Scam Detectives Investigates – Fake shoe sellers
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MBT refuse to call their footwear shoes. In fact, they brand their product the “anti-shoe”. MBT (Masai Barefoot Technology) describe the health benefits of their footwear in depth on their official website and provide links to several studies which demonstrate those benefits.
Another fake web shop
We were contacted by a reader this morning who had come across a website selling MBT footwear and she thought it was a fake. She was right.
www.ukmbt.com is one of many website purporting to sell MBT footwear at discount prices. At first glance, everything looks legitimate and you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a perfectly legitimate website. In fact, I had to look very hard to find the red flags that identify it as a fake.
The telltale signs
- The URL (web address) is very similar to that of the genuine site and the imagery used is taken directly from that website.
- The prices are VERY low – remember the golden rule – If it seems too good to be true, it probably is…
- The site displays the McAfee SECURE logo, but it doesn’t link through to the usual report from McAfee which would confirm that they had endorsed the security of the website
- There are links in the footer to other online stores unrelated to MBT – Why would a genuine store send traffic to unrelated websites?
- The contact page gives a Hotmail email address for customer service – I can’t think of one genuine online store that uses Hotmail as an email contact
- The “Privacy” page doesn’t contain a privacy policy
- The help page contains an address for a company in China, with a different, unrelated Hotmail email address for contact
- The public “whois” database lists and address in China, whilst MBT’s head office is based in Switzerland
- Upon making a purchase, you are directed to an insecure payment processing page which is badly worded and contains fabricated “trust” seals from Trustwave, GeoTrust, the Safe Shopping Network and the US Better Business Bureau
In short, the website is either selling counterfeit MBT products, or more likely, is simply harvesting credit card details with the intention of clearing out your account.
Other fake websites selling MBT products include (but are not limited to):
www.mbtshoessale.co.uk
www.eurluxury.com
www.mbt2you.com
www.buy-mbtshoes.com
www.unbootssale.com
www.mbt-lami.com
www.discountmbt.com
www.salembt.com
www.mbtag.com
How can I buy MBT products safely?
The MBT official website states: “Here at MBT, we want to ensure that you are fitted correctly in order to get the full benefits from the technology in the sole. We therefore do not sell our product online, but instead ensure that our retailers are trained on a regular basis to provide an individual fitting service for you and show you how to stand and walk best in MBTs.”
You can find your local official MBT stockist here
General tips for safe online shopping
Wherever possible, use a recognised retailer that specialises in supplying your chosen goods. It may be worth spending a few extra pounds for the peace of mind.
If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. A website offering goods at massive discounts well below those of other suppliers should ring alarm bells.
Search for reviews to check other customers experiences. Google “shop name AND reviews” and you’ll soon find out if they deliver or not!
Look for offline contact details such as a telephone number and address. By law website owners have to give you this information, and if it’s not there, you should be suspicious. Confirm the details by giving them a call to ask a question, and search for the address on Google to check it exists.
Check that the site has told you exactly how much you will be paying. Does the price include VAT and all delivery charges?
Check the site’s privacy, terms of use and delivery/returns policies to find out how your personal info will be used, and how the site will deal with faulty or damaged goods.
Make sure the site accepts payment by credit card or via a reputable payment processor like Paypal. This will give you some protection if the transaction goes wrong and you don’t get your stuff.
Don’t use wire transfer services such as Western Union or Moneygram to pay for goods. They’re often used by scammers as once the money is picked up it’s virtually impossible to trace.
Before you enter your credit card details, make sure that you’re on a secure, encrypted page. You can tell if a page is secure by looking for the letters https:// in your browser’s address bar, and looking for the padlock symbol in the address bar and at the bottom of your browser window. If you don’t see ALL of these things, your credit card details will not be secure and could be intercepted. Find another shop!
Trust your instincts. If anything makes you feel uncomfortable or simply “feels wrong” then walk away and buy from somewhere else!
Blog Disclosure: We have not been paid for this article in cash, credit or in kind by MBT or any other party.
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looks like you need to add http://www.masai-shoes.co.uk to your list!
Add another one, http://www.mtbshopping.com/index.php
MTB physiological footwear
You just stopped me from making purchase… thanks!
It looks as if http://www.ukmbt.com is no longer online.
Here one more
http://www.uk-mbtantishoes.com
Very cool website, but you must improve your logo graphics.
Don’t use http://www.mbtantishoes-uk.com they are based in China and are substandard shoes. I bought a pair and cannot return them or get a refund.
