Fake Online Ads Lead to fraudulent Sales of Popular Korean Fashion Brands
SEOUL, September 5th - Consumers are being targeted by fraudulent websites impersonating popular Korean apparel brands like Alo, Stushy, and Woo Young-mi, lured in by heavily discounted prices advertised on social media. Authorities report a surge in complaints, with 137 cases of apparel brand impersonation reported to the Seoul Electronic Commerce Center and Korea Consumer Resources between January and July of this year.
A staggering 93.7% (105 cases) of confirmed fraudulent connections originated through social media discount advertisements,primarily on Instagram. These sites, typically operated from overseas, entice shoppers with drastically reduced prices - including a reported instance of a ₩520,000 Woo Young-mi hoodie being advertised for just ₩130,000 – alongside promises of “80% sales,” “day limits,” and “free shipping.”
Though, once a purchase is made, consumers frequently enough find themselves unable to obtain a refund or receive the promised product.
The fraudulent websites are designed to closely mimic official brand websites, utilizing logos, layouts, and product descriptions to deceive shoppers. They frequently employ domain extensions ending in words like “Shop,” “TOP,” “Online,” and “Store” rather than standard extensions.
“The overseas shopping mall, which was first encountered through the Instagram advertisement, must be checked if it is indeed the official homepage of the brand,” advised an official from the Seoul metropolitan Government.
Consumers who have fallen victim to these scams are encouraged to request a “Chargeback Service” from their card company within 120-180 days of the transaction (depending on the card type). Further assistance and detailed response methods are available through the Seoul E-Commerce Center and the International Consumer Portal.
“Shopping malls that advertise at 60 ~ 90% discount on social media should be especially careful,” stated Kim Myung-sun, director of the Fair Economy Division of Seoul. “Seoul will continue to monitor and block domestic access to prevent damage…caused by fraud sites.”
