Keto free sample scam

[shrumps]

I've been such a massive idiot but thought I'd post this as a warning in case anyone else is as gullible as me.

It's 4 am and I am lying awake, utterly stressed. On Sunday (admittedly after a few drinks) I had an ad pop up on Facebook for a 'free sample' of some keto diet supplements. In my slightly tipsy state it seemed like it was worth a go (looked legit, lost of crap about Dragons Den investment on it...I know 😩) I've put a lot of weight on recently and have been trying and failing to diet. I'm a slightly tech unsavvy middle aged idiot - prime victim for this type of thing.

My phone has auto fill for address/card details etc so a couple of clicks later and the order form was filled. Now at this point I came to my senses and clicked off the page, but I must have inadvertently completed it because yesterday my DH came back from work and asked what on earth I'd spent £200 on - to a company called 'Solid'

I am gutted. I'm on furlough at the minute and things are not looking good for us. I checked my email and there is the email receipt it gives a (obviously non contactable) phone number, no email address and a link to a YouTube video that is accompanied with loads of comments from people who have been similarly scammed.

As the payment was still pending, we called the credit card company and explained the situation but they said there is nothing they can do - so we feel doubly ripped off, by them too who couldn't help us.

I know I've been incredibly stupid so please resist the opportunity to tell me this - I honestly have kicked myself enough. I just thought it might serve as warning to anyone else who might be as gullible as me.

And please don't think there is anything the credit card companies will do to help - we pointed out that if they cancel the payment the company won't get the money and therefore won't send the goods (not that they necessarily will anyway, I think it's just a way of getting my card details - now cancelled) but they were incredibly unhelpful and just said it's the same as going in to Tesco, buying stuff and then saying you don't want it and want your money back.

Send it back, cancel if you're now a member or if it's a monthly type of thing. And ask for a refund.

I don't think I'll actually get anything to be honest, judging my the comments on the link they sent me. The 'company' is a set up to get your card details.

Ouch, there really are some wankers out there. Surprised the credit card company did not help.

Is the company supposed to be based in the UK?

Id phone again talk to a manager. I've never had a problem getting money back from fraud on a cc.

Which bank?

Sounds like you need to escalate it above the level you've spoken to.

Good luck

I have no idea where the 'company' is meant to be based - no details at all on the email re company registration/contact details. It's clearly just a massive phishing operation designed for fools like me. I can't even trace them down as there are tons of such 'companies' that all look very similar.

I will have one more go at contacting the bank and escalating the call though.

Thanks all - especially for not all jumping on me for being an idiot!

Don’t beat yourself up. I saw the same advert and considered it. It did look genuine. I bet the Dragons are not impressed!

Ask the cc company to cancel the card and send you a new one. As you have already accepted to them you filled and sent the order for this product you won’t get your money back, but at least you can prevent the card detail being used for other stuff

But when you buy online you have the top right to simply change your mind and ask for a refund. so you will either receive some goods and send them back or receive nothing. ..as it's over £100 your card company should help you.

Sorry OP, if it's the company I've read about you will receive a delivery with a dodgy return address so you can't return them.
You are better off if you don't receive them because you can then claim from your credit card company

That's what everyone says on the YouTube video they helpfully provide so you royally know you've been scammed. I am absolutely gutted that there seems to be nothing at all people can do about this type of thing.

Scam aside, (sorry that happened to you)

Don't do Keto. Seriously - look it up. It can lead to all kids of health problems, if not done under supervision. Read the many many reports of women having terrible illnesses stemming from bloody keto. Gall bladder issues are at the top of the list.

@justoverthehorizon

But when you buy online you have the top right to simply change your mind and ask for a refund. so you will either receive some goods and send them back or receive nothing. ..as it's over £100 your card company should help you.

As PP says you have some options to get your money back, the Distance Selling Regulations which give a cooling off period of 14 days to send it back and get a full refund. If you can’t send it back because there are no return details then you have s75 protection as you’ve bought on a credit card and it cost more than £100. The CC company have equal liability to put things right for you (including any breach of contract or misrepresentation). If they don’t play ball call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline (NOT their generalist Adviceline Service) and they’ll help you plus report the company to Trading Standards.

Then request a new card so the company doesn’t have your details! Don’t feel bad, you can get this sorted!

Thank you so much for the great advice - I have been worrying myself sick over this. Huge lesson learnt!

Bloody Facebook!
Just really annoys me that we accept that majority of things advertised on there are fake/scams. Why can’t they do more to stop this?

Because people feel ashamed they've been idiots when they are scammed and fail to report these fake adverts.

I don't understand why the credit card company won't help. You thought you were ordering a free a sample and you got charged £200. It's not the same as choosing stuff in Tesco and changing your mind at all - you were duped.

I know from work in credit card company, there is a difference from fraud and disputes. They won't help with fraud because you put the card details in.
However you can raise a dispute. Dispute usually falls under goods or items not received, you'd have to look for a timescale on the website for receiving the goods after this date you can dispute. If you cannot find a timescale a reasonable time would be about a week or two to expect corrospondance or delivery. You can also mention you have not received correspondence after purchasing.
Second dispute type is refund not received. These scammers on their site usually do say they can try and refund you if you try and contact them within a timeframe. If that timeframe passes and you have attempted to contact them then raise this dispute. If they have no contact details just say you have attempted to request refund.

It's proper poop the way the advisor didn't explain this and I'm sorry, usually fraud and disputes are raised by the same department, deffo ring them back up and explain you want a dispute and not a fraud case. They will try and throw you off the phone if you keep saying its fraud and not dispute. The only difference for them is its a different form to fill. It's bad that you have to know the difference in bank jargon so sorry OP. Sending hugs xx

If it helps to know - you didn't hear this from me but - usually your first dispute case they will just credit you the money back because its too expensive to send to a dispute investigator so they just trust your first time.

I did something similar, have put a lot of weight on during lockdown and wanted to buy a treadmill. I found one that was in stock and for a reasonable price so I went ahead and made the purchase. I checked that it was a UK registered company and found some positive reviews. I went ahead. I got a one line conformation email with no details within it with regards to the the treadmill. I emailed a response and when it bounced back I got the sinking feeling in my stomach. The gits took my money to buy lots of smartwatches for kids and laptops. My bank refunded the money for those items straight away. For the treadmill they took £200 not the full £430. I had to raise a dispute when I obviously didn't receive the item. I got the £200 refunded. My debit card got cancelled and I had to wait for another one. It was so upsetting as the treadmill was a big purchase for me, after Xmas I simply couldn't afford to lose the money they scammed me out of.

My bank were great I have to say. Keep going at yours.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply - some brilliant advice here, really appreciate it, will definitely keep trying to get my money back.

Was the product called Keto Complete?

My mum is currently looking at it and I'm trying to tell her she's bonkers!

I got scammed on a website a few months ago - paid via a debit card and the company was in China (which I didn't realise) and has terrible reviews on TrustPilot. Also no phone number etc.

Anyway because it was a Visa debit they did manage to get my money back - I still can't believe it actually. So don't lose hope!

I nearly just got this product ! Thank God for this post and mumsnet