Some time ago, I, Rini Apriliani, became a victim of an irresponsible online shop. Photos of my diet success were used by an online shop, as if my success photos were customer testimonials.
In fact, I do not use these products and I go on a diet program only with a calorie deficit and exercise in the gym. This of course is very detrimental to me.
Because, I am committed to providing education about the 'correct diet method' even though I am still learning, to my various platforms, both TikTok and Instagram. With this, more and more people will mistakenly think that a diet must use 'slimming products' to be successful. It's not like this though.
Fake testimonials clearly cannot be justified. Imagine how dangerous it is for them to use fake testimonials to sell products that can't be proven effective. How many people will fall for this seduction?
"Oh she's slim from drinking this. I sure can,". How many people will be consumed by this?
This is My Personal Experience 'Uncovering' Online Shop Lies!
The photo above is a photo that I shared on the TikTok page and re-edited by the online shop by inserting the words "due to drinking that makes you skinny, so you glow up". Really as if I was the consumer or the customer!
Then, what I write below, is my experience of 'uncovering' online shop lies. It's not an easy thing, but there are several points that I can conclude from the results of my search, which can help you not to become a victim of an online shop full of scams that provide fake testimonials to attract customers.
4 Ways to Recognize a Fraudulent Online Shop with Fake Testimonials
Here are four ways to identify fake online shops that are full of deception and like to give fake testimonials, based on my search. Read on for more!
1. Sales of Tens of Thousands but Reviews are Only Fingers
I found the first oddity of the products sold at the online shop. When I saw the initial display, I saw information if the product had sold more than 10 thousand. Wow, that's a lot!
But, there is something odd when I see the results of customer reviews. "Why only 8 reviews?" I said then. This is clearly an imbalance.
How come, the product is selling well but many customers are not kind enough to give a review. At least a brief review, no.
This is the first thing that needs to be recognized, because by paying attention to it, we will know how the product really is. This, too, is for your own safety who uses it.
Unfinished, I once remembered that product reviews could be purchased. I also tried to find out more about this.
Finally, I found indeed some accounts that 'sell reviews'. Which, its existence is to increase sales of an online shop. Here, I do not blame the account that sold the review.
But, I found an oddity in the online shop that used my photo, did he really use this too? Because if the products sold are selling well, the reviews offered should also be comparable, right? It's not '10 thousand have been sold' but when you look at the reviews it's only '8 people'.
2. Can't Show Product Authenticity
To ensure the authenticity of the product, I tried to follow the checking method as recommended by the online shop. Surprisingly, after following the suggested link, I was instead directed to Canva which actually couldn't answer my question, is this product really genuine?
Next, I did a search on the marketing authorization written in the sales product description. It has a permit number written on it.
Finally I tried to trace the number. I am still new to checking this, but several times I did not find the data. It always says "Data Not Found".
The products they sell are consumption products like herbal medicines, but what if I don't find the distribution permit? Though this is one of the important points in consumer safety.
As a lesson, those of you who want to buy cosmetic products, herbal medicines, to simple tea products, can ask permission. Once you get a permit number, don't believe it. You also have to check the number independently to really know whether the product is safe or not!
3. Offer Attractive Results/Profits
In order to attract customers, many online shops also offer lucrative results or benefits. Actually offering results or profits in every product offered is a natural thing. But it needs to be investigated again, is this advantage logical or not?
For example: the product for diet tea offers 'lose 3-6 kilos in just 7 days, without maintaining diet and exercise'.
As we know, the key to a successful diet is a calorie deficit by maintaining a healthy diet and exercise. In addition, the ideal and safe weight to lose in a week is 0.5 - 1 kg or 2-4 kg in a month.
So tempting is not the offer it gives? But, don't just believe it. Again, this is to attract customers.
4. Recognize Through Photo/Video Testimonials
The way to identify the last fake online shop is through photos or video testimonials provided. As a seller, you should hold on to the name that is used as the testimony. Shhh, if he doesn't even know who the object is, let alone not supported by personal information or account of the object of the photo, beware it's an artificial or fake testimonial!
In this search, I found irregularities when the online shop provided customer testimonials. Starting from the absence of the name of the customer who has successfully gone on a diet with slimming products, it's difficult for me to find an account that provides testimonials because the account ended up not being made temporarily, and some of the testimonials that he shared on TikTok seemed to have been edited repeatedly.
In this case, previously I had invited the discussion via WhatsApp and Instagram DM with the online shop. But before I finished discussing, the two accesses were blocked unilaterally by him. The post that used my success photo on TikTok has been deleted.
But from this, it led me to explore further about how this one product sells. In addition, I also want to share my experience on how to recognize an online shop that is full of deceit with fake testimonials so that it no longer eats up many people who believe it. The point is, be more selective when making transactions, yes, this is for your convenience too!