Fake website – Aquarium Center
WA ScamNet has received a report about a financial loss of $274 to the website aquariumcenter.com.au with goods ordered but not received.
The website is claiming to sell heavily discounted aquariums and accessories with further reductions offered for payment by bank transfer.
The consumer has not received any response from Aquarium Center to emails advising that the goods were not received.
The address listed for the business in Osborne Park is not valid and the ABN being used belongs to a different sole trader.
The bank account details have been reported and we have requested that the website be shut down.
The website and emails appear to use the same design template of previous fake websites reported to WA ScamNet.
Often the biggest tip-off that a retail website is a scam is the method of payment. Scammers will often ask you to pay using a money order, pre-loaded money card, or wire transfer, but if you send your money this way, it’s unlikely you will see it again or receive your purchased item.
The website has been reported for removal and the account has been reported to the bank. Consumers who have already made purchases are urged to report the transaction to their bank.
Tips to avoid fake websites
- Be wary of ‘great deals’ served to you via an internet search or pop-ups. Scammers hope to catch you out when you impulse buy on the promise of a super bargain.
- Be suspicious of sites you haven’t heard of before or that haven’t been online for long (copyright 2017 at the bottom for example).
- Consider the risks if there is no physical address, phone contact details or ABN.
- Watch out for sites asking for insecure payment methods (direct bank transfer or wire transfer).
- Protect yourself by using known reputable sites and paying by a secure system (padlocked) with a credit card or Paypal, so you have an opportunity to seek a chargeback if you don’t get what you paid for.
- Use the internet to search for reviews before buying from a website as this will often reveal consumer blog threads exposing scam sites (or a Consumer Protection warning).
- Be aware scammers create copycat sites of real online businesses. Pixelated photos can be a sign of this.
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