Fake store ripped me and my brother in law off

[Ladyonyx]

This seems to be a topic that comes up quite often, and with no way to actually contact Shopify customer support as an actual customer, I'm forced to write it a forum, hoping to get answers to my issue. 

My brother-in-law and I both recently made a purchase from a store called Cdb-shop that was linked to Shopify. Neither of us have received any information regarding shipping for our purchase after receiving an email stating our purchase was confirmed. Sending an email to the store owner did nothing as they haven't replied, and now the store is no longer available. We both are out $60. How do we go about reversing these charges? Since I authorized the charges to my bank, it's unlikely they will reverse them. It also seems that Shopify has resolutely refused to create a way to protect shoppers from being scammed. How you are still able to be in business I will never know. $60 may not seem like a lot to many of you, but when you don't have much money to begin with, and that money was for a Christmas present for your kids, and you can't replace it, it's a HUGE issue and loss. 

I'd like to have this issue rectified ASAP. 

[May]

Hi, there.

This is May from Shopify.

I am very sorry to hear that you are experiencing this. I absolutely appreciate how frustrating this situation is and the impact this has to you. I do want to mention that although Shopify does not assist in the store’s daily operations, we absolutely do not tolerate any fraudulent activities on our platform.

From reading your post, it looks like you have tried contacting the store, but got no response from them. At this point, I highly recommend reaching out to your bank and explain the situation. Your bank will have steps in place for you to follow in order to dispute the charge and recover your funds. In doing so, if they do happen to be a store that operates on our platform, filing a claim with your bank will trigger a notification internally which our Operations team can use to investigate.

I also want to ensure you that take these cases extremely seriously. In addition to filing a claim with your bank, I encourage you to please visit our site and type in 'Where is my order?' to submit a complaint. Here is a short video on you can submit this complaint. That way, in the case they do operate on our platform, we have this added information to pass along to our Operations team to better help along an investigation should one take place.

Thank you for writing your concern here, and I am hopeful for a positive outcome.

Kind Regards,

May

Shopify Support

[Mayasnana]

I was taken for over 300. My husband passed 6 months ago I was trying to finish things he started I also gave a kidney to my best friend 7 weeks ago when I ordered. I've been off work for 7 months so this is A LOT of money to lose 😪I've emailed as well no response . I

[Faysworld]

Shopify’s Customer support will do nothing to help, we need a class action lawsuit!

[Lavishlisa]

Hello May this same thing just happen to me on the 9th for $139. from a facebook link.  Can you assit me as I am new to spotify.

[jjs2089]

Shopify needs to be held accountable for these scammers using their platform.  Only then, will we put a dent in the scammer's numbers.  Shopify cannot simply hide behind scammers and make their share with a blind eye towards partnering with someone who's sole intent is to rip you off!

I would file a complaint with your Attorneys general's office.  In NY there is an online complaint form.  With enough complaints against these scammers using the Shopify platform, eventually the states will take notice.

[Larsedale]

May, you know you are a rip off how do you sleep at nite

[hkh]

I too just was just ripped off for 109 dollars from a Shopify ad on Facebook.   It was for a pressure washer.  The billing on my card was from a hedgefund in China and the store name on the billing was a Cashmere Sweater store in Asia.   I know shopify's policy of not caring how crooks are destroying their business but the reality is the Crooks are destroying your business.   I am hoping your stock recovers to point where I can sell it and move on.  A great business model but your look the other way plan will destroy you.

[mynci90]

And once more it seems Shopify fails to block fake merchants on their own platform. I saw an ad on Facebook for a Microsoft Surface and paid $89.99. The order never shipped. I contacted the store which stopped operating after 5 days. They corresponded with me but never refunded the money. Total BS.

[ewest305]

Sorry May but Shopify is hosting a fraudulent site that you allowed on YOUR platform without confirming that the seller is legit and has a store and a product to actually sell. YOU take more responsibility other than "oh, report it to your bank and we'll get the trigger and do something..." Excuse me but isnt this a lot like letting thieves in your house to sell fake items and saying "I understand your money is gone but it's not our fault. Dispute it with your bank or something". YOU people are part of the problem. You just want to allow these fake sites to be setup so you can get some kind of monthly payment without giving a crap about the products being sold or delivered. You are as much as a criminal as the folks you allow and it's sickening your only response is to dispute and then something will be done. Pathetic! I'll be reporting your post to the FTC because there is a growing list of villians you allow to use your site to rip people off. You should be ashamed of yourself. 

