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BBB Atlantic has received numerous reports through the BBB Scam Tracker of an apparently fraudulent online toy website that advertises some of the hottest and most sought after toys for the 2021 holiday season. Consumers have reported losing hundreds of dollars to this company, leaving them not just out of money, but also leaving them with no Christmas gifts for their children.
Pine Toys Canada Services (https://www.pineridgeequinepark.ca) claims to be located in Woodgate Plaza in St. John’s, NL at 58 Kenmount Road. After multiple attempts to contact this business via postal mail, email, and phone calls, we were unable to get in contact with the business. BBB has also confirmed that the business is not registered with the province. BBB has contacted the property management company for Woodgate Plaza, and confirmed that Pine Toys is not located there, and never has been.
There is a 'Toy Store' located at the address that is not connected with Pine Toys Canada
Consumers reported to BBB that they found the website being advertised on Google, and were tempted to purchase from them because they were advertising steep discounts on popular toys. Once they ordered from the website, the company was unreachable and their items were never delivered. “After ordering, we realized the website name had nothing to do with the products advertised and found the Facebook page for the old business which had closed. They wouldn't respond to our emails so we started a Visa chargeback with our bank. As we researched more about it we found a few other people online saying the site was a scam and to avoid it.”” reported one consumer to BBB Scam Tracker.
BBB reminds consumers to check BBB Scam Tracker to see if a business they are dealing with is a scam.
Tips to avoid toy scams -
Only buy toys from reputable stores and websites. The best way to avoid getting scammed when purchasing toys is to buy them directly from a seller you know and trust.
Don’t be fooled by extra-low prices. Unreasonably low prices are a red flag for a scam on many products. Avoid making a purchase from a retailer you aren’t familiar with just because the price sounds too good to be true – it probably is!
Research before you buy. If a company seems legitimate but you aren’t familiar with it, be extra careful with your personal information. Before offering up your name, address, and credit card information, make sure the company has a working customer service number.
Just because it’s advertised, doesn’t mean it’s legitimate. Many fraudulent websites will advertise on social media and Google. But just because you see these websites advertised on legitimate platforms doesn’t mean the website itself is legitimate.