Beware of scam online stores, emails, text, and other types of messages impersonating Costco brand: Our TrustScore for Costco brand scam sites and messages is – 3 out of 100.
We have provided this TrustScore because sites and messages mimicking Costco are 100% scam. Why? Let’s find it out in detail here.
Costco brand scam sites and messages have these things in common, that make them scam:
- Multiple sites with Costco brand name and logo under different domain names have already scammed lots of people. These sites falsely display the Costco brand identity without any affiliation to the actual company.
- Moreover, these online stores are offering various goods at steep discount rates, using similar details and images as other known scam sites.
- In addition, some of these websites have provided fake trust seal logos of reputed companies like McAfee, Norton, etc. This definitely questions their website security.
- Furthermore, these websites haven't provided any social media icons or have provided fake social media icons leading to unrelated pages rather than their official social media pages.
- Additionally, these sites look a lot like multiple scam websites in how it's written and how it looks online.
- And, we've found lots of complaints against these websites for delivery time, refund issues, customer service, and so on.
- These kinds of scam sites are mostly advertised through messages or social media platforms.
- These scams exploit the esteemed Costco brand name and logo, falsely portraying a legitimate connection.
- Email or text messages that misuse Costco brand name typically promise you to give Costco gift card or big amount of prizes or cash rewards. If you contact them back, they will ask you to pay some fees to release such gift and prizes.
- Costco brand scam sites and messages also found to be involving in identify theft. So, never share personal info to unknown sources.
How to report Costco brand scam sites and messages?
- If you suspect some messages or sites are scamming in the name of Costco, then you can report to the authorities in your country.
- You can also report such Costco brand scam sites and messages to online fraud reporting agencies, such as the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) in the United States.
- You can also report such scams to us using the comment section below or using our “Report A Scam, File Complaint, Or Post Your Review” section.
Costco Company Highlights:
- Official Website/Domain: costco.com
- Business Name: Costco Wholesale Corporation (commonly shortened to Costco)
- Type of Business/Business Claim: Chain of membership-only retail warehouse clubs
- Founders: James Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman
- Headquarters: Issaquah, Washington, USA
- Founded in: September 15, 1983
- Wikipedia Page: wikipedia.org/wiki/Costco
You can find more info on Costco brand scam sites and messages in the comment section below:
Your comments are valuable in helping us gather info about these scams.
So, if you find any suspicious websites that you think are using the Costco brand name improperly, please share their domain names in the comments below.
NOTE: Just provide the website name (domain name) and avoid sharing the full URL in the comments, as it may not be approved. Thank you for your understanding.
Also, feel free to share any suspicious emails or text messages in the name of Costco using the comment section below. However, kindly refrain from sharing any links included in those messages. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Moreover, you can check the comments below to read what others have said about scam sites mimicking Costco brand.
What to do if you have already bought goods from fake Costco online stores?
If you have already bought goods from fake Costco online stores, then here are some steps you can take:
- Get in touch with the seller: Start by contacting the seller or the customer support of the online stores mimicking Costco brand using the contact info they've given you.
- Look for confirmation: Once you've reached out to the seller, check your email or order confirmation for any tracking info or order details. Since, genuine sellers usually give you tracking numbers or send confirmation emails to help you keep track of your shipment.
- Keep an eye on your financial statements: If you see any transactions you didn't approve, then quickly let your bank or credit card company know. So, you should regularly check your bank and credit card statements for any strange or unknown charges.
- Take action if needed:
- If you paid with a credit card, then think about starting a dispute with your credit card company. So, get in touch with them and explain what happened to begin the dispute process.
- If you used PayPal, then open a dispute through your PayPal account and reach out to PayPal's support team.
- Use Online Dispute Help: See if the online store or payment website you used has dispute help. If they do, then use it to talk about your concerns and try to fix the problem.
- Report Suspicious Activity:
- If you think you've come across an online scam, then tell the authorities in your country.
- Also, report what happened to online fraud reporting agencies, like the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) in the United States.
- Change Your Passwords: If you've created an account on the suspicious website, and used the same password elsewhere, then change it on other accounts to be on a safe side.
How to identify fake messages or online stores misusing the Costco brand name?
To identify fake messages or online stores that are mimicking Costco brand, follow these tips:
Check the Domain Name:
Be careful if you see a website with the Costco brand name and logo but a different domain name. Also, watch out for emails or text messages claiming to be from Costco with links to click on.
Make sure the link's domain name is connected to the official Costco website. Don't click on unrelated links. It's best to double-check with Costco by contacting them through their official website before trusting suspicious websites, emails, or text messages.
Check Contact Info:
Genuine websites mostly offer genuine contact details, such as a valid physical address and a responsive phone number. In contrast, scam sites often lack this info or provide fake contact details.