[hkh]

So Shopify is not liable because they are only the site that enables the Crooks.  Facebook is not liable because they are only the site that allows Shopify / crooks to rip people off.   I sold my Facebook stock because of their behavior and will soon dump shopify if it recovers some value in the market.   Meanwhile I  requested Motley Fool to stop recommending a company that is fostering fraud.

[jjs2089]

Did I miss a post by "May"?

Anyway, in a previous post I detailed a case against Amazon because of a third-party sale.  Amazon was found liable for the actions of the third party seller.  This was a case in Canada, which I believe will be used as a basis for holding the Shopifys of the world accountable.  The only way I see this happening is by reporting these scams to your state's Attorneys General office.  Visibility needs to be raised above this community blog.  There are also federal agencies that monitor, protect, and prosecute fraudulent online activities.  I listed them in a previous post as well and when I was ripped off, I filed complaints to all of these agencies.  I understand this is a pain in the butt, but Shopify isn't going to fully police their users unless forced to.

I'm sure it's a small percentage of businesses using Shopify that are 100% fraudulent, but still, Shopify does not have the proper checks in place to catch these bad actors.  Our stories are the proof of that.

[wangoZtango]

  I too just got scammed out of 60 bucks from "Carolineseye" one of shopify's fake stores selling the exact same 3D printer. I just got done chatting with a shopify rep and was told to dispute the charge with my bank . He was unable to give me any information about the store and he did not mention  the video that May reffered to or the process to submit a complaint as May did . So ill be watching the video as well as submitting my complaint. we'll see how this plays out .

[Peter_Greenan]

I was too scammed for the exact same printer, I will never buy anything that has shopify involved.

[Kalaivani1]

Please don't buy anymore its a good descion. I do the same. Because they won't take the resbonsiblities or even replied if you have any question.  Shopify always relies on their policies they won't give you any positive. So its waste buy anything from their site. 

[Arnold_Manresa]

I have been trying to email the address at the bottom of my order and still no response. The link to view order does not work either! What is this about?

[MariaFriedeberg]

Same thing is happening to me

[Peter_Greenan]

The site has been taken down.

https://noscams.info/a-new-type-scam-on-facebook/comment-page-4/

[Marco16]

I have got scammed too from Carolineseye. 35 euros gone.

I will never buy anything again from Shopify and I will make sure all people I know will do the same.

Goodbye Shopify, never to see you again.

[Phong]

I have got scammed too from Carolineseye. 60 euros gone.

I will never buy anything again from Shopify and I will make sure all people I know will do the same. I tried to contact them but the site was now down.

Goodbye Shopify, never to see you again, and never from shop ads by facebook.

[jjs2089]

I too was ripped off by a store on the Shopify platform.  I too received what appears to be a sincere response from Shopify, yet the store is still in operation.  Another person reported the same store, yet the store is still in operation.

It would be too easy for Shopify to verify a store using their platform is legitimate, but I suspect Shopify is more interested in selling their platform than they are in protecting their stores' customers.  Too sad.

[Hawkie1010]

Same here I got scammed by gaming chair store called sportgamingco it's been three weeks and nothing. I looked online the sights can be reported to FBI there sights have instructions on how to do it.

[TheRealist]

Shopify is built on scamming the general public so I would assume they told you to pound sand.

[jjs2089]

Yes, I continually get a canned response from Shopify.  The scam website is still in operation and it has been months since my repeated complaints.  Shopify says they take these accusations very seriously.  That's just too funny.  I think they only care about getting the scammer's cash for use of their platform.  It's my opinion that Shopify is a partner in these scams and is equally liable.

In related news, Amazon was found liable by a Pennsylvania court this week for an Amazon seller using their platform.  The seller was hiding behind the Amazon platform and the customer had absolutely no way of contacting the seller.   The court held Amazon responsible for the damages.  This is great news for the consumer.  Hopefully, this will set a precedent for all storefront platforms.  Shopify needs to be held equally liable for scammers using their platform!

