So, I recently decided to buy myself a new designer handbag and decided to check out the options of websites that sell them. After a bit of research, I came across a website which boasted all the latest designer bags and classic collector’s items! It looked too good to be true, considering I was able to get every bag I wanted at such unbelievably low prices. I took my chance and went ahead with the order, all the while having a nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right. A few days later, when my expected delivery had passed and I called the company, I realized the whole website was fake!
What I encountered was a huge scam, targeted at unsuspecting buyers who, like me, were looking for a deal. They had copied pictures from luxe designer bags and placed them on the site, with prices so low it would entice even the most cautious buyer. All the prices were ridiculously low, and the items I ordered never came. I felt completely daft and embarrassed but couldn’t believe that a website like this could exist.
Of course, this brings us to the million dollar question: How do you spot a fake bag website? Well, the truth is most of these websites are quite hard to spot until you take that leap of faith and actually purchase something from them. There are a few signs though, which you can definitely look out for. These include poorly designed websites with only a few products, comparatively low-quality images, and misspelled words.
It’s also really important to check the reviews of the website that you’re buying from. Most genuine websites should have good reviews from verified users. If the reviews are all from unverified users or if there are tons of negative reviews, then that’s probably not a genuine website.
It’s also important to cross check the price of the item that you’re buying with the price that’s published on the website of the original designer. If there is a huge discrepancy between the two prices then that should raise suspicion as it’s unlikely that there will be such huge differences between the designer website and the third party website.
Another obvious sign is the payment method that is accepted. Fake websites are more likely to accept “untraceable” payment methods such as Western Union, MoneyGrams, and gift cards. Most genuine websites will accept more popular payment methods such as credit cards, PayPal, and other secure payment methods.
One thing I also noticed after I got scammed is that most of these fake websites only ship to certain countries. If the website is based in the USA, then it’s more likely to only ship within the USA and won’t be available in other countries. If this is the case, then it’s best to stay away from the website.
It’s also a good idea to always double check with the designer’s website before buying any designer handbags. Most of the time, the designer’s website will contain more information about the product and the prices.
Finally, always keep in mind that if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Even if the item is being sold at a fraction of the normal price, it could still be a scam. So it’s best to just stay away from these websites altogether. It might be hard to resist the inclination to buy something from it, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.