16GB 3G iPhone for £169 from ishopuk not on contract!

[Rigsby]

Very professional set up---someone has gone to alot of effort for probably not much return...

I suspect they've made a profit on it. There's one of the posters in here who has sent £70 their way just to 'give them a go'. That alone has probably covered the costs of the site and voicemail number.

And bearing in mind that was from someone using a site where most people were screaming that it was a scam I'll bet there are plenty of others who have been parted from their cash.

 

[tjcampbell]

If it's too good to be true....

 

[gerryroxby]

Well now don't I feel silly.....

DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM ISHOPUK - IT IS A CON

I made the mistake of testing out this website by ordering an iphone - it is definitely a fraud and fake. It amazes me people are so brazen about conning people like this in broad daylight.
After reading some others experience with ishopuk online, it has confirmed my suspicions.
No one has received any goods
I've had no response since I let them know I had transferred the funds
Finally today the guy has taken down the front page of the website, which is now supposedly under maintenance. (HOW CON-VENIENT!!!!)
If anyone is searching the net wondering to buy from this site - DO NOT

After I did a website owner search it dawned on me it was a con - seeing how new the site was and learning the addresses were fake.

Steer Clear

Feeling a bit foolish right now but mostly dissapointed. My faith in human nature (although not destroyed) is a bit dented. I always look for the good in people which is why people like me are prey for people like Tim Blake (owner of ishopuk) - Anyway, at least there's firm proof for any hopeful optomistics out there. As poster 'ishopukisfake' has proved along with myself - they'll take your money and you won't get your goods. I'd love to have told you all that this guy came through and did the decent thing but I really don't think thats going to happen. My bank told me that if i'd bought with a debit or credit card i could have recovered the money but transfers are like handing over cash and they can't help. That's why the bank transfer payments!!!

 

[alFR]

I shopped them to Trading Standards last week - hopefully the website takedown is a result of TS actually doing something in response to my report. Unfortunately it's probably due to him fleeing with people's cash.

 

[Pixellated]

They are also using really crappy, generic web templates.

 

[Hudzilla]

Anybody know anything about this site: http://www.iwizz.co.uk/ ?

 

[Greggio]

Feeling a bit foolish right now but mostly dissapointed. My faith in human nature (although not destroyed) is a bit dented. I always look for the good in people which is why people like me are prey for people like Tim Blake (owner of ishopuk) -!!

It has nothing to do with faith in human nature - people who get scammed by stuff like this are, on the whole, wilfully blind to the risks and driven by greed - trying to circumvent the system and to pay less. The old adage "if it's too good to be true, it probably is" is just a matter of common sense.

You know what the actual price should be in the UK and you know the 3 dealers who are authorised to sell them - surely you should be instantly suspicious about people claiming to be able to offer it for much less. You sent money off to someone you knew nothing about, on the basis of a crappy website and an offer that couldn't possibly be true.

I don't condone this sort of fraud in any way, but it's hard to generate much sympathy for those who've fallen for it.

 

[sarsykes]

I paid my money on Monday and the bank say's it takes 3 (working) days to clear so my order should be ready to ship on Friday. I emailed ishopuk to ask how long delivery would take

Hi

We still have the item in stock for despatch and delivery will be within 1-2 working days in the UK upon receipt of payment into our account.

Best Wishes
IShop UK
-------Original Message-------

From: gerry roxby
Date: 29/07/2008 09:16:34
To: sales@ishopuk.info
Subject: RE: Your Order From iShop UK

£69.97 was transferred into your Abbey account on Monday, 28th July 2008 for my order.

I would be gratful if you could let me know when to expect delivery.

Thanks
Gerry

So, we'll all know by Tuesday if this is a scam or not. This guy is either going to get a lot of orders if this turns out to be the real deal. Ha ha, you can tell i'm an optomist!

I too have made the same mistake as you, I also paid for the goods on Monday, and my banks said that they couldn't recall it, but to call the police instead. I emailed Ishop and told them what the bank has said and this is what reply I got:-

In regards to the site being down for maintenance, this is a necessity for all stores at certain points in time to make sure everything is optimised and working as normal otherwise there would be problems down the road.

The information given by a few forums on the Internet is based on pure speculation in regards to our site - and I put across the point of view that you have to be aware that the supposed 'neigh-sayers' on the Internet might be people selling the same goods for vastly inflated prices.. This is a major possibility as our store is NOT a scam in any way, shape or form.