[Hawkie1010]

Besides sending complaints I also sent the sight which I got ripped off to the FBI they have a section just for website that do this. It's easy to fill out make sure you get a copy of the website that ripped you off.

[Pepper]

Was also ripped off by a shopify Site in this case: kingskyshopz.com Raised it to shopify. Requested the site to be taken down. Also requested my data to be purged under GDPR. Shopify have sat on both requests with the same standard boilerplate text about caring. The problem is that why they sit there these scammers continue to operate so in a sense they are enabling the crooks. Was also able to link the scammer to multiple versions of the same shop under different domains all pointing to shopify. www.zgalaxystore.com www.zstarwarsshop.com www.igalaxyshop.com www.zgalaxystore.com And even tracked down to a previous site which was taken down on another platform: https://www.bbb.org/us/ga/fayetteville/profile/online-shopping/xstarwarsshop-0443-28106793/complaint... I am great believe in actions speak louder than words. In shopify's case their words say they care and take these matters seriously, however, their actions show otherwise. Whats even worse is these guys use social media platforms like face book to advertise. FB also takes its time in removing these ads if at all.

[jjs2089]

Small victory, kenaishop.com scam website has been taken down after months of complaints to Shopify.  Funny thing, Pepper, I looked at the kingskyshopz site that you had noted.  They use the same mailing address as the site that ripped me off.  Haha, such a small world that both scammers use the same fake address. 

43 Brooklyn Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11213
USA

[Pepper]

Might be the same people as Skyoishop. Glad to hear you eventually won. Though the process is far more painful than it should be. As in your case Shopify have sat on this one and the sites are still operational. I suspect that as Shopify makes money regardless of the outcome and that the majority of it is from payment transactions they really aren't concerned. Which I expect the scammers know so they are flooding to the platform. The lack of silence from Shopify on its own community board is telling ...

[PaulNewton]

---

@Pepper wrote:
The lack of silence from Shopify on its own community board is telling ...

---

Shopify is a platform not responsible for individual actions of merchants that haven't fulfilled orders.

It's like blaming the road for 1 car accident.

You need to contact the merchants directly to seek resolution.

If that doesn't work contact your payment processor or the payment gateway.

If you used a credit card consider seeking a chargeback once you've exhausted other options.

[Pepper]

Sorry Paul your argument is flawed and even Shopify's CCO has stated they police the site for scam activity and remove bad actors. All we are asking in this tread is that Shopify live up to their responsibilities. When they are notified they act in an expedient manner rather. Taking months to respond only after continual complaints is clearly unacceptable. Please don't simplify our discussion as merely unfulfilled orders. We have all dealt with those. These are predatory shop owners who are abusing the use of Shopify and have no intention of fufiling orders. As for your road comparison. We are not discussing a car accident. We are discussing illegal activity e.g. running a red light or hit and run. These sorts of activities are actively policed. "We can ensure that there are fewer bad actors on our platform every single day," says Shopify Chief Operating Officer Harley Finkelstein. "Do some sneak in from time to time? It could happen, just like it could happen on any platform." - Harley Finkelstein. "The company built software to spot potential fraud and help shoppers and brands flag improprieties." Shopify has made it clear both in the press and to me personally that they actively police their site. Well its time for Shopify to live up to its words and deal with the bad actors.

[jjs2089]

You hit the nail on the head, Pepper.  Shopify took over 4 months to remove the fraudulent website.  Either that or the website owner closed shop and created a new site.  

In my case, Shopify could have shut down kenaishop.com after a quick look into the false claims on their website.  The website was clearly violating Shopify's own policies.

[PaulNewton]

---

@Pepper wrote:
 We are not discussing a car accident. We are discussing illegal activity e.g. running a red light or hit and run. These sorts of activities are actively policed. "

---

Yes and crimes happen on the road you don't play the highway authority you call the police.

If your the victim of fraud contact the authorities, contact your payment service,etc don't waste time on a forum.

Otherwise no matter the anecdotes following the original posters problem the simple act of a merchant either going out of business or not fulfilling orders is not automatically A) a crime  nor is it B) automatically fraud.

