PSA: How Is this .com.au Scam Site (Kids Toys) Still Online and What Can Be Done about It?

highon2str on 24/04/2023 - 21:56

Almost got scammed but stopped the Paypal checkout just in time.

If you search for "funko pop metallica james hetfield" on google, the first result that comes up is from a shop called kidsdevelopstore.com.au. If you add something to the cart and try to check out, it redirects you to paypal.com, but then upon further clicking, you don't see the item you've ordered. Instead, you're redirected to send the amount owing "to a friend" on Paypal.

The website lists toys at well under the market rate (if it's too good to be true…) and scamadviser says that: "kidsdevelopstore.com.au is very likely not a scam but legit and reliable". However, going by these comments on productreview.com, clearly the are a scam.

How is this website still up and running?

Toys & Kids

Comments

  • Hybroid on 24/04/2023 - 22:02
    +1

    Looks like it's pretending to be a legitimate business Toys and Tales: https://goo.gl/maps/hADAEprBn3sNv43f8

    You can report it here under "shopping online" scams: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam

    • highon2str on 24/04/2023 - 22:12
      +2

      Thanks just did that. Looks like others on productreview.com have done the same, according to the comments. That particular comment was going back 2 weeks ago. I'm surprised it isn't straightforward to shut down a site like this.

  • tight-ass on 24/04/2023 - 22:21

    The lack of a phone number and the very bad grammar on the 'contact us' page is the first alarm bell!

  • bathuu on 24/04/2023 - 22:24
    +2

    Domain
    Registrant: KIDSCORP PTY. LIMITED
    Registrant ID: ABN 51060625238
    Eligibility Type: Company

    ABN details
    Entity name: KIDSCORP PTY. LIMITED
    ABN status: Active from 18 Apr 2000
    Entity type: Australian Private Company
    Goods & Services Tax (GST): Registered from 01 Jul 2000
    Main business location:
    NSW 2164
    Company Summary
    A basic overview of free information that can be downloaded or viewed in PDF form.

    Name: KIDSCORP PTY. LIMITED
    ACN: 060 625 238
    ABN: 51 060 625 238(External Link)
    Registration date: 23/06/1993
    Next review date: 23/06/2023
    Status: Registered
    Type: Australian Proprietary Company, Limited By Shares
    Locality of registered office: SYDNEY NSW 2000
    Regulator: Australian Securities & Investments Commission

    Domain is registered under legit company, not sure if you can do anything about it. Maybe report it to ato that it is associated with fraudulent activity?

    • freefall101 on 25/04/2023 - 00:01

      Looks like the whole site has been hijacked. Looking at wayback machine they sold sensory toys for kids last year, now it's a clone of another site with a redirected paypal. Owners need to fix their site.

  • AustriaBargain on 24/04/2023 - 23:13
    -6

    You didn't provide a single clickable link to the site to aid us checking it out, so I have to assume you don't really care or believe it is actually a scam if you don't actually want us to look at it. Based on you not posting a link I have to assume it is fairly trustworthy and maybe is just developed by a lazy store owner or someone inexperienced with checking out with PayPal. I would look it up on builtwith.com but I really don't give a shit, because you really don't give a shit.

    • freefall101 on 24/04/2023 - 23:55

      lol wut?

      It's clearly a scam, read the productreview link. It's also the first link to the google search, as OP said.

      Not directing people to a scam site is generally a good idea too.

      • AustriaBargain on 25/04/2023 - 00:03
        -3

        Scotty already has links in posts and comments set to nofollow, you don't add any link juice by posting the link to the site, you only make it easier for us to visit it instead of sending dozens/hundreds of us on a treasure hunt searching for and clicking on a Google result, which btw does add link juice.

        • deme on 25/04/2023 - 08:44
          +1

          I didn't -ve you but probably a good idea not to link it in case it serves malware.

  • deme on 25/04/2023 - 08:46

    What is a funkopop?

    • jv on 25/04/2023 - 09:30

      A cool soft drink

    • mapax on 25/04/2023 - 09:35
      +1

      Landfill

  • deme on 25/04/2023 - 08:48

    Instead, you're redirected to send the amount owing "to a friend" on Paypal.

    Could this just be a silly way of avoiding PayPal fees

  • brendanm on 25/04/2023 - 10:36
    -1

    Serves you right for trying to buy funkopops

  • Siuto on 25/04/2023 - 21:05

    It seems that "Toys and Tales" is aware of it:

    https://www.toysandtales.com.au/pages/scam-alert

    I have visited a "Toys and Tales" physical store before and it is a legitimate business.

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