Fake online retailer - help!

RustPuppet

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I recently bought an item from an online retailer called Apple ZA. The site seems legit and even has a Thawte trust signature. I paid via credit card and received a confirmation email for my order.

After a week, I mailed them and asked what the status of the order was. I got a reply back saying that the imported goods take longer to arrive in the country. This seemed way too suspicious, so I tried contacting the retailer through another means, but of course there's no other contact method to be found anywhere.

FFS.

This
is the whois for the domain. The mail address used to register it is [email protected], and the name of the registrar is Israfil Yilmaz aka the guy who joined ISIS :mad:

I've since contacted FNB to reverse my payment to the retailer; they should be in touch later today. In the meantime, is there anything else I can do to track down my cash? Surely I should be able to find out what banking details were used for the site?

Or, considering the guy obviously has a working iCloud account, could that be of use somehow? And would Apple not want to shut this site down immediately to prevent further fraud?

And help would be greatly appreciated.
 
I know. The ******* has several other domains.

There must be some way to find out how the money reached this POS?
 
AHA!

I placed another order via the site, this time using the EFT option. I was then given these details:

Bank: ABSA
Account Number: 9309825790
Branch Code: 632005
BIC: ABSAZAJJ

Time to get ABSA involved, I reckon.
 
Dude,you filled your banking details in on a non-SSL website? Derp

As for the Thawte,I can only see a watermark logo at the bottom,which anybody can copy and paste so that doesn't say much either, didn't do your homework clearly
 
I recently bought an item from an online retailer called Apple ZA. The site seems legit and even has a Thawte trust signature. I paid via credit card and received a confirmation email for my order.

After a week, I mailed them and asked what the status of the order was. I got a reply back saying that the imported goods take longer to arrive in the country. This seemed way too suspicious, so I tried contacting the retailer through another means, but of course there's no other contact method to be found anywhere.

FFS.

This
is the whois for the domain. The mail address used to register it is [email protected], and the name of the registrar is Israfil Yilmaz aka the guy who joined ISIS :mad:

I've since contacted FNB to reverse my payment to the retailer; they should be in touch later today. In the meantime, is there anything else I can do to track down my cash? Surely I should be able to find out what banking details were used for the site?

Or, considering the guy obviously has a working iCloud account, could that be of use somehow? And would Apple not want to shut this site down immediately to prevent further fraud?

And help would be greatly appreciated.

Were you not suspicious at their offline card processing facilities? So you now have to EFT (which is almost impossible to get returned to you).
Capture.PNG
Or perhaps that despite the Thawte logo (which is just a picture added to their website), you were entering data on an unsecure (HTTP) connection?
Thawte-4.png
 
Better cancel that card as you likely entered the CVC and all. He's shopping on your card as we speak ...
 
I selected a product and went to checkout.

this message displays by payment method:

Credit or Debit Card (Currently Offline)

He wants an EFT so he can quickly draw the cash and that's that. CC would be a reversal.


@OP, I'd advise you to cut up your card and put a stop on it, as he now has recorded your details.
 
I did. Now they want me to EFT.

sent it via cheque, call and harrass him that you've paid, send him "proof of payment" and demand the goods IMMEDIATELY as you have to go the USA and you want to take it with you before you leave.

If he doesn't give in, get threathening and verbally abuse him.
 
Contact Thawte and notify them of illegal use of their brand/logo.

Contact their host as well and report abuse.
 
Last edited:
Thanks Wall, I've already stopped the card. Fortunately no transactions have been made.

And cheers for the details AntiGanda, phoning now.
 
Thanks Wall, I've already stopped the card. Fortunately no transactions have been made.

And cheers for the details AntiGanda, phoning now.

great, ask them to check if that email or name has any other registered websites.
 
For future reference, never never never never never enter credit card details over standard HTTP connections. Always make sure there is a green lock icon in the address bar when at the checkout screen. While this isn't a way to see if the company is legit it does immediately tell you that they aren't.
 
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