Shoppers are warning of perfume scams flooding the high street this Christmas
A PROLIFIED perfume scam sweeping the high street could set you back hundreds of dollars this Christmas, shoppers have warned.
Scammers reportedly buy luxury perfumes, exchange the legitimate bottle for a fake one, and then return the box (with the counterfeit perfume inside) to the store.
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It’s a minefield for people who buy perfumes and aftershaves Christmas gifts, as they don’t want to open the box before the gift recipient.
But because of the scams, this step may be a necessary addition to your holiday shopping.
According to customers who have fallen victim to it, the campaign is reportedly taking place in all major cosmetics retailers on Britain’s high street, including Boots, Argos and Superdrug.
Shoppers Zuzka Patrick took to Facebook earlier this month to share her experiences.
She bought what she thought was a bottle of the £104 Rabanne Olympea Eau De Parfum.
But when she opened the box at home, she immediately noticed that the bottle in the box was not genuine.
It was made of cheaper material and had a completely different shape and lid than the luxury version.
Zuzka returned the scent to the retailer, who she said has “opened a case and will investigate further.”
The store also replaced the fake product and gave her the legitimate version.
“I’m so glad they traded it for you,” one woman commented on the post.
“This is crazy, isn’t it?
“Someone needs to take the real thing and replace it with the fake.”
“This could happen anywhere,” another customer noted.
“Someone clearly sent back a fake.
How to protect yourself from scams
BY keeping these tips in mind, you can avoid getting involved in scams:
- First, remember that if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
- Check if brands are “verified” on Facebook and Twitter pages – this means the company has a blue checkmark on its profile.
- Look for grammatical and spelling errors; fraudsters are notoriously bad at writing correct English. If you receive a message from a “friend” informing you of a free copy, consider whether it is written in your friend’s normal style.
- If you’re invited to click on a URL, hover your mouse over the link to see the address you’re going to. Does it look real?
- To be safe, don’t click unsolicited links in messages, even if they appear to come from a trusted contact.
- Also, be careful when opening email attachments. Fraudsters are increasingly adding files, usually PDFs or spreadsheets, that contain dangerous malware.
- If you receive a suspicious message, report it to the company, block the sender and delete it.
- If you think you have been tricked, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use online fraud reporting tool.
“People do it everywhere – I work in retail.”
A third joked: “I wonder if there will be an influx of returns on boots in January as people open those Christmas prezzies and discover they got Amanda instead of Armani.”
HOW TO BE SAFE
The experts at FragranceX offered some advice to ensure you don’t fall victim to the scam.
They said: “Normally authentic perfumes are wrapped in cellophane wrap.
“The cellophane around the box is usually wrapped flawlessly and tightly around the box.
“If the cellophane is loosely or poorly wrapped, this could indicate a fake perfume, especially if you can move the cellophane that far through the box.
“If the plastic packaging of the perfume box looks bad (excess glue, uneven seam, etc.), be wary.”
When it comes to bottles, the writing is on the wall.
The experts explained: “An authentic perfume bottle has smooth containers made of high-quality glass material and spill-resistant caps that are perfectly symmetrical (unless designed otherwise).
“A fake perfume bottle is usually rough or poorly made from cheaper materials such as plastic and may have an uneven perfume cap.”