Your order will be with you as soon as possible, please do not doubt that this will be the case.

Best Wishes
Tim - iShop UK

 

[ballakane]

Possible scam for sure, please read

I fell for a scam that sounded the same, Direct transfer by bank, They state that " You are protected " no way if you send payment by direct transfer....YOU HAVE sent of you own choice, they have not taken your cash so you have NO RIGHT to request return of cash, bank,building society will not help....I have fallen for a scam like this.
But I got my funds returned as I got in touch through a full page in the Newspaper and they paid all victims back,,,hundreds of us, the company is called NTL electronics beware.
Unless you can pay by card...don't bother, if the person who contacts you is called martin, or Micheal whatever...usually Scottish name......run, or contact Police

 

[ishopukisfake]

Feeling a bit foolish right now but mostly dissapointed. My faith in human nature (although not destroyed) is a bit dented. I always look for the good in people which is why people like me are prey for people like Tim Blake (owner of ishopuk) - Anyway, at least there's firm proof for any hopeful optomistics out there. As poster 'ishopukisfake' has proved along with myself - they'll take your money and you won't get your goods. I'd love to have told you all that this guy came through and did the decent thing but I really don't think thats going to happen. My bank told me that if i'd bought with a debit or credit card i could have recovered the money but transfers are like handing over cash and they can't help. That's why the bank transfer payments!!!

I am disappointed also, but more shocked that people do this and seem to be totally disconnected from their conscience to allow them to steal openly without remorse.

There are two cases now where people have paid for goods from "ishopuk.info" and gone to their banks and had the funds returned to them. So this is possible. Maybe you should contact a watchdog service about this as some banks are definitely reimbursing customers or re-transferring money out of the two fraudulent accounts owned by "ishopuk.info

To anyone who has transferred funds into the two fraudulent ishopuk.info accounts I know for a fact you can get your money back, so do at least contact your bank and try. They have two fake accounts one in a halifax bank and one in a abbey bank.

 

[ishopukisfake]

gerry reply

.

 

[ishopukisfake]

I fell for a scam that sounded the same, Direct transfer by bank, They state that " You are protected " no way if you send payment by direct transfer....YOU HAVE sent of you own choice, they have not taken your cash so you have NO RIGHT to request return of cash, bank,building society will not help....I have fallen for a scam like this.
But I got my funds returned as I got in touch through a full page in the Newspaper and they paid all victims back,,,hundreds of us, the company is called NTL electronics beware.
Unless you can pay by card...don't bother, if the person who contacts you is called martin, or Micheal whatever...usually Scottish name......run, or contact Police

You are wrong on this - i know for certain some banks, including mine are refunding or reversing the transfer, if you have the details of the account and have suspicions it is fraudulent some banks are doing it

 

[ishopukisfake]

response

It has nothing to do with faith in human nature - people who get scammed by stuff like this are, on the whole, wilfully blind to the risks and driven by greed - trying to circumvent the system and to pay less. The old adage "if it's too good to be true, it probably is" is just a matter of common sense.

Ever heard of kelkoo Greggio? its a legitimate price comparison website where you can search for the same product in different stores and find which is the cheepest. I have saved probably hundreds of pounds using that site and some legit stores do sell the same products especially electrical goods like tv's for anything up to 80 cheeper and they are legit. Is that "cricumventing the system" ? No, some stores sell the same products for much less than others, and there is nothing illegal or wrong about trying to find the best price. Yes it was a mistake to try and buy the iphone from this site, if i had checked the "whois" website owner first i may have cottoned on to the scam, but the site does look ligit and the banks do keep records of transactions, also there seemed an element of safety in not giving the site your credit card details, which would have been a lot worse

You know what the actual price should be in the UK and you know the 3 dealers who are authorised to sell them - surely you should be instantly suspicious about people claiming to be able to offer it for much less. You sent money off to someone you knew nothing about, on the basis of a crappy website and an offer that couldn't possibly be true.

The site was selling both phones for the same price as they are selling in carephone warehouse and o2 stores, so they were not cheeper. The mistake was thinking they were being sold without contract - which they are in new zealand, granted the price is higher.

I don't condone this sort of fraud in any way, but it's hard to generate much sympathy for those who've fallen for it.

