Warning to consumers against fake sites and links ahead of November discounts

Ahead of November discount campaigns, Consumer Confederation (TÜKONFED) Deputy Chairman İbrahim Güllü urged consumers to be careful against deceptive discounts, fake shopping sites, and suspicious links sent via messages.

Consumer Confederation Deputy Chairman İbrahim Güllü stated that ambitious campaigns such as "Legendary November," "Magnificent Friday," and "Black Friday" drive consumers to shop, but this period carries risks in terms of deceptive discounts and fake sites. Güllü emphasized that every major discount does not mean a real saving, and that product prices can be artificially increased before campaigns or stock and duration information can be presented misleadingly.

Stating that consumers should not focus solely on discount rates, Güllü recommended examining pre-campaign prices, sales prices at different sellers, and past price changes through price comparison sites and tools. Stating that attention should be paid to the seller's commercial title, physical address, and possible letter changes on the website, Güllü asked for the official addresses of brands to be used instead of links in social media advertisements.

Expressing that fraudsters imitate the sites of well-known brands and offer prices that are too low to be true, Güllü noted that consumers should be cautious against suspicious payment channels that direct them to bank accounts or IBANs sent via messages. Touching upon the importance of preferring virtual cards and low limits when making payments, Güllü reminded that consumers can file complaints with legal authorities in case of rights violations.