[Pepper]

No time has been wasted. In fact it has been highly productive. Scammers don't like exposure ...

[Larsedale]

They are a rip off they steal your money

[Faysworld]

Can you say class action lawsuit?!?!

[Lavishlisa]

I filed a complaint with NJ Consumer Affairs about this.  Ain't nobody got time for this type of crap! 

[Lavishlisa]

All in all Shopify should be held to a higher standard especially since they are a out of country platform selling in the US.  They have protection for their merchants but not for the buyer against their scamming merchants.  "Food for Thought" ---Even if your bank gives you the (chargeback) its still not fair to the US economy because you got your money back BUT our US banking systems are being hit with the chargeback that still affects the American population with interest & fees to recoup what they lost for covering you, the investor....while Shopify gets away free & clear with their fees that they charge the scamming merchants.  NOT FAIR, NOT FAIR, NOT FAIR.  File a consumer affairs complaint in your state against Shopify.  If they want to let scammers sell on there platform then they should be liable for the  chargeback to the buyer....plain and simple.....cut and dry.  Amazon has been found & held responsible for this same issue on there platform & they are a US Merchant.  And so should Shopify be held accountable  "NOT" being a US Merchant.

[Faysworld]

Hello I’m sorry that this happened to you, my bank only gave me back half of the money that was stolen from me. These people need to shut down!

[Larsedale]

Yes we need to sue get our money back plus!!!!!!!

[jjs2089]

---

@PaulNewton wrote: Shopify is a platform not responsible for individual actions of merchants that haven't fulfilled orders.

Paul, Amazon recently lost a case in Pennsylvania and was found responsible for a seller's negligence.  That said, a precedent has been set that operators of platforms are responsible for actions of merchants using their platform.  I think the Amazon case is the crest of a very large wave that will witness a change in the way platform providers operate.  There will be accountability of the platform provider and stronger protections set up for the online consumer.  I feel the days are limited where companies like Shopify can turn a blind eye towards the fraudulent activities and abuses that take place on their platform.  The more platform providers are hit in the wallet, the better chance they will change their inadequate policies, and the better job they will do policing their partners.

---

[Larsedale]

Rip off!!!!!!!!!

[Faysworld]

You would say that! All you have to do is remove your store or be from another country, No! They need to be held accountable! And if you have a shop on this site watch out! you know what happens once enough people start to complain! The US GOV gets involved!

[Faysworld]

Shopify will do thing we need a class action lawsuit

[jjj58]

I have also been scammed ,for close to $200 and Shopify doesn't seem to have any remedy or concern for this.

[jjj58]

This is like playing Whack-a-mole. If you expose 1 scammer ten more appear.

[Lavishlisa]

 FAKE STORE ----Same thing just happened to me Nov 9th for $139.00.  Received email confirming order & nothing.  Then when trying to check on my order the website is no longer in operation.  

briskcherub - hherebchdbc.myshopify.com 

HERES Another FAKE STORE  selling the same exact item same setup & items fouitey.best dsfgfysd.myshopify.com

[Melthom]

The EXACT same things happened to me. I ordered 4-5 different things on the same night, and recieved notices your item is on it's way, and it never came. Luckily (or not) I saved the notices, and when I went to check on them, it said the EXACT same things, "Ooops, something has gone wrong. Check back later." But, of course later never came, nor did my items. So, I rushed to the bank to dispute the charges, and I also had to cancel my card, and have a new one issued, and deal with almost $300 (in addition to item costs) for charges, and eventually TONS of NSF fees after my card was sucked dry of every penny in it!! I eventually got it all straight, but my my god, what a nightmare!! I can definitely say I've lived and learned throughout this scam. Gosh, I hope something is done about this. It's such a terribly stressful thing to go through, and at Christmas too ..... Gheesh! I wish everyone a Wonderfully-Blessed new year! Mel

[Larsedale]

I have been ripped off 2 times, and now no communication at all. Nobody will answer my emails it like they don’t exist.

[hughchi]

Unrealistically low prices are usually a pretty good indication of an illegitimate site.

Check out this Shopfiy Store offering various expensive items for a fraction of their real costs including FREE worldwide shipping!

