If you’ve ever scrolled through social media and spotted a tempting ‘final sale’ from a favourite Australian brand—Blue Illusion, Sussan, Millers, or Susanne Grae—only to wonder if it’s too good to be true, you’re not alone.
A new wave of scam websites is sweeping social media. They cleverly imitate well-known retailers and lure unsuspecting shoppers with promises of massive discounts and closing-down sales.
The result? Many Australians, especially those who love a bargain and trust familiar brands, are left empty-handed and out of pocket.
These aren’t your run-of-the-mill dodgy websites with poor spelling and pixelated logos. Today’s scam sites are sophisticated, often indistinguishable from the real thing at first glance.
They use the genuine branding, logos, and even storefront images of beloved Australian labels. The only clue? A suspicious web address—think ‘yayeco.top’ or ‘zugite.top’—instead of the official brand’s domain.
The scam typically starts with a slick ad on Facebook or Instagram. One recent example: a Facebook ad featuring a Blue Illusion storefront, complete with the message, ‘Saying goodbye is tough, dear ladies…Our final sale is on now—let’s make this chapter truly unforgettable.’
Click the ad, and you’re whisked away to a site that looks just like Blue Illusion’s, but it’s a fake. The real Blue Illusion, by the way, is not closing down.
Other brands targeted include Susanne Grae, Sussan, and Millers. While Millers has closed its physical stores, the others are still very much in business. Yet, scam sites continue to pop up, preying on shoppers who think they’re scoring a deal from a trusted name.
It’s not just a handful of people falling for these scams. Elizabeth Bednall, a 73-year-old from Melbourne, spent nearly $80 on what she thought was a Blue Illusion raincoat and pants.
The items never arrived, and the website she bought from has since morphed into a supposed pet accessory retailer.
‘I’m not that dumb. But I did feel stupid,’ Bednall admitted. Thankfully, she managed to get her money back through her bank, but not everyone is so lucky.
Vicki Forscutt from New South Wales (NSW) reported a scam ad to Facebook, only to receive a canned response: ‘As our review team is focused on the most severe cases with potential for real-world harm, we’re not able to review your report.’
Even journalists have been caught out. One used PayPal to pay $13 for trousers from a fake Millers site. The trousers never arrived, and the payment went to a company in Singapore.
Why are these scams so hard to stop?
You might wonder: why can’t Facebook, PayPal, or Shopify just shut these scammers down? The answer is complicated.
The scammers are often based overseas, using platforms like Shopify to build their sites and PayPal to process payments.
While PayPal says it verifies all Australian sellers, it admits that’s not always the case for sellers in other countries. Meta (Facebook’s parent company) claims to be investing in new tools to stop scams, but these operations’ sheer volume and sophistication make them hard to police.
Shopify, the Canadian e-commerce giant whose platform is used to build many fake stores, has remained silent.
How to spot a scam website
So, how can you protect yourself? Here are some red flags to watch for:
- Strange web addresses: If the website address doesn’t match the official brand (e.g., blueillusion.com.au), be wary. Scam sites often use odd domain names like ‘yayeco.top’ or ‘zugite.top’.
- Too-good-to-be-true sales: Massive discounts, especially on ‘closing down’ sales, are a common lure.
- Social media ads: While many legitimate brands advertise on Facebook and Instagram, scammers do too. Don’t trust an ad just because it appears in your feed.
- No contact details: Genuine retailers will have clear contact information, including a phone number and physical address.
- Payment red flags: If you’re asked to pay via unusual methods, or if the payment goes to a company in another country, think twice.
If you suspect you’ve fallen victim to a scam site:
- Contact your bank or credit card provider: You may be able to reverse the transaction or get a refund.
- Report the scam: Notify the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Scamwatch website, and report the ad or website to Facebook, Instagram, or the relevant platform.
- Warn others: Share your experience with friends, family, and online communities to help others avoid the same trap.
Have you or someone you know been caught out by a fake brand website or social media scam? What steps did you take, and were you able to get your money back? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below—your story could help protect others in our community.
Also read: Consumer groups expose ‘ghost stores’ ripping off Australian online buyers
