Beware of Imitation Website

Thanks for the heads up Ken we’ll have to keep an eye on it. Maybe Allan will keep this at the top of the page for a while?

This is the new scam, there's also several that are claiming to be Trainz.

better prices at those websites....just kidding

I ran across one when I Googled "MTH 30-30001 water tender". Scrolled down and came acrossed a website called " shopadhesivessales.com". When I opened it it was a fake Woodland Scenics sight and all of their listing were the same price ($97.99). They had $2000 trains listed for the same price. The website does not come up just entering it by itself. Just when you search the manufacturer and model number and scroll through your search. It is still up now.

Brad

It is amazing that even Trainworld needs to hire Software Security Engineers.

@B rad posted:

I ran across one when I Googled "MTH 30-30001 water tender". Scrolled down and came acrossed a website called " shopadhesivessales.com". When I opened it it was a fake Woodland Scenics sight and all of their listing were the same price ($97.99). They had $2000 trains listed for the same price. The website does not come up just entering it by itself. Just when you search the manufacturer and model number and scroll through your search. It is still up now.

Brad

There's a number of these sites, all were created around early August.

Here's another one created in late August.

All of these follow the same pattern, just registered and cloning an existing well known website and offering cheap prices.

WOW, here's one that just got registered less than a month ago!  These places are exploding!  To bad these prices aren't real, I could use some of this stuff!

It's a shame people get away with this. I would never fall for anything like this even with a reputable name of a train store. I guess people that don't know the real prices of these items could get scammed buying gifts for other people though.

Brad

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

WOW, here's one that just got registered less than a month ago!  These places are exploding!  To bad these prices aren't real, I could use some of this stuff!

I got robbed! I just paid $190 for one of those. 😄

Funny thing just happened. I just got a text while typing this from a fake Wells Fargo asking me if I spent Money at a race track in Arizona and if not to contact them immediately. It came from one of those jfdyjlhjljhkirsef.net contacts. I dont even bank with Wells Fargo. 😄 😄!

Brad

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

WOW, here's one that just got registered less than a month ago!  These places are exploding!  To bad these prices aren't real, I could use some of this stuff!

I came across one of these sites. Year ago with a Lionel legacy 2 controller for 199.99 if only it could be.

@AlanRail posted:

It is amazing that even Trainworld needs to hire Software Security Engineers.

Even more worrisome is the fact there isn't a Software Security Engineer on the face of this earth that can fix this.  It might be tolerable for a short period (while these sites were being summarily shut down) if there were.

This is not a technical issue that lends itself to a software solution that TrainWorld can apply.  No one is attacking TrainWorld's servers, or hacking their site.  The problem doesn't lie in TrainWorld's systems.

The thieves are simply setting up their own.

It's trademark infringement (unlicensed use of a mark) at a minimum, with a substantial dose of fraud thrown in.

The internet has no software-based solution for this, but it does have procedural and management oversight which can intervene.  That and litigation, starting with cease-and-desist, are TrainWorld's only recourse.

Mike

You can file abuse claims to the site's domain provider, that's probably the most effective way to shut them down.

I'll flip it here. The best way to not get scammed is personal knowledge and experience on the user.

In other words- visit sponsor websites often, using the official advertising links as part of this forum. This serves a dual purpose- you are familiar as a user with their websites and you have some idea of historical pricing, policies and discounts. Thus when you see something too good to be true- cheaper than any other vendor, or too cheap compared to this vendor's normal pricing model- you can spot the fake.

Again, while it was said with some irony- there is a whole lot of reality in knowing what normal pricing for TW looks like- and yes, if you are a frequent browser of multiple vendors, you are going to catch that "too good of a deep discount" scenario.

For one thing I wouldn't assume everyone who buys from you is on this forum.

Send email notifications to everyone on your mailing list.  I haven't received one.