It seems hard to generate any sympathy in some - and yes in effect you are defending the frauds by mocking those who made the mistake

 

[mkoesel]

It has nothing to do with faith in human nature - people who get scammed by stuff like this are, on the whole, wilfully blind to the risks and driven by greed - trying to circumvent the system and to pay less. The old adage "if it's too good to be true, it probably is" is just a matter of common sense.

You know what the actual price should be in the UK and you know the 3 dealers who are authorised to sell them - surely you should be instantly suspicious about people claiming to be able to offer it for much less. You sent money off to someone you knew nothing about, on the basis of a crappy website and an offer that couldn't possibly be true.

I don't condone this sort of fraud in any way, but it's hard to generate much sympathy for those who've fallen for it.

+1000

 

[ishopukisfake]

Be wary of paypal sites also

Paypal looks legit, but it is a system of selling which can be used by any individual. IF you buy anything with a credit card from a site using paypal, any individual who runs the site then has your credit card details, name, address and info. So this is a very risky and bad idea also.
I bought something from a site a while back and the person running the site was obviously a fraudster and started using my bank card details to top up his mobile offline. I ended up closing that account and setting up a new one.

 

[ishopukisfake]

I too have made the same mistake as you, I also paid for the goods on Monday, and my banks said that they couldn't recall it, but to call the police instead. I emailed Ishop and told them what the bank has said and this is what reply I got:-

In regards to the site being down for maintenance, this is a necessity for all stores at certain points in time to make sure everything is optimised and working as normal otherwise there would be problems down the road.

The information given by a few forums on the Internet is based on pure speculation in regards to our site - and I put across the point of view that you have to be aware that the supposed 'neigh-sayers' on the Internet might be people selling the same goods for vastly inflated prices.. This is a major possibility as our store is NOT a scam in any way, shape or form.

Your order will be with you as soon as possible, please do not doubt that this will be the case.

Best Wishes
Tim - iShop UK

Wow, interesting this is a response from the guy using the name Tim - so maybe the Tim Blake name on the "whois" info is right. Although i doubt any names or addresses are legit to be honest. THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE THE BRASS NECK OF SOME PEOPLE!!!> HE IS STILL TRYING TO CON AND DEFEND THE PHONEY SITE. He is probably trying to buy some time to transfer any funds out of his fake accounts.


TRUST ME I KNOW FROM FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE THIS SITE IS A FRAUD AND CON - PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE ANYTHING. IF YOU HAVE DO NOT HESITATE CONTACT YOUR BANK AT ONCE AND TRY AND GET THE FUNDS REVERSED (WHICH I KNOW SOME BANKS DO)

 

[ishopukisfake]

ishopukisfake's situation

.

 

[Greggio]

Sorry

I know the previous message sounded harsh.

I am glad to hear that the bank has reversed the transfer for you.

 

[mkoesel]

What motivated me was wanting an iphone without the 18 month contract. It is only apples greed which is holding out still from selling them as pay as you go, they obviously want to bleed their customers as much as possible with their mobile phone distributor deals they have made.

You are losing credibility with this statement, so I think its important to keep jaded perspective in check. Apple's greed is the same now as it was before you got scammed. If you believe "Apple's greed" is so immoral or unjust, then you should have the integrity to not buy their products instead of continuing to support them with your dollar (or pound as it were).

But in some countries they are already selling the phone on its own without contract. It was possible that this guy at ishopuk.info could have imported phones from another country and was now selling them for example.

Not at the prices he was offering them. Failing a reasonable explanation of how he could be selling so cheap (there wasn't one), the only conclusion is that it is a scam.

If all you wanted was an iPhone without contract, you could have purchased one of the unlocked phones from Italy or elsewhere via the official venue. It is not rational to try and push some of the accountability for your actions onto Apple simply because you wished to save money. Perhaps it was you who was greedy? Something to consider anyway. In any case, your situation was imminently preventable.

 

[ishopukisfake]

You are losing credibility with this statement, so I think its important to keep jaded perspective in check. Apple's greed is the same now as it was before you got scammed. If you believe "Apple's greed" is so immoral or unjust, then you should have the integrity to not buy their products instead of continuing to support them with your dollar (or pound as it were).

