The Hidden Dangers of Doxishop: A Scam Pet Supplies Website
Pets are HUGE business, but unfortunately, the rise in pet popularity also opens the door to unscrupulous scammers. One recent example notorious example is Doxishop. The fraudluent site that brazenly features well-known brands, such as Hills Science Diet, Zen Habitats, and Acana Pet Foods, in order to inspire trust in the unsuspecting pet parent.
Here, we delve into the dangers of using Doxishop, and why you should steer clear of their site, and how you can protect yourself online.
(Stay safe online - don't deprive your pet of the goodies they deserve!)
The Illusion of Legitimacy
Doxishop presents itself as a reputable source for buying pet products, complete with polished images, glowing reviews, and enticing offers that are too good to be true. HOW DO I KNOW THIS? Because the very company I work closely with, Zen Habitats, never authorized their items for sale on this website, and every other company I reached out to (including Arcadia Reptile, ZooMed, Zilla, Hills Science Diet, and Acana Pet Foods) were ALL affected by this scammer. Big companies and small alike.
Scammers have become adept at creating websites that appear professional and trustworthy, making it challenging for even the most cautious consumers to detect the fraud.
Common Red Flags
-
Too Good to Be True Prices: One of the most obvious signs of a scam is pricing. Doxishop often lists products at significantly lower prices than market value, luring unsuspecting buyers with the promise of a bargain. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
-
Lack of Physical Address or Contact Information: Legitimate pet supplies websites typically provide a physical office address and multiple ways to contact them. Doxishop, however, often lacks verifiable contact details, making it difficult to reach out with questions or concerns. Their IG page doesn't exist, their address is an elementary school, and their telephone number is bogus.
-
Pressure Tactics and Urgent Language: Scammers frequently use pressure tactics to rush buyers into making quick decisions. Doxishop is known to employ urgent language, claiming that a product is in high demand or that a special offer is about to expire, pushing potential victims to act hastily.
-
Poor spelling and grammar: Scammers frequently use AI to build their websites. This can result in a lot of mistakes. Be sure to look at spelling and grammar when visiting a site - especially on the FAQ and Contact pages.
Please stay cautious online when shopping by following some of my tips below.
Ps: I’ve already reached out to a bunch of other companies to let them know they’re listed! Gotta look out for one another 🫶❤️
Tips ⬇️
💰Check prices! If the prices are much lower than the official brands pricing, and the prices seem too good to be true, they probably are!
👀 Search the companies name on multiple platforms. Search on Facebook, X, and IG for public posts about the company/site you’re buying from.
🕵️♀️ Check the website for signs of spelling errors, broken links (Doxishop is full of these) and suspicious contact pages.
📧 REACH OUT to the actual brand and not just the third-party website! If you’re not sure of the platform you’re buying from, reach out to the actual brand and their customer service team. Even if you’re going to get a better deal on another site, they’ll be glad you reached out to check, and can tell you if that site and product is legit! This helps to keep your banking details and your animals safe! 🫶
Update: As of today (7/26/2024) Hills Science Diet has responded to the alert I sent them (and other affected companies) to inform me that their legal team is on the case! Huzzah! - Emzotic.
Keep spreading the word to help keep yourselves and your pet funds safe! Thank you!
