Protect Yourself Online

on
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
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?
 photo ODB A BEAUTY BLOG SIGN_zpsevlfleqo.png
38 comments on "Protect Yourself Online"
  1. Could not agree more with what you're saying. I think I've been contacted by the same companies you are mentioning as well and found the same things when I did more research. Always do your research!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Fannie :) I'm glad we did research first before collaborating with these companies.

      Delete
  2. That is so scary! I get "funny" offers like that too and delete them. I'll only work with well known companies. Nowadays you have to be so careful. This was an excellent post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, dear! I'm glad you are aware of this issue :)

      Delete
  3. I haven't actually been contacted by one of these websites, but one collaborator that I contacted used such poor English in their response that I hardly understood what they meant! I think it's terrible what these websites do, trying to get bloggers to feature their scam.
    Elina | Miss Blue Eyes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I couldn't agree more! It's even terrible if we as the bloggers didn't do the research first. And I find it strange if a company that is able to ship worldwide, doesn't have a capable customer service *facepalm*

      Delete
  4. I've never had a collab before so I can't speak for that, but as a reader I think it's really good of you to refuse shady sponsorships. I know that some people will advertise anything that is offered to them (afterall, it can be tempting to get free stuff), but when a lot of people are relying on your reviews it really is important to be more selective > <.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yup dear! They know how to get the bloggers by giving free or discounted stuff and even payment via Paypal as the compensation. How tempting, right? >,<

      Delete
  5. Wow! thanks for the heads-up! I appreciate your honesty :) <3

    ReplyDelete
  6. I also got an offer from a prom dress site and thankfully I googled reviews before I responded because they were definitely selling fakes! Thanks for alerting others to these companies, I think in most cases it's pretty obvious that the companies are not legit.

    www.kimkine.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agreed! It's just terrible how these companies use bloggers to promote their fraud!

      Delete
  7. thanks for sharing this.. as bloggers, we really need to be aware of these kinds of issues! :D

    Animated Confessions

    ReplyDelete
  8. Really nice post.. I've read some blogs that do reviewed those website without any experience buying from them..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, dear :) Hopefully we could be more cautious of this kind of website.

      Delete
  9. gosh.. it's the same with online lolita dress stores. Some are seriously such bad quality you can even tell with just one look! Nowadays I'm too scared to buy except (cheap) from TaoBao directly, or only if it's brand and I know it's trustworthy aye...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh dear! It's bad but at least they put their work in the website so that the customer know what they're gonna get. This one is even worse because they put such a high quality image stolen from the original designer -_-

      Delete
  10. wow, that is unbelievable, good thing you're not engulfed by their treacherous tricks! thank you for sharing as well!

    puddingme.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome, dear :) Hopefully this kind of company won't contact me anymore hahaha..

      Delete
  11. Hey hun I completely agree you should always research a company before accepting collaborations! I always do - you don't want your readers buying bad quality stuff!

    I got a scam email recently from another blogger asking me to pay her, to feature on my blog?!! Apparently I would be entered into a competition? I told her not to email me again!

    Gabby xo

    Blog - What She Buys / Instagram / Twitter

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What?? That blogger is freaking rude and ridiculous! Who the heck would do that anyway? *double facepalm* Thank you for reading this post :)

      Delete
  12. Thank you so much. This is so bizarre... Online stores do have a lot of product's quality problems...

    gabbythegabby.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome, Gabby. Yup, but I do find lots of online stores that have a good quality too :)

      Delete
  13. These scam companies will always come to bloggers, thank god you are careful! Mango had written some things about spotting fake companies here.

    On a side note, Xiaxue used to have good reputation with sponsors and ads, but now---errm. I wouldn't use her as a good example of how to deal with sponsors anymore.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh ya, I read that post too OMG that's just ridic how they confidently ship worldwide yet they can't even converse in English -_-' Have you seen Xiaxue's latest blogpost about the slimming place? Though I wasn't even sure if she posted it because she really wanted to review it due to the disappointing service and result or because of her ex-friend's review. However, I still find it very interesting and trust Xiaxue's review more than Kaykay's :D

      Delete
  14. ah mitch i couldn't agree more. i wish more bloggers would do the same type of research before collaborating with brands like this. usually these companies will ask bloggers to recommend their products on their blogs and even sometimes host a giveaway without trying their services. ive heard dozen of stories where in the company didnt hold the end of their bargain after the blog share.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OH! I almost forgot about those kind of giveaways! Thanks for reminding me, Shayne. Gah. I haven't actually read that kind of story, but it must be really awful for both the blogger and participants.

      Delete
  15. This is such a great post. I've had a few of those same experiences too, with weird and fishy emails like that. Since my email address is public in my blog, we really can't trust everyone that emails wishing for a collaboration. I always do research as well to make sure they are legit and fit with my blog image.

    Lauren xo
    Sophisticated In Style

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Lauren :) I agree with you, it's important to choose a collaboration that will fit the blog image.

      Delete
  16. This is such an insightful post, I had no idea things can be this bad! I've actually recently see 'fake' blog comments too - at first there was a comment on my blog which seemed completely normal and organic, but then another blogger posted the exact same comment (including the spelling mistakes) another time on a another post. Then I saw the same comment circulating around other blogs! I was pretty outraged.

    Ayesha xxx
    Http://alycheeaday.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh no, I have received such comments too, I guess the spammers just copying from the previous comment :\ It's so weird, that's why I think comment moderation is the best tool to minimize spam messages.

      Delete
  17. Great post thanks for sharing! I think as new bloggers you can be so excited when an email like that pops up (because of course we would all love to collaborate with certain brands out there) but we all need to be super careful as so many of them can be scams… x

    Beauty with charm

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome, Alina :) I couldn't agree more with you!

      Delete
  18. thank you for sharing this important info! im still beginner about blogging..

    http://www.twinklelittleheels.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Very well written and useful, surely it will help people to be more careful.

    http://dreamland1234.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  20. haha , this is definitely something I need to learn from as well (as the other party of the company/blogger relationship) :) hopefully you guys will forgive me for being too casual and "friendly" with you if I ever been in contact with you in the past (or in the future :p )

    great post as usual :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! Thanks Alice for dropping by :) I think that being too casual and friendly is not a bad thing because I myself feel comfortable to talk with you via email. We started contacting in a formal manner anyway :D So that's really okay ^^

      Delete