Allora Toronto is offering a 80% Closure sale on all items on its website. Infoquu readers asked in an email, ”is this a scam?”
Our research revealed Allora-toronto.com engages in bait and switch scam (delivery of inferior products), non-delivery of products, and stringent refund policies.
Allora Toronto Reviews – The Bait & Switch Scam
Allora Toronto advertises quality clothing items – tops, dresses, Pajamas, etc. for very low prices. Reverse image search showed the products displayed on the website do not belong to the store.
The images were gotten off reputable fashion websites. Reasons why the models faces are cropped out (to avoid copyright infringement)
Due to the fact that the designs do not belong to the store, they make cheap imitation. A typical bait and switch scam. The product delivered are always below par, of poor design, sizing and texture.
Where is Allora-toronto.com Physically Located?
Though the website creates the impression of being a Canada clothing brand, the website registration details revealed HongKong China as the registrant’s location.
It’s common knowledge that majority of online stores located in China provide wrong business address in order to create the impression of authenticity, hence deceiving customers. Upon placing an order, customers receive inferior items that are below par, of different design, material, color and sizing.
Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Shop From Allora-Toronto
Stringent Refund policies
The store doesn’t offer return label. Customers have to pay exorbitant shipping cost to China. Still, refund request are only accepted if the item is returned in unopened packaging.
Limited Communication
Mails sent to the website’s email address ‘[email protected]’ do not receive feedback.
Recently Launched Website
Allora-toronto.com was registered and launched in December 2024. This indicates the store hasn’t been functioning for a long time so it has no reputation to protect.
Might Shut Down Anytime Soon
The website would expire in December 2025. This indicates it was created for a short term plan. Reputable websites typically register domains for multiple years, indicating stability and a commitment to their business.
Doesn’t Accept PayPal
Lack of option for secured payment method raises a concern. Without PayPal, refund requests is ignored by the store.
Copied Legal Pages
The content on the website are generic. The About Us, Terms of Service and Privacy Policy have been copied. While this act doesn’t indicate it’s a fraudulent store, legitimate business always source and provide their own legal pages in order to protect both the business and customers right.
No Social Media Presence
The clothing store doesn’t have an active social media presence in this time when social media marketing is king. Don’t all these red flags scream SCAM?
Is Allora Toronto Real or Fake?
Allora-Toronto.com is not a real Toronto clothing store. It’s a fraudulent website operating from China. The brand manufactures inferior unsustainable clothing from a warehouse in China. Shipping and delivery takes weeks, and refund requests are not granted. Hence, we do not recommend shopping from the online store.
What To Do If You Got Scammed
Cancel your credit card
Immediately call your financial provider and cancel your credit card. By so doing, the credit card details you used for your transaction would become null and wouldn’t be charged in the future by the store.
Request for a new card
After the old credit card has been cancelled, ask for a new card, it doesn’t cost much to get one.Your credit card issuer will issue you a new one with different numbers.
Report the Fraud To Relevant Authorities
Report the scam to relevant authorities and organizations. This includes:
- Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): If you are in the United States, you can file a complaint with the IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov/.
- Your Local Consumer Protection Agency: Contact your local consumer protection agency or the equivalent regulatory body in your country.
- Better Business Bureau (BBB): File a complaint with the BBB if the online store is based in the United States.
How To Spot Scam Websites
Check the URL:
Scammers often use URLs that are similar to legitimate websites, but with slight variations. Look for extra letters, numbers, or symbols.
SSL Encryption:
Find out if the website is secured with SSL encryption. (https and padlock symbols). Legitimate websites often use “https” (hypertext transfer protocol secure) in their URL.. If the padlock symbol doesn’t appear near the website’s URL, then it means your personal and financial information is at risk at the store.
Check for a physical address:
Legitimate websites usually provide a physical address or contact information. Website that hides their company name, contact address and physical address should be avoided.
Be wary of poor design:
Fake websites often have poor design, bad grammar, and low-quality images. If you notice any of these on a website, then it’s better to do proper research before going ahead.
Watch for pop-ups:
Legitimate websites rarely use excessive pop-ups or ads. Aggressive marketing and too many discounts are usually a sign of a scam website.
Check online reviews:
Research the website’s reputation online. If there are no reviews especially from independent review platforms like Trustpilot or Amazon. Sometimes platforms like Quora and Reddit offer a wealth of knowledge.
Be cautious of generic email addresses:
Legitimate websites usually use custom email addresses, not generic ones like Gmail or Yahoo.
Conclusion
All findings indicate Allora-toronto.com isn’t a legitimate online store to shop from. The unrealistic discount, no business address, limited contact, are evidence of an online shopping scam. Thus, shopping from this website poses huge financial risk to online shoppers.
The website uses extremely low price to bait customers on social media platforms eg – Facebook, Tiktok. Social media users reported seeing Ads with very low prices tagged ‘Black Friday Sale’ ‘80% off’ e.t.c. which could be tempting to shoppers. . Limited countdown timers are further used to urge people to place an order immediately.
Upon placing an order, the website either delivers inferior items or nothing at all. Getting a refund is totally impossible as the customer support doesn’t respond to mails, live chats and social media messages.
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