Online shoppers beware: a new Tesco scam has surfaced, offering unbelievably low prices on items like electric bikes. This scam has left some customers questioning if the deals are too good to be true. A recent incident involved a shopper stumbling upon what seemed like a “Clearance Sale” on a website that mimicked Tesco’s look and feel. The site advertised electric bikes at £49.99 each, claiming massive discounts of £119.01 and £99.01.
The confusion began when the shopper, after finding these suspiciously low prices, took to Reddit’s Tesco subreddit for advice. The initial excitement quickly turned to skepticism when users pointed out the website was not affiliated with Tesco. One Reddit user clarified, “That’s not a Tesco website at the top. Even if it was, the marketplace is for third-party sellers and it’d still probably be a scam. It’s a scam.”
A closer examination revealed the website in question was bsgda.com. Upon entering the URL, it currently redirects to a site selling pet beds. This further fueled concerns about its legitimacy. Another Redditor remarked, “Personally, I’d say it’s more than likely a scam. The website address isn’t an official Tesco site either.”
Further scrutiny unveiled that the site is hosted in the US, which added to the suspicion. “Hosted by Cloudflare in the USA,” a Reddit user noted, “it seems like a drop-shipper website made by myshopline.com. It even uses simplified Chinese characters in its coding.”
The consensus among the Reddit community was clear: the site is likely a scam. Some believed it to be a phishing site or a drop-shipper from China. The advice was unanimous: steer clear to avoid falling victim.
For those concerned about encountering similar scams, Tesco has a dedicated section on its website outlining how to report fraudulent activity. If you suspect you’ve come across a phishing scam, Tesco advises you to report it promptly. You can forward any suspicious emails to [email protected]. Be sure not to include personal details in these emails. For dubious text messages, forward them to your network operator by sending them to 7726. This service is free and will provide an automated response, possibly asking for further information.
It’s crucial to remain vigilant when shopping online, especially with deals that seem too good to be true. Always verify the authenticity of websites and be cautious of red flags such as unverified URLs, unusual pricing, and unfamiliar hosts. By staying informed and cautious, you can protect yourself from online scams and fraudulent schemes.
