Bargain turns into nightmare after $600 deal goes wrong
- Replies 4
We’ve all been there—scrolling through our phones, a cup of tea in hand, when suddenly an ad pops up for that perfect item you’ve been eyeing for months.
And what’s this? It’s on sale for a fraction of the price! The heart skips a beat, the fingers move faster than the brain can process, and before you know it, you’ve clicked 'Buy Now' and are already picturing the look on your loved one’s face when the parcel arrives.
That’s exactly what happened to an Aussie mum of three who thought she’d scored the ultimate birthday present for her truck-mad son.
The item is a giant, ride-on electric tipper truck—usually a whopping $600, but now, miraculously, just $150.
The website looked legit, the discount was irresistible, and the checkout process was smooth as butter. What could possibly go wrong? Well, as it turns out, quite a lot.
Kasey Smith’s excitement quickly turned to confusion when a tiny parcel arrived at her door instead of a large box big enough to fit a small child.
At first, she thought it must be a mistake—maybe a part of the order, or perhaps a freebie thrown in for good measure.
But as she opened the package, her jaw dropped. Inside was a miniature plastic truck, barely bigger than her hand.
Not exactly the backyard adventure machine she’d envisioned for her soon-to-be four-year-old.
'It was going to be for my son’s fourth birthday. He is truck/digger crazy, so I knew he would be obsessed with this,' Kasey shared. 'When I saw the big discount, I thought, ‘Wow, that’s massive, I need to jump on straight away’ because the website looked legit and Australian. I didn’t think twice.'
The website had all the trappings of a trustworthy retailer—Aussie branding, a Sydney shipping address, and even a tracking number.
But when Kasey tried to contact the company after her disappointing delivery, the website had vanished without a trace.
Kasey’s story is, unfortunately, all too familiar. Scammers are getting more sophisticated, creating websites that look just like the real deal, with professional photos, fake reviews, and even local contact details.
They lure in shoppers with massive discounts and slick advertising campaigns on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Once the money is paid, the scammer might send a cheap knock-off or, in some cases, nothing at all.
By the time the buyer realises what’s happened, the website has disappeared, and the scammers are long gone with the cash.
Kasey’s video warning about her experience has now been viewed over 40,000 times, with dozens of other parents saying they’d either fallen for the same scam or nearly did.
'OMG it happened to me too! The exact same plastic bit of s*** arrived too—we got played,' one mum commented, while another said, 'You’ve saved me ordering this. I sent this to my partner yesterday for my son’s third birthday. You poor thing.'
To avoid online shopping scams, watch out for deals that seem too good to be true, check for real contact details and independent reviews, and be cautious of social media ads.
Always use secure payment methods like credit cards or PayPal, and trust your instincts—if something feels off, investigate further.
If you fall victim to a scam, act fast: contact your bank to reverse the charges, report the scam to Scamwatch and local authorities, and share your story to help warn others.
While Kasey’s story is a cautionary tale, it’s also a reminder of the power of community.
Her willingness to speak out has saved countless others from falling into the same trap.
And let’s be honest, we’ve all had a laugh at the Barbie-sized drawers or the 'recliner chairs' that turned out to be for dolls.
Sometimes, all you can do is shake your head, have a chuckle, and warn your mates.
Credit: TikTok
Have you ever been caught out by an online shopping scam, or do you have a tip for spotting a dodgy deal? Share your stories in the comments below.
Read more: Mum flags $20 Kmart playset as dangerous: ‘This could confuse kids’
And what’s this? It’s on sale for a fraction of the price! The heart skips a beat, the fingers move faster than the brain can process, and before you know it, you’ve clicked 'Buy Now' and are already picturing the look on your loved one’s face when the parcel arrives.
That’s exactly what happened to an Aussie mum of three who thought she’d scored the ultimate birthday present for her truck-mad son.
The item is a giant, ride-on electric tipper truck—usually a whopping $600, but now, miraculously, just $150.
The website looked legit, the discount was irresistible, and the checkout process was smooth as butter. What could possibly go wrong? Well, as it turns out, quite a lot.
Kasey Smith’s excitement quickly turned to confusion when a tiny parcel arrived at her door instead of a large box big enough to fit a small child.
A discounted electric truck ordered for a child’s birthday was delivered as a tiny toy, leaving a Sydney mum shocked. Credit: @kaseysmith._ / TikTok
At first, she thought it must be a mistake—maybe a part of the order, or perhaps a freebie thrown in for good measure.
But as she opened the package, her jaw dropped. Inside was a miniature plastic truck, barely bigger than her hand.
Not exactly the backyard adventure machine she’d envisioned for her soon-to-be four-year-old.
'It was going to be for my son’s fourth birthday. He is truck/digger crazy, so I knew he would be obsessed with this,' Kasey shared. 'When I saw the big discount, I thought, ‘Wow, that’s massive, I need to jump on straight away’ because the website looked legit and Australian. I didn’t think twice.'
The website had all the trappings of a trustworthy retailer—Aussie branding, a Sydney shipping address, and even a tracking number.
But when Kasey tried to contact the company after her disappointing delivery, the website had vanished without a trace.
Kasey’s story is, unfortunately, all too familiar. Scammers are getting more sophisticated, creating websites that look just like the real deal, with professional photos, fake reviews, and even local contact details.
They lure in shoppers with massive discounts and slick advertising campaigns on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
By the time the buyer realises what’s happened, the website has disappeared, and the scammers are long gone with the cash.
Kasey’s video warning about her experience has now been viewed over 40,000 times, with dozens of other parents saying they’d either fallen for the same scam or nearly did.
'OMG it happened to me too! The exact same plastic bit of s*** arrived too—we got played,' one mum commented, while another said, 'You’ve saved me ordering this. I sent this to my partner yesterday for my son’s third birthday. You poor thing.'
To avoid online shopping scams, watch out for deals that seem too good to be true, check for real contact details and independent reviews, and be cautious of social media ads.
Always use secure payment methods like credit cards or PayPal, and trust your instincts—if something feels off, investigate further.
If you fall victim to a scam, act fast: contact your bank to reverse the charges, report the scam to Scamwatch and local authorities, and share your story to help warn others.
While Kasey’s story is a cautionary tale, it’s also a reminder of the power of community.
Her willingness to speak out has saved countless others from falling into the same trap.
And let’s be honest, we’ve all had a laugh at the Barbie-sized drawers or the 'recliner chairs' that turned out to be for dolls.
Sometimes, all you can do is shake your head, have a chuckle, and warn your mates.
Credit: TikTok
Read more: Mum flags $20 Kmart playset as dangerous: ‘This could confuse kids’
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