Check that URL—I almost fell for a scam online shoe store

Mardee,
Curiosity question: was the scam website "sponsored"? I have always thought that "sponsored" websites are a greater risk of scams. I usually scroll down to a non-sponsored link.

Glad you caught the scam before you placed the order. Keen Rose sandals are often mentioned favorably on the forum.

Side note: We just got back from a 10-day trip to Vancouver/Portland to see friends and family. Yes, I actually got my husband on a plane. Anyway, one of our friends ordered a sweater from a pop-up on her notebook; child-size instead of adult-size, no returns. Then she ordered something from another pop-up. Duh, never received. Then she ordered from a third pop-up; same result. (Some people are slow to understand scam websites.) By the fourth time her retired policeman husband stepped in before she could place an order. I think she lost less the $100 but she gave her credit card and personal info to scammers.

Be Careful Everyone!
Kathy

PS: a friend applied to renew her passport online. It was a scam website. I don't know how she figured it out, but they have all her personal and credit card information. She ended up applying for a new passport in person at the post office. She received that passport last week.

This is so frightening. There are so many of these scams out there you hesitate to do anything on line requiring information. Thanks for the warning about this one, Mardee.

I notice this with Oofos, also, which shows up on Facebook. It the price is too good to be true.....

Kathy, I don't think it was sponsored. I usually scroll right past sponsored entries (even the legit ones) because Google doesn't need extra money. But honestly I don't remember.

It really looked legit—it had the Keen logo emblazoned across the top and no errors in spelling or anything. Very professional looking, which is why I was so confused when I found the "real" Keen website. It didn't help that I had never been to the Keen website before, as these are the first Keen shoes I've bought.

Scary, but I'm SO glad I caught it before I gave them my card. I would have immediately locked it of course, but still, you never know.

Just for kicks, I googled "Keen Rose sandals" just to see what came up and whattya know, the potential scam site you describe above is the 2nd one on the list, before the REAL website.

You're a smart cookie, Mardee.

I have a favorite pair of dressy sandals that are wearing out so wanted to replace them with the exact same. Romika doesn't have their site working right now, so I had to look at the other places that popped up on google. One was a store in FL, and I wad so afraid of it being a scam, but did it anyway. I did google it, and it mostly had good reviews, but I did get an email today saying the shoes are on their way. We shall see!

Horsewoofie--My husband did that and thought he was getting a great deal on some Patagonia stuff. I looked at him and said I couldn't believe he fell for it, lol. Since then, he double checks with me if he sees something along those lines:)

Ha ha, Kate! Ironically, when I googled it just now, that popped up but also this, lol!

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/best-travel-shoes/keen-women-s-rose-sandal-sale

So far this year, I've encountered scam websites for Allbirds, Vessi and Athleta. I don't like shopping in person or online and I really resent anything that makes it more time consuming. So Frustrating!

I agree, Jules. And what really pisses me off is that Google is taking money from the scammers for sponsored spaces. Evidently they’re not verifying anything. It’s really annoying and that’s another reason why I never click on a company that’s in the sponsored area. Although I guess in this case, I did.

Well, interestingly, I just found out that you can report these scammy websites. If you go to Google and find the offending site, there are 3 vertical dots right next to it. Click on that, and it gives you the option of clicking on "Report." Once you do that, a popup appears with options, including one that says, "It's misleading or a scam." Then it asks you to explain why.

I just did it for that site, and will be curious to see what happens. They said I would hear back from them.

Sorry you nearly got taken, happy you figured it out before hand AND good to know those websites can be reported! I wonder if we can report the shady travel websites as well! Next time I accidentally land on one I might look to see!

Pam, you can report any website, so I'm sure you can report the hotel ones. That's a good idea!

I've learned I even need to be careful before I provide a link for a hotel recommendation on this Forum. I can't recall the post of where the person was asking for hotel info, but it took me 3 tries to find the proper link. Then this afternoon I was looking for hotel options in Bamburgh, UK and it again took me a few tries to find the actual hotel sites.

Thanks for the info, Mardee. I didn't realize that there is a place to report the scam websites. I just reported the one that you came across.

Sierra.com, a legit disscout store related to TJ Max, has keen rose sandals for $49 and Keen Newport for $50-$60 but limited choice of color.

CD, I love Sierra and always go there for travel supplies and have bought several pairs of shoes there in a past. I had checked there but there was only one color, which doesn't go with anything I own (sadly). It is a good price, though.

Whoa! Good lessons here! I feel like I’m living in a Phillip Dick novel.

What’s next? I think I’m signing up for a Rick Steves Best of Europe tour only to find myself later on a bus to a small casino on the outskirts of Erie Pa?

Happy travels.

That is scary. Glad you noticed the spam in time. They are becoming harder to catch. Good advice to ways check URL!

It isn't just when purchasing. I file an FBAR every year ( foreign bank accounts report). This year I had filled in all my info on-line, and then it asked me for a payment. As they don't charge you , I took another look and realized I was on a different site then the official one.It looked so similar to the regular site. It was also the first site that came up when i googled FBAR. They would have had my bank accounts as well as credit card. I wasn't sure if it was a true scam, or just someone making money off what I can do for free, but still. A great reminder to slow down and double check
( I realize this isn't travel related, but if it helps someone)

Lisa, my purchase wasn't travel related either but I posted it so it wouldn't happen to someone else. I think we're all conscious of booking hotels or getting an ETA and checking to make sure it's the right website, but don't necessarily pay much attention when doing basic shopping online. It opened my eyes for sure!

As far as the difference between a "true scam" or someone making money off what consumers can get for free, it's hard to tell, although in my case I think it was a "true scam" designed to harvest financial info. Maybe not, but the fact that the shoes I wanted were half the price of the ones on the real website made me think that it's designed to pull you in, get you to order and give up personal and financial info.

The other kind, like the ones who want you to pay $113 for an ETA that you can get from the UK govt. for £20 are bad, but they just want your money, not your personal info. Either way, both are good to avoid!

"The other kind, like the ones who want you to pay $113 for an ETA that you can get from the UK govt. for £20 are bad, but they just want your money, not your personal info. "

Don't you have to give them personal info to pay that? And if they aren't using it, other than to overcharge you, they certainly can sell it to those who will.