Famous 990,000 Won Padding for 90,000 Won? ... Trust Me, Avoid It

"Excessively Cheap Products Likely to Be Counterfeit"

The Korea Consumer Agency has issued a warning as overseas shopping malls impersonating famous outdoor brands have been on the rise. These sites lure consumers with excessive discount rates but do not respond to order cancellations, causing ongoing damage to consumers.

Provided by Korea Consumer Agency

On the 24th, the Korea Consumer Agency announced that the number of consultations related to impersonation of famous outdoor brands received through the International Consumer Portal operated by the agency has reached a total of 106 cases since early December last year.

The brand with the highest number of consultations regarding impersonation by overseas shopping malls was The North Face (53 cases), followed by Descente (20 cases), Discovery (17 cases), and Kolon Sport (16 cases).

The impersonation damage occurred through advertisements on social networking services (SNS), using brand logos and names to mislead consumers into thinking they were official shopping malls.

The Korea Consumer Agency emphasized, "They used the official brand names, logos, and product descriptions exactly as they are, causing consumers to mistakenly believe they were purchasing from the official website. If you accessed a sales site through an unfamiliar shopping mall or advertisements on Instagram, YouTube, etc., you should verify through search portals whether the site is operated by the brand or an official distributor."

Famous outdoor brand impersonation sites boasting low prices are rampant. Provided by Korea Consumer Agency.

The impersonation sites induced product purchases by offering discounts of over 90%. However, after purchase, it was impossible to check order information, and there was no order cancellation button. Consumers who doubted the site's reliability requested cancellations via email to the sellers but received no response.

The Korea Consumer Agency stated, "They claimed to be clearing inventory and sold clothing worth hundreds of thousands of won at low prices, but after purchase, order information could not be confirmed, and there was no cancellation button. Additionally, some consumers received defective products and requested refunds from the sellers but were asked for excessive shipping fees."

The Korea Consumer Agency urged consumers to be cautious when purchasing famous brand products at excessively low prices, as they may be counterfeit. The agency advised, "Consumers should use credit (or debit) cards that allow chargeback services in case of damage when using overseas shopping malls. If disputes with overseas shopping malls are not resolved, consumers should seek help through the International Consumer Portal."