The Korea Consumer Agency urged caution as foreign shopping malls impersonating famous outdoor brands are rampant.
According to the Korea Consumer Agency on the 24th, the number of consultations related to impersonation of outdoor brands such as Descente Korea, KOLON Sports, Discovery, and The North Face has reached a total of 106 since the first report was received in early December last year.
It was found that the impersonation sites use internet addresses (URLs) similar to official websites and lure consumers through ads on social media platforms like Instagram. They misled consumers into thinking they were official websites by using official brand names, logos, and product descriptions. Additionally, they enticed purchases by stating discounts of over 90% and claiming that order cancellations were possible, while also using information from the official website, such as business registration numbers, representative names, and contact information.
However, after purchase, it was impossible to verify order information, and there was not even a button to cancel the order. Some skeptical consumers requested cancellations via email to the sellers but received no response. In cases where defective products were delivered and refunds were requested, excessive shipping fees were demanded by the business.
The consumer agency advised that if a shopping mall is accessed through ads on unknown shopping sites or social media platforms like Instagram or YouTube, it is essential to verify whether it is indeed a shopping site operated by the brand or official distributor. The agency noted, “Consumer damage related to products purchased from well-known brands after seeing ads on social media is continuously occurring,” and added, “Products that are excessively cheap are likely to be fakes, so it is important to make careful purchase decisions.”