Protect Yourself Online

Lately, I've been receiving collaboration emails from some companies. I am truly grateful. Of course. I started this blog for just randomly sharing my life, and reviewing upon products or service that I find worth the review. This would be a long post full of words. Let's get to the story!

Nowadays I read some bloggers who reviewed these particular websites (who offered me the collaborations) that sell wedding gown and prom dress and whatnot. There are THREE companies that contacted me for the collaboration. I would let you know about this not to brag about my blog, nor to seek for attention, but I honestly realized they're most likely a fake selling website because when I dig a little deeper, I smell something fishy about them. I just honestly want to share my experience to you, bumblebees!

First of all, the people who emailed me, use Gmail instead of their domain address! They have poor English grammars and put some Chinese letters at the end of their emails. I guess it's like contact details. Uh. Excuse me? Did I ever write anything in Chinese on my blog? What's the use of writing those in Chinese?

The first two websites (lemme say company A and B) actually have a different name and logo but they have similar layout inside. LOL. You might think they probably are resellers, but it's strange because the emails they sent to me are in the same exact format with same greetings and same sender name but only were sent from a different Gmail account! How can two different companies, have a similar sender name (they didn't give full name smartly enough), have a similar website (I only spot TWO differences, which are the logo design and background color), and send me an exact offer?

Whoa, you make me suspicious for owning two different websites selling the same thing? If you're a legit one, for what reason? Even both of their warehouse and showroom pictures in the 'About Us' section is one and the same!

Then the third company, let say company C from now on, looks more professional than the other, at least the person didn't use Gmail LOL. However, there's something weird about the sender email, let say their website is company-C.com, but why the heck did the sender email me from (lemme say) thesender@company-C.net? So are you from company-C.net or company-C.com? Trying to confuse me, huh? :]

What even more suspicious is the cash payment they all offered is the same exact amount of money. Not sure if you can negotiate a higher payment or not because I didn't reply their emails anymore.

Second of all, the websites are aimed to international buyers as they can ship worldwide. Sure the price is so much cheaper than buying a real wedding gown at the bridal salon. However, you should at least spend 100 GBP for that piece (company A and B both have the country code domain .co.uk, while the company C in .com, but all of the companies are based in China). Yup, they all sell the dresses in pounds though it's most likely the dresses are made in China! It doesn't make sense how a UK website, with GBP rate, sells something that comes from China. Not to mention, their insufficient English (point 1, grammar, once again).

Lastly, I did a research to find out whether the website is just a scam or not. And... I found so many negative reviews that said they got a low quality dress that doesn't even look okay for the money that they spent. It rips off of other designer's clothes, and makes poor renditions of them, with ill fitting results. Basically a hideous knock-off! They couldn't even return it because the procedure was too complicated and they realized they got tricked. I just can't take it no more.

I am someone who would make a research about the website first before doing a collaboration. I don't want my readers to spend money for nothing! Just like what XiaXue said:

“Why should you earn money when these people lost hundreds?”

If you can't really imagine how poor the dress can be, watch this.

Perhaps you wonder why did I put them in anonymous. I do not want to talk bad or even giving bad reputation about some online stores that I did not even experience myself shopping. If you really want me to reveal the company name or a hint, I'd immediately refuse.

It's always a gamble you know when buying stuffs online. Seriously though, I shop online a lot too, thankfully never once I got scammed, because I do also research before buying their stuff. As a girl, I know how tempting it is to see the word 'cheap' or 'discounted'. However, you can choose a credible one to at least minimize the risk.

My advice to you bumblebees who receive a collaboration invitation, a professional business offer would greet your name (yes your name, even if you don't put a name, your blog has a name, right?), introduce themselves (in full name and position), and present their company (even it's only two or three sentences) before asking for a collaboration. Talk about manner and basic public relations!

So have you ever been contacted for such collaborations, of which you are not so sure about the company, most probably haven't ever heard about them? Do you have any other tips to prevent these scams?