On the other hand, beware of scam emails or text messages that urge you to contact on a phone number that has no association with Costco.
Check Too-Good-To-Be-True Discounts and Claims:
Be careful with websites offering huge discounts. Since, genuine websites usually don't have such huge discounts.
Additionally, be wary of emails or text messages promising large prizes or cash giveaways in the name of Costco.
Look for Copied Content:
Scam websites often steal content from other scam sites. So, if you see the same stuff on different websites, it's safer to avoid them.
Check Website Security:
Make sure the website has SSL security. Also, check trust seal logos like McAfee or Norton. Real trust seals can be clicked and take you to official verification pages. However, fake ones don't work or take you to random pages.
Search for Customer Complaints:
See if there are any complaints from customers for websites or messages. A few complaints mixed with mostly good reviews suggest a decent reputation. However, if there are lots of complaints and negative reviews, be cautious.
Check Social Media Links:
Scam websites might not provide any social media icons, or provide the fake ones that don't lead to the company's real social media pages or profiles. So, check for the social media icons.
Identify Fake Promises:
Websites or messages that promise big money for easy work, super-fast profits, or instant weight loss are often scams.
Also, if you get offers like unbelievable deals, sales that sound too good to be true, surprise gift cards, prizes, or lottery wins out of nowhere, they're usually just tricks to fool you.
Look at WHOIS Info:
Find out when the website was registered using WHOIS. Be careful with brand-new websites.
Watch for Other Website Names:
Be cautious of scam sites that copy content; they might have other website names on their policy pages, checkout page, or at the bottom of their pages.
Also, some scam websites use different names for their website than their domain name. Furthermore, they might even use popular company names as their website name instead of their domain name. Be careful when you see this.
Our Final Verdict on Costco brand scam sites and messages:
As mentioned earlier, you should be aware Costco brand scam sites and messages.
So, we don't recommend shopping on any sites claiming to be from Costco but with a different domain name. At least verify with the main company before you shop at such sites.
Also, verify the emails or text messages by reaching out to Costco through their official contact info before you follow any instructions provided in those messages.
Now that you know our final verdict for Costco brand scam sites messages, here's what we suggest you do:
Check Comments:
To learn more about Costco brand scam sites and messages, check the comments below. If there are no comments, follow the points that we have mentioned earlier.
Spread Word:
Spread a word about this scam by sharing this info on Costco brand scam sites and messages with your friends and family through your social media accounts.
Report Scams:
If you want to report other scams, file complaints, or share reviews about different companies, please visit our “Report A Scam, File Complaint, Or Post Your Review” section. There, you can share your reviews or complaints regarding those specific companies or activities.
FAQs and Answers related to Costco brand scam sites and messages:
What should I do if I've already made a purchase from Costco scam sites?
If you've bought something from Costco scam sites, then here's what to do: First, contact the seller. Check for tracking details. Keep an eye on your used payment method. If needed, think about starting a dispute with your payment provider. Report the issue to the authorities.
Are there any genuine Costco gift card giveaways or promotions?
Genuine Costco gift card promotions are mostly advertised on the official website or official social media accounts of Costco . So, always verify the source before participating.
Can Costco brand scam sites and messages lead to identity theft?
Yes, some of these scams are involved in identity theft. So, never share your personal info with unknown sources.
What should I do if I receive an unsolicited Costco gift card offer via email or text?
Be cautious and do not engage. Genuine Costco gift card offers are usually provided through official channels. If in doubt, contact Costco directly to verify the offer.
What is the contact email address of Costco brand scam sites?
Costco brand scam sites under different domain names have provided different contact email addresses. Some of them have even provided the official email address of Costco to trick people.
What should I do if I get suspicious email or text message in the name of Costco?
If you get a suspicious email or text message claiming to be from Costco, don't click on any links on that message. Instead, verify the message by reaching out to Costco through their official website or customer support before you do anything else.
Can I report suspicious Costco brand scam sites or messages even if I haven't fallen victim to them?
Yes, you can and should report any suspicious Costco brand scam sites or messages to help prevent others from becoming victims. Reporting such scams is a responsible action.
What should I do if I've already provided personal info to Costco brand scam sites or messages?
If you've given personal info to a suspected Costco brand scam sites or messages, take immediate action to safeguard your identity. Change your passwords, keep a close eye on your payment accounts, and report to the authorities.
Can Costco brand scam messages harm my device or computer?
Costco brand scam messages are more about deceiving you than causing direct harm to your devices. However, it's safe to avoid clicking on any links in these messages to protect your device from potential malware or phishing threats. So, always be cautious.
Remember to stay safe when shopping online!
