A local sporting goods store is dealing with impostors. These fake websites steal their photos, use their address, sometimes their phone number, and targets their customers.
An online shopper recently fell for it. Brenda Robinson’s niece wanted sneakers for Christmas, the On Cloud 5 running shoes.
“I did a Google search and this AuSport* organization or store came up,” said Robinson.
They had the cheapest price, and Robinson thought the website looked good, so she placed the order.
"I had to pay through PayPal, and they had a Gmail address. And I should have known something, but it was Christmas time and I'm just wanting to get this present ordered so I can get it to my niece on time,” Robinson said.
The shoes never shipped, and no one responded to her emails. She then filed a dispute with her credit card company and a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
“We are unable to communicate with this business. They don't answer the phone. We know the address is false,” said Angie Barnett, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland.
The business listed an address in Maryland, however, the location is a vacant warehouse. Coincidentally, or not, the address is next door to Holabird Sports, the Baltimore County business whose photos were being used on the AuSport website.
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