I stand by the statement that apple have been terribly greedy and cynical in holding out selling their product without the 18 month tie in contract. It is pure greed on their part to try and bleed as many customers as possible dry until they release it as pay as you go. Apple know that most uk users want pay as you go and this is the reason their uk sales of the original iphone were far lower than expected. They have made one last cynical attempt to tie users into another 18 month mobile company contract with the tease of the new 3G phone before they release it pay as you go later this year as o2 have admitted. (apple obviously have made huge deals with the mobile networks for contract deals)
Yes to a degree it was also greed on my part wanting an iphone now without getting tied into a ridiculous year and a half contract paying more for calls than i would ever use, but I think apple are being cynical on this one, most people can see that.

Not at the prices he was offering them. Failing a reasonable explanation of how he could be selling so cheap (there wasn't one), the only conclusion is that it is a scam.

Yes I think with a cool head I would have realized it was a scam, however I had the money and thought I would give it a try, you live and learn.


If all you wanted was an iPhone without contract, you could have purchased one of the unlocked phones from Italy or elsewhere via the official venue. It is not rational to try and push some of the accountability for your actions onto Apple simply because you wished to save money. Perhaps it was you who was greedy? Something to consider anyway. In any case, your situation was imminently preventable.

It is not about wanting to save money - in fact it costs far more to buy the handset without a contract, so it is hardly the greedy choice. It is about apple offering consumer choice, which they have sacrificed for greater mobile contract profits. If I was really greedy for the iphone I would have bought one a year ago and got tied into the monthly mobile payments regardless of being able to justify that amount of call time use. I could have afforded to, but I refuse to buy the iphone in that fashion and many others have not also for that reason.

I have no idea about iphones from italy without contact. And I refuse to fall for steve jobs trick and sign up to a year and a half contract and pay far more than I need. I have quite a few apple products and it is sad they can't be open and sincere with the iphone and offer it with the pay and go option. As a valued customer they should listen to the user market obviously big profit is more important just now

 

[Phil A.]

IF you buy anything with a credit card from a site using paypal, any individual who runs the site then has your credit card details, name, address and info.

That is completely incorrect - PayPal may be far from perfect, but they don't pass your card details on to the person you are paying - all they get is the funds in their account. Giving your card details directly to a site that doesn't use PayPal is far riskier if they are a scam site as they then definitely do have your details!

 

[Neil321]

On a similar note and not wishing to go digging up an old thread what happened to those people who bought of ohMac ???

 

[ishopukisfake]

That is completely incorrect - PayPal may be far from perfect, but they don't pass your card details on to the person you are paying - all they get is the funds in their account. Giving your card details directly to a site that doesn't use PayPal is far riskier if they are a scam site as they then definitely do have your details!

Hmm, there are two options when you checkout on paypal, one is to pay direct from your paypal account into another - in that case the person has no idea about your private data - but there is also the option of paying into paypal using credit card details. This must mean the site owner then gets a record of your credit card details, there is no other way the person running that site could have started using my bank account for withdrawl

Whatsmore I got a confirmation email back i remember from the guy's website with my bank details and account number with the last few digits crossed which suggests paying with bank card into a paypal account lets the site owner see your bank information

 

[mkoesel]

I stand by the statement that apple have been terribly greedy and cynical in holding out selling their product without the 18 month tie in contract.

And yet not nearly so greedy as to post up a fake website and scam people outright like this ishopuk outfit has done. So instead of coughing up your money to the big evil corporate Apple, you prefer to simply hand it over freely to the real crooks?

The irony here is beautiful.

 

[ishopukisfake]

And yet not nearly so greedy as to post up a fake website and scam people outright like this ishopuk outfit has done. So instead of coughing up your money to the big evil corporate Apple, you prefer to simply hand it over freely to the real crooks?

The irony here is beautiful.

Apple are not much better than the people who made this fake site up. They have prostituted their product for a mass mobile contract deal. You can't even buy an iphone on the apple site. I like apple products, I've spent several thousands on them in the last few years (even though there are problems with them all).

The issue here and I'm sure it is for many thousands of apple customers (the ones who aren't blinkered and defend anything they do) is that apple have purposefully withheld the most popular form of mobile phone use (pay as you go)
Why have they done this when they could sell the iphone at a higher price in their store without a contract?
Because they are making much more money essentially forcing customers to get into a 1 and a half year contract with the mobile companies. It is sad and cynical of them to do this. It means people who like apple products, but don't spend lots of time on the phone can't buy their product.

Apple know this and thats why they are resorting to releasing it with a pay and go option later this year - now that they have got a big old cynical slice of mobile contract dough