'Fake UK sites' trick consumers

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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:22 am

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8178959.stm

Quote:

Trading standards officers say that consumers are being tricked into buying fake goods on the internet by companies pretending to be based in the UK.

Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 9:11 am

Lol, I came on to post this, but had a look around first.

they seem amazed to find out that you cant assume you know where a site is from co.uk or wherever. The best advice in the article is:

Quote:

If consumers are unsure about the origins of a website, the advice is to use the "Whois" tool

Quote:

Nominet, which is responsible for giving out domain names in the UK, is unrepentant.

It is proud of the fact that eight million "co.uk" addresses are now in existence, and that the UK operates one of the most liberal internet regimes in the world.

No, you just keep making the money, damn the consequences. Confused

Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 9:49 am

If you use Firefox there is a great little addon called Flagfox.

Quote:

Displays a country flag depicting the location of the current website's server and provides quick access to detailed location and webserver information.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5791

Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 9:58 am

I won't mention any names, but www.pixmania.co.uk looks like it is UK based, I have used them, and they are based in France I think, but it worked o.k.

Not all of them are dodgy, it is also worth putting in the name and 'problems' into a search engine to read up on reviews that have been posted about the company.

It it wasn't for my involvement with this site I wouldn't have known about how to track down information about sites and companies.

Quick example :

type 'nikon p90' into Google
This is the camera I was looking for. First option one the list :
www.bitesizedeals.co.uk
Looks like UK, after all, it is .co.uk However, go to 'about us' and they are based in the US

Now back to google and type in 'bitesizedeals problems'
Seems to be more than a few disgruntled customers.

Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 10:23 am

Inspector Gadget wrote:

I won't mention any names, but www.pixmania.co.uk looks like it is UK based, I have used them, and they are based in France I think, but it worked o.k.

Not all of them are dodgy, it is also worth putting in the name and 'problems' into a search engine to read up on reviews that have been posted about the company.

It it wasn't for my involvement with this site I wouldn't have known about how to track down information about sites and companies.

Quick example :

type 'nikon p90' into Google
This is the camera I was looking for. First option one the list :
www.bitesizedeals.co.uk
Looks like UK, after all, it is .co.uk However, go to 'about us' and they are based in the US

Now back to google and type in 'bitesizedeals problems'
Seems to be more than a few disgruntled customers.

I have used Pizmania and they held my money for 30working days before they give it back, saying they couldnt send my first item to a different address to my billing address, and I had moved at time. Still took them 30days to process a refund. hated that store.

Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:17 am

I seem to recall a forum posting (not Eater) from a Pixmania customer saying that his camera came with a manual written only in French.

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 15

The fact that a .co.uk is not actually hosted in the UK is not always a sign that the company/organisation is bad/fraudulent or trying to hide something.
Ebay.co.uk is hosted in the United States, Amazon.co.uk is hosted in the Republic of Ireland and my local schools website (English) is hosted in Germany.
Inspector Gadget gives the best advice, search for the organisation + problems.

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