A year ago the FTC proposed some new  rules to combat the alarming rise in business impersonation.  Not sure whatever happened to it.

https://www.ftc.gov/legal-libr...ment-businesses-nprm

Here is a decent guide at combating Business Impersonation to the extent it can be combated.

https://www.onsist.com/blog/co...nd-how-to-tackle-it/

John

@Vernon Barry posted:

I'll flip it here. The best way to not get scammed is personal knowledge and experience on the user.

In other words- visit sponsor websites often, using the official advertising links as part of this forum. This serves a dual purpose- you are familiar as a user with their websites and you have some idea of historical pricing, policies and discounts.

I have been doing this for a few years now. A third point is they get to see traffic from here, which only helps keep them as sponsors.

I’m surprised at the targeting of online model railroading sites. I gotta think that there are more lucrative sites to mimic. Tools, car parts, and appliances quickly come to mind as areas with online sales several orders of magnitude greater than trains.  That is probably being done, so any online purchasing should be done with caution.

@texgeekboy posted:

I’m surprised at the targeting of online model railroading sites. I gotta think that there are more lucrative sites to mimic. Tools, car parts, and appliances quickly come to mind as areas with online sales several orders of magnitude greater than trains.  That is probably being done, so any online purchasing should be done with caution.

When you don't even have to leave home to steal these days anything is fair game for that bunch of cretins.

John

I've run across some of these sites.

Legacy 990 for like a $100.00. If it sounds to good to be true it most likely is.

First line of defense, never use the url included in the email or advertisement.  Always first go directly to the main website.  Second, if something seems to be way too good of a deal, well you already know the rest.

-Mike in NC,

@texgeekboy posted:

I’m surprised at the targeting of online model railroading sites. I gotta think that there are more lucrative sites to mimic. Tools, car parts, and appliances quickly come to mind as areas with online sales several orders of magnitude greater than trains.  That is probably being done, so any online purchasing should be done with caution.

Yea I'm pretty sure there are sites like these for any product you could imagine.

Brad

The idea is to get access to your financial information, such as credit card numbers, not to merely take money from the fraudulent sale of products. Think. This applies to plenty of schemes.

@Jim R. posted:

The idea is to get access to your financial information, such as credit card numbers, not to merely take money from the fraudulent sale of products. Think. This applies to plenty of schemes.

Hobby sites are good to get active credit cards with some unused limits...   A new phone scam is calling and saying they are calling about medical supplies for XYZ condition.  I got three days in a row, same voice, guessing a different thing.  4th day I told him I was reporting their HIPAA act violation as a felony, to the FBI.  Click, no more calls.   

James Veech has a fun answer for some of this. 

@Mike in NC posted:

First line of defense, never use the url included in the email or advertisement.  Always first go directly to the main website.  Second, if something seems to be way too good of a deal, well you already know the rest.

-Mike in NC,

Or, if you end up at a site, after a google search, just read the URL directly from the browser.  If I’m trying to get to trainworld.com and the page looks legit but the url is something like elcheapotrains.com, it’s just bait to steal personal and financial info.

Saw one of these for Walthers, with crazy low pricing on train items. Checking the "About Us' information, it said it was a site for women's fashion. Checking around at these sites often exposes something that makes evident that it's bogus.

I saw one the other day that claimed a hobby shop was going out of business. All HO brass engines were $29.95.

Remember if it seems too good it’s probably a fake. Always call the hobby shop to confirm if it’s legit.

@Vernon Barry posted:

visit sponsor websites often, using the official advertising links as part of this forum

Excellent advice for forum participants (and potential forum advertisers).

NOTHING on the internet can be considered 100% safe or secure these days, I suppose, but you can be darn sure that the links provided to the advertisers listed at the top of this forum are legit. It pays--in more ways than one--to support our OGR Forum and magazine advertisers.

I guess if your a paying sponsor to this page you can discuss fraudulent activity, I try to bring it up and the post is removed.

@scott5011 posted:

I guess if your a paying sponsor to this page you can discuss fraudulent activity, I try to bring it up and the post is removed.

What is that supposed to mean?