The scheme involves people posing as “disgruntled” employees wanting to seek revenge on their company after being unfairly fired, according to a Sept 29 news release by the Better Business Bureau. — AP
A scam offering “deals” like 100% off your jewelry purchase is circulating on TikTok, officials say.
The scheme involves people posing as “disgruntled” employees wanting to seek revenge on their company after being unfairly fired, according to a Sept 29 news release by the Better Business Bureau.
These angry fake ex-employees claim to be offering their “top-secret” discount code, officials said.
The scam discount code gives users something “too good to be true,” like 100% off their order at checkout with users being asked to pay only for shipping, the BBB said.
But, as more items are added to their cart, the shipping total also increases, officials said.
Then, customers either never receive their items or a “cheaply made knockoff” comes in the mail, according to the release.
The scam website shows “high-end jewelry,” and the video has been posted multiple times on different TikTok accounts, going viral before being reported and removed, a victim reported to BBB Scam Tracker.
There isn’t a way to cancel the order on the website, and there is no confirmation email, social media or phone number, officials said. Users are only given the option to contact the company through an email address.
Although this scam involves jewelry, officials ask people to “watch out for other variations as scammers change their schemes” to avoid being caught.
How to avoid being scammed
- Don’t fall for deals that don’t sound realistic.
- Limit your shopping to known and reputable companies only.
- It’s easier to control fraud claims with a credit card, so use a credit card to pay. – The Charlotte Observer/Tribune News Service
