Is this Instagram home decor ad a scam?

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

Users report being scammed by a home decor seller advertising on Instagram and Facebook. The seller uses the email merlek7sta@hotmail.com and operates through Shopify storefronts.

Key Issues:

  • Orders placed but seller is unresponsive to contact attempts
  • Multiple users have lost money (one mentions Rs.99 promotional offers)
  • Scammer appears to operate under different store names

Current Status:

  • No resolution achieved
  • No action taken against the fraudulent seller
  • Users question whether Shopify verifies sellers before allowing them to use the platform

User Recommendation:
Warn friends and family not to order from these Instagram/Facebook ads to prevent further victims.

Summarized with AI on November 23. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

Hello,

Four days back I ordered from Home Decor an ad running on Instagram they were using email Id merlek7sta@hotmail.com. When I tried to contact no reply. So I got suspicious and searched online and it brought me to shoplify discussion.

can you help me as I have paid and it’s seems like it’s a big scam.

regards

Mandy

merlek7sta@hotmail.com>

Sat, Jan 28, 2023 at 4:10 PM
2

Even I spent money on this website this Sunday. They had offers for Rs.99. Is someone looking into it? Does Shopify do any verification before utilising their service,?

3

Hello Rahulraj

no solution. It’s a fraud and high level scam.

No action taken…. They are using different store names and still doing the fraud with shopify platform.
only action we can take from our side is by letting our friends and family know that don’t order from these ad on Instagram and Facebook.