Is applyness.com scam or legit? Reviews and complaints

 

Is Applyness.com a Legitimate Online Store or a Scam Site?

With more people shopping online, scam websites posing as retailers have become a serious issue. In this article, I’ll take an in-depth look at applyness.com to determine if it’s a real store or a scam.

Background on Applyness.com

Applyness.com claims to sell a wide range of products like clothing, electronics, toys and more at heavily discounted prices. However, there are some suspicious signs right from the start:

• The domain was registered only 6 months ago in 2022, making it a very new site.
• Physical address, phone number and company registration details are missing.
• English errors on website suggest it may have been translated from another language.
• Products look like they were directly copied from legitimate suppliers’ photos.

At first glance, these red flags indicate applyness.com could potentially be a scam operation rather than a real online store. Let’s dig deeper.

Customer and Expert Reviews Say “Avoid”

One of the best indicators of a site’s legitimacy is what real customers and experts say about it. Unfortunately for applyness.com, reviews are overwhelmingly negative:

• Complaints on sites like ScamAdviser of orders not arriving and poor customer service.
• Comments on Reddit and forums warn the site is a scam after orders were never received.
• Analysis by online-safety sites label applyness.com as fraudulent and unsafe to purchase from.
• YouTube videos expose it as a fake retailer just collecting payments with no inventory.

This widespread consumer feedback of unfulfilled orders and unreachability strongly suggests applyness.com is untrustworthy and not a real online store as it claims. Legitimate retailers value customer satisfaction.

Suspicious Operational Red Flags

Beyond poor reviews, applyness.com exhibits additional questionable behaviors typical of scam operations:

• No real business information like owners, location or registration are openly shared.
• Contact details on site aren’t usable – phone goes to voicemail and emails go unanswered.
• The domain was registered privately with no publicly available ownership records.
• Products seem too cheaply priced to be authentic compared to MSRP elsewhere.
• No return policy or way to verify authenticity of goods shipped exists.
• Terms of service and privacy policy links on site just redirect elsewhere.

These warning signs imply applyness.com is likely not legally registered or based anywhere identifiable and thus cannot be trusted. Transparency is key for legitimate online retailers.

No Proof of Real Fulfilled Orders

Perhaps the biggest red flag is the total lack of evidence that applyness.com has ever actually fulfilled a customer’s order as promised. Specifically:

• No user testimonials or positive reviews of goods being received exist.
• No independently verifiable data on orders shipped or customers served.
• No way to confirm inventory really exists to fulfill advertised discounts.
• Contacting listed “customer support” just leads to non-functional links.

For claims of being an online store to be credible, there needs to be proof orders are actually processed as described. Applyness.com provides none, raising serious doubts.

In Summary

When taking into account user complaints, absence of normal business disclosures, suspicious domain history and lack of any order fulfillment proof – it appears applyness.com is very likely not a bonafide online retailer and should not be trusted with payments.

All signs point towards it being a scam website just collecting payments with no intent or ability to deliver products advertised. Consumers are urged to avoid applyness.com and shop only from proven legitimate online sellers.

Tips for Avoiding Online Shopping Scams

As online shopping grows in popularity, so too do the scams trying to steal people’s money. Here are some strategies to help stay protected:

Research Websites Thoroughly

Take time to research any website before making a purchase. Check domains against scam databases, look for reviews from trusted sources and verify contact and address details. Steer clear of new or secretive sites.

Only Shop on Secure HTTPS Sites

Any pages requesting financial information should use HTTPS to encrypt communications. Unsecured HTTP sites may not actually protect sensitive data entered like payment details.

Beware of Too-Good-To-Be-True Deals

If prices seem much lower than on recognized brand/retail sites, it could be fake inventory to take payments without delivery. Legitimate deep discounts still enable profit.

Use Credit Cards When Possible

Credit provides added protection from fraud versus debit/PayPal. Transactions can potentially be disputed if merchant disappears. Just don’t save card on risky sites.

Inspect URLs and Spelling Carefully

Scammers sometimes buy domains almost identical to real stores to fool victims. Watch for typos, added/missing letters to spot counterfeits.

Check for Verified Business Details

Legitimate online sellers clearly list addresses, phone support and ownership/company info for verification. Secretive or incomplete profiles raise red flags.

Trust Established Reputation Over Deals

It’s safer purchasing from trusted major retailers versus anonymous sites, no matter the supposed savings. Reputation impacts profitability more than one-time scam deals.

Being vigilant about new websites and deals that seem too good helps consumers avoid falling victim to online retail scams. Diligence pays off over supposed bargains from untrustworthy sources. Please share your experiences in the comments below!

Common Shopping Scam Tactics and How to Recognize Them

Fraudsters prey on holiday shoppers and bargain hunters year-round using various schemes. Here are some of the top scam strategies employed:

Fake Advertising and Reviews

Bogus social profiles, ads and positive reviews are planted to mislead people into trusting a scam site. Be wary of new or anonymous profiles praising deals.

Stolen Inventory Photos

Real product images are copied from genuine sites/brands to give the appearance of legitimacy. If images seem too perfect, be suspicious.

Secretive Ownership

Whois domain records hide true owners to evade accountability. Legit retailers are transparent about contact and location details.

Bait and Switch

Discounted “sales” get people’s info only for prices to increase or items be out of stock. Real stores stand by advertised deals.

Non-Delivery

After payment clears, further excuses prevent delivery or refunds. Credit card disputes are the only remedy once scammers disappear.

Phishing Attacks

Fake login or shipping update pages capture passwords and finance details. Hover over links and ensure URLs match trusted brand domains.

Poor English on Sites

Often a sign of foreign operations with no intention of honest business. Proper spelling and easy comprehension build trustworthiness.

Being aware of these top fraudulent techniques helps everyone make wiser online purchases and avoid falling victim to well-crafted scams. Use vigilance to protect both wallets and private information this season. Please share your thoughts in the comments!