Zoey-melbourne.com is not a legit Australia based clothing store. Heck, it is not even located in Australia but in HongKong China. If you’re contemplating giving the online store a trial, here’s my findings that reveal it is a risk not worth taking.
Facts about Zoey-melbourne.com
Zoey Melbourne is trending due to its alleged 80% off closing sale on all products. The online store claims to sell shoes, pants, dresses, bags, e.t.c. for discount prices. However, upon visiting the website I observed the following red flags;
- No Business Address – Though Zoey-melbourne.com targets Australian residents, the online store doesn’t provide a precise location in Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.
- No Customer Reviews – There’s no option for customers to leave any review on the site. Review options are always integrated on shopping sites. If an online store isn’t offering one, it’s highly suspicious.
Well, this led me to investigate the online store, and I found out more red flags;
- Recently created – Zoey-melbourne.com was launched on October 2024 and would expire in September 2025. The online store clearly lacks reputation.
- A Network of Fraudulent Online Stores – Zoey Melbourne was formerly known as Hilda Melbourne; same website design, discount sale, products e.t.c. Customers who shopped from the former store complained of receiving poorly made clothes.
So how does Zoey Melbourne scam Work?
Zoey-melbourne.com engages in what is called bait and switch scam. The items displayed on the site is totally different from what is delivered to customers. The store passes off products of other designers as theirs and makes a cheap imitation when customers place an order.
To make this work, they create an impression that its an Australian store located in Melbourne, but it’s actually a China based store and thats where the products are shipped from. Then they use huge discounts and limited sale timer to bait people into placing an order on the site.
What to Expect in terms of quality
There are complaints from customers who shopped from Zoey-melbourne.com. The products received were below par, of poor quality, wrong sizing, and different design.
Shipping
Shipping takes two to three weeks. Tracking is done on track718.com, a website notorious for being used by fraudulent China based online stores.
Return Policy
There are two return options; (Option 1) pay shipping cost back to China which is almost 40% of the purchase price. Or (Option 2) keep the items and receive a refund of 10% of the purchase price.
Customer Support
Customers can reach the store via; [email protected] or the contact form on the website contact page. However, the wait time is 24hrs
What To Do If You Fell For The Zoey Melbourne Scam
- If the product hasn’t been shipped yet, contact the store immediately to cancel order.
- Request a chargeback if you’ve used a credit card .
- If you used PayPal, contact their customer support right away and provide any receipts or proof of purchase.
- Contact your bank immediately if you paid via wire transfer or electronic funds transfer.
- Report the seller to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC advises reporting a business if you even suspect fraud. Each report filed can make a difference in preventing future scams.
- File with your state attorney general or local consumer protection agency. Share what personal information you gave to the seller.
How To Protect Yourself From Online Shopping Scams
- Check how long the website has been functioning – The domain age of a website tells a lot about a store’s legitimacy or transparency. Websites below 6 months old are often considered unsafe. You can find out a website’s age by checking on Who.is ( a free domain checker tool)
- When using retail websites, find out exactly who you are dealing with. Research the retailer address by copying and pasting it on your browser. Does it really exist? is the retailer registered in the address or is the address that of a family home?
- When making online payments, use secure payment service. Look for a URL starting with “https” and a closed padlock symbol, or a payment provider such as PayPal. 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.
- Avoid Too Good to be true Discounts – any product sold at very cheap prices compared to other online stores should be treated with caution. Low prices are baits scammers use to lure unsuspecting victims
- Check for reviews Online – Are there reviews or posts about the online store online? By searching for reviews online you could also come across warning posts or complaints.
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Nora