For example, the Komatsu PC-01 featured here for $159 with free shipping normally sells for about $10,000.

The Happier Camper HC-1 retro trailer offered here again for $159 normally starts at around $14,000.

https://iwantgetnow.myshopify.com

By the way, I have brought this store to the attention of Shopify customer support.

My advice.

When prices are extremely low, it's best to do a little research before acting.

Do a google image search. Do a scam search.

Try to contact the seller. Do they have a legitimate physical address?

Always be suspicious.  

Hugh Harrison

[Larsedale]

Did that they said everything was good that was a lie to

[ILuvBTC]

There seems to be a lot of growth in Shopify what ever happen it will probably not happen overnightt keep slugging I am looking into this I used Paypal and hoped for more customer protection I also
believe I was a victim these guys are not Walmart.

[Larsedale]

There a big rip off

[Papalicious]

I ordered a electric car for $139 over a month ago and haven't received it yet and the page is no longer there. I guess i got ripped off also. The car is posted on another shopify page under a different name with same pictures but a different price now. Guess they are hopping all around shopify ripping people off. They stole my $139 that i worked hard for. This is crazy.

[gtmcqueen]

Bilibencs  is another fake company but this time it is has a customer service : Jieyi <support+id228814@jiey.zendesk.com> or cjian950@gmail.com

I ordered a putting mat and after 3 months I received 3 very cheap golf balls.  I was offered a 10% refund with no attempt to fulfill the order.

STAY AWAY....this was powered by Shopify.... seems the power is to "grab money" 

[LenKaiser]

I have been ripped off by a Shoptify store as well. The store is LooBurry.com. And apparently this same company also runs Geardate.com (And it says it's in Bowling Green, KY.) here as well. I bought 2 face masks & some filter refills and I have not gotten my items nor are they replying to my emails anymore. Do NOT buy from them! The domain is registered as in Panama, the PayPal username is in Chinese (which I did not know until it was already going through) & The store states that it's in California (which is seriously doubtful at this point). Shoptify should remove both store immediately since they are obviously fakes! From now on I'll check to see if the store is a Shoptify store and avoid it entirely.

[jjs2089]

LK, you should file a complaint through your state's Attorneys General office.  There should be a means to do this online.  I would name the website and Shopify as the entities that were responsible.  In addition, file a complaint with Shopify.  You should initiate a charge-back through your credit card or whatever medium you used for your purchase.

In my opinion Shopify is well aware that they provide a platform for dark storefronts and I don't feel Shopify takes the necessary precautions to weed these bad players out.  The only way to get Shopify to take serious action to screen these companies is to get pressure on them from US states.  

Until Shopify works harder to stop the fleecing of Americans, I place Shopify into the same category of the shady actors.

[LenKaiser]

Thanks, I did not think about the Attorney General's Office, I will do that. I'm also filing a complaint with the FTC & Better Business Bureau. 

[jjs2089]

Absolutely.  I did that as well.

[MariaFriedeberg]

The same thing is happening to me right now. I’m very upset as well and I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I ordered a pool and I knew the price was a little fishy but I wasn’t quite sure so I bought it. It’s only the next day and I’m not sure if I’m not giving the owner enough time but no reply and it says the shop is unavailable. I am not even able to view my order.

[hkh]

Call your credit card company and tell them. I just received a new card
and they credited my account for the money they stole.

[MariaFriedeberg]

We have contacted them thank you. We are in the process of getting the money back

[jjs2089]

Can you list the websites that ripped you all off. If by small chance Shopify is monitoring any of this, it would be good for them to know the bad actors. Also, complain to Shopify's Customer Service.

[MariaFriedeberg]

I’m not even sure completely what it was called but on my confirmation the name was Luanzi.

[obrie111]

Yeah, I got suckered by the Luanzi store too. I placed an order on 3/25; today the shop no longer exists. I ordered dumbbells, and the charge on the account is the name of a quarry in Colorado.

[hkh]

I saw the same item pressure washer for 109 dollars several times. Each
ad had a different sellers name, but the same exact ad.

