The Bestway Swimming Pool Scam

Lxsolider on 28/02/2022 - 15:10

I was one of the victims of the scam and I wish I was the only one. Just to share my experience here so that others can learn from my lesson without going through it.

Ordered the 12ft pool for $75 when it was first posted. I did talk to the guy via Live Chat before placing the order. I was in doubt at first due to the OP being a new user and the website looked a bit unprofessional. But the 'owner' John appeared to be kind and answered all my questions and even provided the NZBN and the home address etc. And he didn't really push me to buy like the other scammers I'd come across in the past.

So I placed the order, and in the evening, the 14ft one was listed for $115. I talked to 'John' again and he's happy to cancel the first order. But he said the refund might take up to 5 working days. And since their website was built via myshopify.com, they only send order confirmation emails and shipping emails. There wouldn't be a cancellation email. But I placed the second order anyway.

When they posted another deal on the second day and dropped the price for the 14ft pool from $115 to $50, I realised that I got scammed as the price was ridiculous. I called my bank and they blocked my card and sent me the replacement. But they said the two summerodeo payments were still 'pending' so I could not make a dispute. I'd have to call them again after the transactions actually happen.

Received two shipping emails on Friday night.
https://www.nzpost.co.nz/tools/tracking/item/007942103204016… was a used one
https://www.nzpost.co.nz/tools/tracking/item/007942000251592… had no tracking info
I wasn't surprised

When I checked my credit card transactions today, the two summerodeo payments have disappeared. I suspect that my bank has received multiple reports.

Had to make a few calls to stop the upcoming credit card payments until the new card is received. And would have to update my credit card info at many places which is a bit painful.

I did see a few red flags before placing the orders but I failed to resist the temptation.

The scammer's website is now showing unavailable.

General Discussion

Related Stores

summerodeo.myshopify.com
summerodeo.myshopify.com

Comments

  • milan on 28/02/2022 - 15:12
    +2

    Good thing about credit cards - you can generally get your money back

  • Wakrak on 28/02/2022 - 15:16

    Do you still have the NZBN?

    • xsolider on 28/02/2022 - 15:25
      +2

      Found it from my browser's history. https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/c…

      • applejeans on 28/02/2022 - 21:35

        ? did you get ur money back?

        • xsolider on 28/02/2022 - 22:44

          Yes, the transactions have disappeared. So I presume that the bank has refunded me.

      • Hartaru on 07/03/2022 - 17:40

        I'm sure this is the same nzbn number I was given. I knew it was a scam as 'john' told me it was a Wellington based coy shipping from home but companies office showed chch details. When I questioned him on this he told me they share a nzbn with another company. It's when he said this that I knew it was a scam.

  • akrotohur on 28/02/2022 - 15:37

    Thanks for sharing, this one has a different name and address, vs. the mask one posted today (already removed)…hmmm

    • Wakrak on 28/02/2022 - 15:43
      +1

      My guess is that 'John' just grabbed a random NZBN and added it to his website.

      • akrotohur on 28/02/2022 - 15:46
        +1

        Yeah, most probably fake details

      • xsolider on 28/02/2022 - 15:59

        I was thinking, if they were scammers, they could've just easily used a Wellington NZBN since they claimed to be based in Wellington. That could've saved them lots of time by not having to explain to everyone why the company registered address is in Christchurch. And that imperfection made me believe they were not scammers.

  • Bill on 28/02/2022 - 23:12

    Normally the scams are overseas, don't see many local scammers, was it targeted at cheapies only? How compromised is your card if they used a secure checkout? I don't believe they would have access to your card information or be able to charge it.

  • saxasianguy on 28/02/2022 - 23:39

    Probably best for Cheapies to do verification on signing up for accounts now..

  • xsolider on 01/03/2022 - 08:50

    Bugger! Just checked and the Summerodeo transactions have turned up again! Have to call the bank now.

    • Wakrak on 01/03/2022 - 08:57

      Wonder if the person who reported this post as spam is from summerodeo. And now I'm looking suspiciously at every new member that comments on this post 🧐.

      Now that payments have gone through, bank should be able to reverse the process or just refund you. You pay with Visa?

      • xsolider on 01/03/2022 - 08:59

        Yes, BNZ Advantage Visa Platinum. At work now, will call them during tea break.

        • Wakrak on 01/03/2022 - 09:00

          I'm with BNZ. Their fraud team is decent. Got all my money ($500) back when someone stole my card details last month.

          • xsolider on 01/03/2022 - 10:51

            @Wakrak: Just called the credit card fraud team, they played the music for me for 20 min. Hope I have better luck this afternoon.

          • Jizah on 01/03/2022 - 11:33
            +7

            @Wakrak: One time someone used my details to buy flights from Dubai to Turkey or something like that, was $3,000 NZD worth. By the time it got refunded, the currency rates had changed, and I made $100!
            A++ would trade again.

            • Wakrak on 01/03/2022 - 11:44
              +2

              @Jizah: 😄3.3% interest. Where do I sign up

      • dealhunters on 01/03/2022 - 13:53
        +4

        As someone who previously worked at a fraud team at one of the major banks, if you have put your card details on a merchant that you think is scam (even if it's $0), please please call your bank straight away. Your card will need to be cancelled and replaced.

        And if you have made a purchase on a merchant that is a scam, and your account statement is showing the transaction as pending, this means that the transaction has gone through and the bank has no way of reversing the transaction or cancelling it. What they will do is they will require you to wait until the payment has fully come through and they will file a dispute then (which will take approx. 20 business days).

        Also, do share all information with the bank, name of merchant, how you got scammed etc - they will then be able to block the merchant to not allow any further payments made (it will automatically decline and block the card).

        • xsolider on 01/03/2022 - 14:47

          I just called them again. The lady submitted a case for me. Waiting for the case number through email.

        • Bill on 01/03/2022 - 23:55

          This just got me thinking, would the replacement card the bank sends be free? Normally if you lose or damage your card you have to pay to get a replacement.

          • dealhunters on 02/03/2022 - 07:53

            @Bill: It will be free, and if you need a working card while waiting for the new replacement card, you can always drop in to branch and get a free EFTPOS card as well

            • xsolider on 02/03/2022 - 10:39
              +1

              @dealhunters: My ApplePay has already been activated with the new card automatically even though the card is still on the way. That's pretty handy!

    • L3tstaxth1s on 02/03/2022 - 19:43

      Don't remember this one…what was the summerodeo scam again? Gees.

      • akrotohur on 02/03/2022 - 19:50
        +1

        There was a new audash "scam" just now, removed now…haha

  • gotmilk on 01/03/2022 - 22:50

    Thanks for posting, nearly bought this but held off thinking it’s a bit too good to be true

  • Sam-D on 21/03/2022 - 13:54

    I got scammed by this too.
    Kiwibank have agreed to refund the money and then take it up with VISA.

    First time ive really had a negative experience on any deals here. shame.

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