Man Loses $3K Before Christmas after Falling for $0.99 Sneaker Scam: Is Your Online Shopping Safe?

In an astonishing twist of fate, Mr. Wu, a 62-year-old man, found himself at the center of a distressing online shopping experience just days before Christmas—an experience that cost him nearly $3,000. It all began with a seemingly irresistible offer he stumbled upon while scrolling through TikTok on December 18: a pair of Onisuka Tiger Mexico 66 sneakers promoted for an unbelievable price of just 99 cents.

Normally retailing for approximately $190 on the official Onitsuka Tiger website in Singapore, Mr. Wu felt compelled to jump on what appeared to be an incredible deal. Excited by the prospect of scoring a luxury item at a bargain price, he proceeded to click on the advertisement. However, what followed was a rather alarming sequence of events.

Once he clicked the link, Mr. Wu was directed to a suspicious webpage that prompted him to enter his credit card information. He found this unusual, as he usually logged into TikTok with pre-saved details. Despite his instincts raising a red flag, he pressed on. The transaction required him to input a one-time password as well, adding to his confusion.

Unbeknownst to him, this was the first step in what was likely a phishing scam designed to extract his personal and financial information. As he went about his day, unaware of the potential threats lurking on his screen, Mr. Wu made other purchases through the app. It wasn’t until December 20 that he began receiving multiple alerts from his bank about unauthorized transfers depleting his account.

To his shock, Mr. Wu learned that his once robust bank balance of over $2,000 had dwindled to a mere $7 within just a couple of days. After depositing an additional $1,000 on December 20, he woke up to find only $9 remaining the following day.

Realizing he had been duped, Mr. Wu quickly contacted his bank to freeze his accounts and report the fraudulent activity. This incident serves as a chilling reminder of the potential dangers of online shopping and the increasing sophistication of scams, especially during the holiday season when people are more likely to be on the lookout for great deals.

Experts urge consumers to remain vigilant and ensure they are shopping from legitimate websites. Verifying URLs, looking for secure payment methods, and avoiding suspicious links are critical steps in protecting oneself from online fraud.

As the holiday season approaches, Mr. Wu's story stands as a cautionary tale — proving that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.