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Original poster

Is this a scam? Online furniture shop

22 replies

mrsfeatherbottom · 21/08/2023 20:18

So, DD1 and I found a chair online for her room that she likes. It's available on a few websites, including B&Q and the Range but neither will deliver to us (NI). I googled the chair name and found another website with the chair. Couldn't find delivery info so tried adding to basket in the hope that it would tell me at checkout if they can deliver here. But, after putting my details in, it said that the order was placed for cash on delivery.

I even got a confirmation email. Just seems really odd. Further exploration of the site shows no address or phone number.

DH thinks it's a scam but I haven't given them any money or card details so how could it be ...?

Website is:

www.pratraders.co.uk/

Any thoughts?

OP posts:

BeBraveAndBeKind · 21/08/2023 20:50

I can't find any contact or VAT information on the website so I wouldn't be happy ordering from there. Is there any contact information on the confirmation email? It might be a cash on delivery scam.

MadNads · 21/08/2023 20:52

There's a lot of grammatical and spelling errors and absolutely no info. I wouldn't order.

Gingernaut · 21/08/2023 20:53

No contact details, not even an online form. Sus af

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General shopping Home improvement

Zoologydragon · 21/08/2023 21:04

Definitely not right......if you click the delivery tab on any of the listings you get this...

WheresTheRemoteControl · 21/08/2023 21:06

Scam. But now they have your details no doubt?

WhiteFire · 21/08/2023 21:09

Google seems very sparse, this is the only info I can find:

https://suite.endole.co.uk/insight/company/14728836-pra-traders-ltd

The director's name seems unusual, lots of Pradeep's (many doctors) as a first name, so the name is perhaps a bit like being called Ian Ian. (For example,)

It might be legit, but just run by someone a little clueless.

Original poster

mrsfeatherbottom · 21/08/2023 21:21

Zoologydragon · 21/08/2023 21:04

Definitely not right......if you click the delivery tab on any of the listings you get this...

That's usually what happens when a website is designed and the designer puts Latin in just to show where the text would be.

OP posts:

Original poster

mrsfeatherbottom · 21/08/2023 21:21

BeBraveAndBeKind · 21/08/2023 20:50

I can't find any contact or VAT information on the website so I wouldn't be happy ordering from there. Is there any contact information on the confirmation email? It might be a cash on delivery scam.

But what's the scam?

OP posts:

Gingernaut · 22/08/2023 04:36

The scam is that the website is fake, the furniture doesn't exist and you've no way of contacting or tracing the 'trader'

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 22/08/2023 04:55

Gingernaut · 22/08/2023 04:36

The scam is that the website is fake, the furniture doesn't exist and you've no way of contacting or tracing the 'trader'

But they don't have any of her card or bank details

Gingernaut · 22/08/2023 05:01

https://www.therakyatpost.com/living/2021/08/07/cod-scams-are-on-the-rise-and-what-you-can-do-to-avoid-them/

COD Scams Are On The Rise And What You Can Do To Avoid Them | TRP

Be extra cautious when making a cash-on-delivery purchase.

https://www.therakyatpost.com/living/2021/08/07/cod-scams-are-on-the-rise-and-what-you-can-do-to-avoid-them

frazzledasarock · 22/08/2023 05:06

@cinnamonfrenchtoast PP means if anyone attempts to buy the furniture they’ll punch in their card details, not receive the furniture and most likely find their bank account drained.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 22/08/2023 05:50

Gingernaut · 22/08/2023 05:01

https://www.therakyatpost.com/living/2021/08/07/cod-scams-are-on-the-rise-and-what-you-can-do-to-avoid-them/

I'm aware of things like that - but surely you check the item before just handing over a bunch of cash to a stranger?

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 22/08/2023 05:52

frazzledasarock · 22/08/2023 05:06

@cinnamonfrenchtoast PP means if anyone attempts to buy the furniture they’ll punch in their card details, not receive the furniture and most likely find their bank account drained.

But OP has placed an order and received a confirmation email - without giving any of her details.

I would never buy from them anyway as the website is awful with bad grammar and spelling errors but I guess I'm just trying to say that OP hasn't been scammed (yet) as they don't actually have any of her details.

pinkfondu · 22/08/2023 06:10

I'm guessing that you'll soon be contacted advising you need to pay xyz for delivery issues to your area and then no furniture.

User56785 · 22/08/2023 07:07

frazzledasarock · 22/08/2023 05:06

@cinnamonfrenchtoast PP means if anyone attempts to buy the furniture they’ll punch in their card details, not receive the furniture and most likely find their bank account drained.

Why would they when it's cash on delivery?

TicTacNicNak · 22/08/2023 07:22

On the Companies House website there's a PRA Trading Ltd (slightly different) that is dissolved.

Theres also a PRA Traders Ltd, but its new, having been set up in March 2023 and it says it deals in antique furniture and antique books, which this website doesn't appear to do. If it's the same company then the contact details are (taken from Companies House website)....

Original poster

mrsfeatherbottom · 22/08/2023 07:35

Thanks everyone. I feel like an idiot but I wasn't actually trying to place an order - I thought if I put in my address, it would tell me delivery costs etc. I didn't have a good look at the website initially as the Google link brought me straight to the page with the item we wanted.

I definitely won't be handing over any money or card details and I can't see anyone making the effort to come all the way to NI in the hope that I'll hand over cash!

Still don't really understand what the point of the fake website is. I'll keep you updated if anything else happens. (Which hopefully it won't)

OP posts:

indyocean · 22/08/2023 07:48

Perhaps you should email local
Police to be sure?

halfandhalfcoffee · 22/08/2023 08:46

See if they have any reviews on social media or on TrustPilot. If they don't have any social media presence or reviews anywhere, it may just be some kind of dummy or defunct company. Whatever you decide, definitely don't hand over any card details!

TonTonMacoute · 22/08/2023 10:02

They have your name and address, crooks can use this data for various things even if you aren't the victim.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 22/08/2023 10:18

TonTonMacoute · 22/08/2023 10:02

They have your name and address, crooks can use this data for various things even if you aren't the victim.

But they can find that information out without setting up a weird fake furniture shop.

It's not hard to find someone's address.

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