Woolies scam alert: Retailer warns shoppers against fake site

Retail giant Woolworths has alerted customers about a fraudulent website which is advertising unbelievable deals. The website in question came to light after a customer noticed that they were having a 70% sale. Thinking it may be too good to be true, the customer tried shopping for infants and realised that this section on the website was nonexistent.

Quickly taking to Twitter, the shopper shared the information, with the company who confirmed the existence of the fake website and advised their shoppers to remain cautious as they sort the issue out.

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WOOLIES WARNS CUSTOMERS AGAINST FRAUDULENT SITE

Cyber crime is on the rise and those who are not extra careful, could fall victim to con artist who waste no time vanishing with innocent people’s hard earned money.

Criminals are now making use of fake websites of famous brands to get shoppers to pay for goods online and then disappear.

A recent scam has been uncovered by local journalist in an IOL article who revealed how she uncovered a fake Woolworths website while shopping for Father’s Day gifts.

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A red flag for Mazibuko came in the form of a 70% off sale that came a time limit. She also noticed that there was no section for children under two — something that the real Woolworths website is equipped with.

Taking to Twitter, she flagged the company which swiftly responded with a tweet confirming the fake website’s existence.

They also urged customers to remain alert when searching for the actual Woolworths website.

“Hi there! Our IT team is aware and is attempting to get the fraudulent website taken down. Please advise loved ones not to interact with the website,” they wrote.

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WARNING SIGNS

Websites like these are definitely not a first. South African shoppers have previously come forward with stories about how their money was lost to fake e-commerce sites with one day sales.

While these e-commerce sites appear real, there are often tell-tale signs that it could be a scam.

Things like cheap prices on luxury items, the promise of free shipping and also the big timer that often beckons shoppers to buy fast are huge red flags.

You should also take note of the picture quality of the advertised items, whether or not there are typos or poor grammar and questionable payment options.

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