If it sounds too good to be true it often is.
If you haven’t been keeping up with current events, I own an electronics store called NZ : ELECTRONICS
Recently dubious people decided to start up a Facebook page called Electronics NZ and target New Zealanders with an unbelievable offer.
On the Facebook Page Kiwi’s can enter a competition to win a FREE Dyson V11, the good news is everybody is a winner! Reminds me of Oprah Winfrey “you get a new vacuum cleaner” and “you get a new vacuum cleaner” everyone gets a new vacuum cleaner!
You may have seen this post on Facebook…
“Dyson is selling the rest of Dyson Cyclone V11 for $3! Dyson Vacuum for $3⏳ Hurry to get it just by filling out the form! Distributed by Dyson™”
*The pigeon English should be a dead giveaway. If this message is from Dyson, why isn’t it on Dyson’s official Facebook page. The reason they are flogging the Dyson name is because they are trying to build up authenticity with you. This should be sending off alarm bells in your brain.
Last time I looked there was 3.7k comments and the post had been shared 226 times. You can read people‘s comments and “people” are posting photos of the Dyson Cyclone V11 they have received.
These are not genuine people, these are all part of the scammers plot, fake accounts, images that if you search Google for you will see they have been used on other posts, not the real deal.
The Electronics NZ Facebook page admin(s) is removing all the negative comments and only allowing positive comments and feedback to go on their page. Another way to scam people as they only see good reviews and they are building a relationship with your mind saying this is authentic when it is not!
Here is where you need to pay attention, for delivery you need to pay $2 and they ask you to enter all your personal details. You agree to the terms and conditions and let’s be honest, no one ever reads these terms anyway. Then of course you have built enough confidence to submit your precious credit card details.
What in fact you have actually done, is allowed them to charge your credit card at leisure. The terms and conditions that you didn’t take the time to read and you have agreed to, means you have signed up to other sites like, dating sites, casinos etc. This may not happen immediately, but if you don’t stop your credit card, these charges will appear every month. Plus not to freak you out even more, I think you’ve just given them your personal address as well.
Why does Facebook allow this page to stay online?
So naturally myself and some of my colleagues thought we would report the Facebook page to Facebook because it wouldn’t be in line with their terms and conditions. It took three days before the Facebook page was removed, seven days later it turned up again. It seems like Facebook don’t really care about scams.I can only assume that they are receiving a lot of advertising dollars from this company, so they let it continue and people keep falling for this scam.
What about NZ : ELECTRONICS? Well, it’s been wasting a lot of time for our support staff. We are getting inundated with emails, texts and phone calls from people wanting to know more about our Dyson Cyclone V11. If you search Electronics NZ our company NZ : ELECTRONICS comes up first in the results.
As much as I am enjoying the traffic, which is quite interesting in its self, we are receiving 200-300 organic searches per day from people researching our company. It is astounding me how much traction a fake deal like this is actually getting. The media (NewsHub) have all reported about it, but I generally feel they have an interior motive. They know how these scams work and they are intercepting the traffic and pocketing the advertising dollars they are receiving.
Are people really fooled that easily? Do I feel sorry for these people who think they have been generally scammed? With my hand on my heart, I don’t feel sorry for people who aren’t savvy enough on a computer screen. I believe people should get a license before they start searching the Internet and giving out their credit card details.
Some of the messages I have been getting;
- Hello where can I buy a Dyson Cyclone VII FOR $3 you are advertising
- I entered on facebook for a Dyson cyclone v11 for 3.49 I got a text message from +64221***** with the message http://matimerenterprises.com/q/?7-jg6xf80 wanting details on delivery
- If someone has given their details how would they undo the mess so that the monthly charges don’t happen? Emails say that it cant be undone because of the terms and conditions.
- Hi you did a promotion in Facebook for the Dyson stick vacuum for $3.00. I filled in the form gave debit card number which you duly deducted from account. Could you please let me know why another deduction has happened of 59.00 dollars 2 days later.
- Hi, I just bought a Dyson cordless vacuum from Electronics NZ. It might be a scam cos you are NZ Electronics
How to find out if stuff is legit or not?
On the left side of any Facebook page you can check the page transparency, this will tell you the page history, who manages the page and if they’re currently running and adverts. People who manage this Page is a good giveaway for scams as well, as usually places likes of the Ukraine or Turkey etc.
Other things, do some researching, ask one of your intelligent friends! Look at the website address at the top of the screen. Is the page that you are on a legitimate company? Can you navigate back to their homepage? Is it the same company? Never assume, do the due diligence. Call the company if you can, normally these fake companies offering fantastic deals don’t have contact details listed on the website, hence why people are searching trying to find the company offering the deal.
Don’t search the Internet looking for a like-minded company and accuse them of scamming you. One of the main reasons for writing this blog and doing the podcast, is so I have a place to send people who are in disbelief and are still doubting whether it is a scam or not.
Think about how Dyson are feeling about this. There good name is being thrown through the mud. Think about my company NZ : ELECTRONICS, we are now associated with a fake company, using a similar name, that has no association with us, who are trying to scam people.
Be kind with your words when asking like-minded companies for help with your mistake. Own up to your mistake, admit that you were a fool. We have been trying to help us a lot of money and to be frank it’s not my problem that you thought you were going to get a vacuum cleaner for three dollars and didn’t.
Last time I looked, Dyson’s headquarters weren’t based in New Zealand. Why would they give so many vacuum cleaners away at a ridiculous price? Why would Dyson let some random Facebook page called Electronics NZ control all the vacuum cleaners, I think it would suck if they did.
In conclusion, if in doubt don’t do it and If it sounds too good to be true it often is!!
P.S. If you like this article, please click “like” or provide comment, as that will motivate me to publish more. Share and inspire. Thank you.
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