Wow nearly bought these you’ve just stoppped me from buying fake shoes
Footwear that costs $100 or more is just a ripoff.
Thanks for this – I was really tempted with the low prices being offered at salembt.com but thought they might be too good to be true. Glad I looked into it further before placing any order and giving credit card details.
Wish I’d known about your website! Just bought my third pair of MBTs online form wwwukmbt (Had no problem with the first two pairs which were bought from different sites).
The shoes arrived from China in a very poor condition. Of course I’ve had no reply from any emails.
ukmbt.com were definitely still trading at the beginning of July – how I wish they hadn’t.
Very worried about my creditcard details now!
Don’t touch buymbt2010 which uses Paypal as they are fakes. I’ve lodged a dispute with Paypal so hopefully i’ll get my money back…. should have known better. They are based in Shanghai and hopefully Paypal will stop doing business with them.
http://www.mbtshoes-clearance.com/ is a scam! Don’t but shoes from here! They are FAKE!!!
This is another site – I just got done, payment taken in China and no goods delivered.
http://www.mbtshoes-running-uk.com/
bokesport.com is another scam website
http://www.antishoes-uk.com is another fake shoe selling site. Came from hong kong and had chinese writing beside MBT logo. It was’nt in the pictures in thier website! Very disapointed it was a christmas present.lol
I feel like you could probably teach a class on how to make a great blog. This is fantastic! I have to say, what really got me was your design. You certainly know how to make your blog more than just a rant about an issue. Youve made it possible for people to connect. Good for you, because not that many people know what theyre doing.
You just stopped me from making purchase… thanks!
http://www.hellombtshoes.com/ is fake
So what about these guys????
http://www.vipmbtshoessale.com
are they fake??
they advertise BUYMBTSHOES.com but their url is http://www.vipmbtshoessale.com/ and when they email you its from
any of these
system-noreply1@95epay.com
sales@2buymbtshoes.com
csreason@95epay.com
whats the go??
add this two: COACHOUTLETVIP and http://www.cheapmbtantishoe.com, they are in Hong Kong…
What about this web site?
http://www.mbtshoesclearances.org
It seem so nice…
But if I follow your instructions, their shoes are fake too
Does anyone know about http://www.mbtshoesonshop.com Is that also a fake website?
http://www.mbtshoesonshop.com fake???
Thanks, I found your website just in time!
I nearly got scammed by this website as they portray themselves as a secure site using paypal, however when it came to filling out card details there was no link to paypal and they ask for direct payment in to thier personal paypal account! BEWARE!
also add http://www.mbtshoesfootwear.com to the fake list
The racist mindset has given you selective sight. Thats why you cherry pick the facts and figures that bolster your negative view of black people, while turning a blind eye to the dirty deeds committed by white Americans. I have already condemned black crime. The fact that you have not condemned white crime implies tacit approval on your part for their savage, uncivilized behavior. And no, the black people who commit crimes are not my people. And yes I am among that group of law abiding black people (the vast majority of black people in this country are law abiding).
Absolute rubbish. I defy you to find any racist remarks or stereotypes on this website.
http://www.mbts-online.com/ fake! aware of this address please
http://www.mbtclearance.com/ fake!!! I opened dispute to Paypal… Please use mbt’s authorized web sites because some of them are cheaper than counterfeits
Just how have you figure all this out relating to this topic? I enjoyed reading this, Ill need to visit other pages on your own site immediately.
I also bought a pair of fakes online… I knew they weren’t right, because the quality was rubbish compaired to my other two pairs that I purchased in a shop. You’ve just confirmed it, thanks!
http://www.mbt-clearanceoutlet.com/ is a fake retailer, I sent you a comment earlier just to warn everybody and see now it wasn’t placed. I tried to cancel but they sent the fake shoes anyway. I ordered Rafiki goretex size 37 (UK5) and they sent a foamlike material with crap laces. I made a terrible slip while trying them on walking on a wetfloor Took them to the MBT store in Utrecht NL and they had to admit that they are getting better in appearance. The fraud department of my bank took care of it and for the moment I got my money back. Save yourselves from sleepless night and get yourself the real MBT’s. They are great and I love them!
THIS IS ANOTHER ONE MBT FAKE WEBSITE..THE PRICES SEEMS SOO LOOWWW TO BE TRUE!!
http://www.mbtshoesonlineshop.com
It looks fake…dont trust it
Another website is http://www.mbtcomfortableshoes.com.
MBt’s are fake and prices are too low.