The debate about if Santa Claus is real will likely be argued about for the rest of time.
But according to the Better Business Bureau, Santa’s Toy House is definitely not real.
The BBB is urging the public to be wary of fake online retailers, following a report on Scam Tracker from a consumer in West Kelowna.
The report shared that the consumer tried to purchase toys from a retailer called Santa's Toy House, using their website www.santastoyhouse.com.
“The website shared legitimate photographs of the items at prices that were cheaper than more recognized stores,” said a BBB news release. “The consumer reported that when they tried to pay, there were no taxes or shipping fees, regardless of the total cost at checkout. There was also no contact information for the business, so they were unable to get any feedback about their concerns.
“BBB investigations revealed that Santa's Toy House is a fake online retailer trying to trick consumers into sharing their credit card information.”
The findings revealed:
- No address, phone number, email address or any other method of communication for the business on their website. - Reputable retailers usually provide several contact methods for consumers to reach them.
- Their privacy policy is only found on the checkout page, and the page is a dead link. - Reputable retailers have pages on their websites that outline their terms and conditions as well as the privacy policies. The pages will be easily accessible and complete with details for consumers to review.
- None of the social media links connect to any existing social media page or account for the business. - Reputable retailers want to be seen online, and do not want dead links on their website.
- No payment method options are listed on the website for consumers. The website only facilitates entering credit card information on the checkout page. - Reputable retailers want to give consumers as many payment options as possible.
- Prices are considerably lower than market price and remain the same, whether or not you are purchasing from Canada or the USA. - One item for comparison is the 16" Schwinn Girls' Bloom Bike. On Walmart, the item is being sold for $119, with a sale price of $98. However, Santa's Toy House has the same item for $74.63.