[Melthom]

I would go to the bank and file a dispute immediately. If you have a valid order you should be able to pull it up. It's such a shame that hard working people get scammed over by these losers! Good luck to you, and I'm SO very sorry you're having to go through this. My bank put the money back in my account immediately when I disputed the charges. Hopefully, your bank will do the same.
Very Respectfully, Melody

[MariaFriedeberg]

It really is upsetting. Thank you so much for the advice and the money is in my account as of right now if the dispute goes well it will stay. I knew it was to good to be true but that’s ok.

[Sbhpissedoff]

Yeah I know the feeling, I've been sending fake ads like i got ripped off on, and said buy one let me know how it works for you. Haven't seen one since.

My payment was through paypal and contacted them, they said it was a legit ad, and told them buy one let me know how it works for you. No response yet. I have pictures also, then see the samecad for 128 dollars with paypal on it sent them that one to. Still just a standard bot response.

Sad them china folk are so deceptive.

[sundazeskincare]

We're one of the small businesses that have been subject to Luanzi's fraud (they put our name as the merchant on their charges), so we've been receiving calls and emails from customers for over two months requesting refunds. I've notified Shopify ever since the first incident in mid-March, but they are unable to comment on the actions that they took against Luanzi. Hopefully they will do something to protect not only legitimate merchants but also consumers. Very disappointing to say the least. 

[nevermind]

Shopify majorly gave me the runaround at first regarding what is happening with my business phone number.  People are calling me this week saying my phone number appears next to a Shopify url on their cc statement for a purchase they did not make.  The first Shopify rep I spoke with by phone insisted, and this was after checking with Shopify's "Risk Assesment Team" and their "Accounts Integrity Team" that the only number that appears on the transaction description is the invoice number, that it could not be my phone number.  That is extremely coincidental but I wasn't sure that I'd been misled until I received a second phone call from another person, same URL.  This time I confirmed the phone number is hyphenated appropriately.  Since then I've discovered, on Shopify's website, that owners can modify how a cc transaction appears, including adding a phone number if they want to.  

So, first of all I don't like being lied to by a company.  Second of all 4 people have now called me because my phone number appears on their statement next to a fraudulent charge.  I tell them they need to immediately contact their cc company or bank and dispute the charge.  Shopify says they cannot investigate this further until the disputes are received by them.  My phone number is readily available on the internet so anyone could have grabbed it, been in business for many years.  I do not have a Shopify store account and never would.  Who knows, maybe Shopify is also being scammed but from what I'm reading on this thread that appears highly doubtful. 

I have reported this to the FTC, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center and the State Attorney General's Office. 

[mkumar6994]

It is annoying to see Shopify support responses where they just copy and paste to a large amount of emails and they even allow these types of sites. It's like I am hosting you but I don't give a sh*t about what people do here. So they are acting more like an offshore host. No shame for these guys!

[MMHD]

I've been ripped off several times by online sellers.  I've been shipped things I didn't purchase instead of what I actually purchased, I just had a Shopify seller, Chris Aikens, rip me off completely by never sending me anything.  I contacted him four times with no response so I upgraded my paypal dispute resolution to a claim.  This guy is tricky.  He provided a legitimate USPS tracking number through paypal and I got a notice it had been delivered to a PO Box but when I went to pick it up I was told that the tracking number wasn't assigned to my address or to me and that the recipient had picked up the items the previous Saturday.  All this scumbag had to do was show Paypal proof of delivery and they closed my claim.  The post office can't legally divulge the address or person the tracking number actually went to, not to me anyway, so I'm shit out of luck..  And of course, Shopify won't do anything despite their terms of use, (see last sentence.)  

1. Malicious and deceptive practices: You may not use the Services to transmit malware or host phishing pages. You may not perform activities or upload or distribute Materials that harm or disrupt the operation of the Services or other infrastructure of Shopify or others, including Shopify’s third party providers. You may not use the Services for deceptive commercial practices or any other illegal or deceptive activities.

I will only shop from retail stores and legitimate online sellers and if these big web domain forums aren't willing to protect buyers and vet their sellers I will definitely never buy from any of their sellers.  It's too bad people have to be such low life gutter trash that they have to steal.  God will deal with them.  I may have lost a few dollars now but they are pathetic losers who haven't even dreamed of how much they have lost.