shows that the person who registered the website did so anonymously. This indicates that the online store wasn’t established with genuine intentions.
Real or Fake Reviews?
The glowing reviews on ringvision.shop Ads on social media are not real. Here’s how I discovered they were fake;
- The profiles were recently created – have few pictures and posts
- The reviews mentioned an older date whereas the website only started functioning few weeks ago
- Direct messages sent to the profiles were not replied
- Some of the profiles have been hacked, they have images of a different person
It’s not surprising. Most fraudulent ecommerce sites employ the services of fake review writers in order to create a sense of trust. Before shopping online, you should opt for trusted third party review sites like TrustPilot, BetterBusinessBureau, etc.
You can also check for warning reviews online, using any of the words; ‘reviews’ ‘scam’ ‘real or fake’ attached to the website name.
Steps To Take For Possible Refunds
The only way to get a refund from this merchant is to do the following;
- Report the fraudulent transaction to your credit card issuer
- request a chargeback
- Include supporting documents, such as copies of a receipt, invoice, and any communications you had with the merchant.
- Anticipate that the dispute can last up to 90 days or two billing cycles, whichever is shorter.
How To Protect Yourself From Charges From ringvision.shop
When you submit your name, address, and credit card details on the scam store, your identity and financial details is at risk. In order to avoid this, update your passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and monitor your bank statement for any unusual activity.
If you detect any suspicious transaction, contact your bank and cancel your credit card or place a credit freeze on your account.
Reporting This Online Retail Scam To The Right Authorities
As a victim of this scam, take proactive measures of nabbing this scammers by reporting them to;
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 Avoid Online Shopping Scams
- Steer clear from social media Ads offering too good to be true discount
- Check online for real user reviews. You can also do this by adding ‘scam’ ‘complaints’ to the website name before searching
- Avoid websites that lack SSL encryption (padlock symbol on the URL link). They are unsafe
- Check the domain age of the website using a domain checker tool (Who.is). Websites below 6 months old are often considered unsafe.
- Verify the website business address. you can do this by pasting the address on Google. The result would either show if it’s a warehouse, residential quarter, or if it has been flagged as scam.
- If the return policy isn’t available or if it isn’t clear, you should quit shopping.
See Also; Stickgolfpro.com, Peacemane.com.