Luring Payments Through Impersonation Sites, No Delivery of Goods
Check the Domain Extension Carefully
Recently, there has been a sharp increase in scams where websites impersonate well-known fashion brands, lure consumers through advertisements on social networking services (SNS) such as Facebook and Instagram, accept payment for goods, and then fail to deliver the merchandise. On April 27, Seoul City issued a warning to consumers to be cautious.
According to the Seoul Electronic Commerce Center, from October of last year to April of this year?a period of seven months?there were 150 consultations regarding damages caused by scam websites impersonating famous fashion brands, with total reported losses amounting to 19,070,000 won. The number of cases surged from the end of the year, when discount events such as Cyber Monday and Black Friday are concentrated, and damages have continued to occur in recent months.
These scams typically involve SNS advertisements on platforms like Instagram or Facebook that direct users to fraudulent websites. Because these sites closely resemble the official homepages of the brands, many consumers trust them and make purchases, only to become victims. Scam sites often use new domain extensions such as '***.TOP', '***.SHOP', '***.LIVE', and '***.VIP', rather than the standard '***.COM'. For this reason, consumers are advised to always check the domain address when visiting online shopping malls linked through SNS advertisements.
Most impersonation sites use overseas servers, making it difficult to block access or take other measures when damages occur. Therefore, Seoul City believes that the Electronic Commerce Act should be amended to allow immediate requests for access blocking to internet service providers such as KT, SK Broadband, and LG Uplus in the event of damages. The city plans to propose this regulatory improvement to the central government.
If you suspect a website is a scam, you should capture and save screenshots of the product page and your order and payment details. If the product is not delivered within two weeks of payment, you should file a dispute for the relevant overseas transaction on your credit card company's website or mobile application and submit supporting documents in writing. Through a mediation process, you may be able to have the payment canceled and receive a refund. Citizens who have experienced similar damages can request a consultation with the Seoul Electronic Commerce Center.
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