In recent times, a surge of false advertisements has inundated platforms like Facebook and Instagram, claiming to be operated by Irish family-owned stores. These ads assert various excuses for selling certain products at discounted rates, citing poor performance, fire incidents, or even robbery as reasons.
At first glance, these storefronts appear indistinguishable from legitimate Irish retail outlets online. They feature store location details, contact numbers, operating hours, customer feedback forms, options for shipping insurance, discount codes, as well as service terms, privacy policies, and even links to job listings at the bottom of the page.
However, local residents have pointed out that these supposed stores simply do not exist. Upon closer inspection, some of these ads even contain spelling errors. Furthermore, consumers have reported that many of the products originate from China and have no connection to Ireland whatsoever. Some customers have voiced complaints about receiving jackets a month after ordering, only to find they were too small to even fit their arms. To add insult to injury, returning the items necessitated additional postage fees to China, or worse, proved nearly impossible.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has advised that customers who suspect they have fallen victim to fraud should contact their banking institutions. They may opt to temporarily freeze their accounts during investigations. The commission also recommends that individuals promptly contact the authorities upon discovering they have been scammed.
The Media Commission, responsible for regulating online platforms in the country (Coimisiún na Meán), informed the Journal that consumers can report any legal infringements or unsatisfactory responses from merchants on internet platforms to the commission at any time.
Despite similar scams being exposed by local media six months ago, these fraudulent store advertisements continue to thrive on social media. The Journal has equipped consumers with guidelines to help discern scams, suggesting visiting review websites like Trustpilot to check ratings.
One customer wrote, “Total deception! You’ll receive rubbish from China.” Another customer shared, “The seller claims you can keep the item for a 70% discount on your next purchase! However, if you insist on returning the product, the address provided is in China, and you must pay for the return. Even with tracking proof, the seller asserts they never received the package.”