Web scam – HDcameraworld

Please share the following with your friends: Be careful where you shop online!

Recently my son was looking for a digital camera online, and found what we thought was a bargain at http://www.hdcameraworld.com. We submitted our order, received an automated confirmation e-mail, and waited for the follow up e-mails that usually inform that the order has been processed and shipped, but none came. When I reviewed the original e-mail, I noticed a strange instruction to “call to confirm your order”.

I called and was put on hold for 15 minutes. When someone finally came on the phone his mannerism was rude, to put it mildly. He informed me that they had not processed the order because I had not ordered any batteries. If I wanted to purchase the camera from them, I also had to purchase batteries from them. All the warning signs that I should have noticed before suddenly came into clear focus. (For example, the website listed no mailing address for the company).

When I informed them that I am cancelling my order, he told me that he would be charging me a 15% cancellation fee. I told him he would get nothing from me and that I would stop the payment. My next phone call was to the credit card company to cancel my card and order a new one. In retrospect, he may have only been saying that to pressure me into buying from them, but better safe than sorry.

After being burnt, a quick search on the internet showed that many others had suffered from this same website in similar ways. According to information listed on the BBB website, this business also operates under a variety of other names (including “The Camera Professionals”) and also operates a number of storefronts.

WHAT IS MOST SHAMEFUL IN ALL THIS IS THAT THESE SCAMS ARE BEING RUN BY SHOMER SHABBOS JEWS, AS IS EVIDENT FROM THEIR BUSINESS HOURS (they open late. Maybe after a Shiur?)

I fear that one day this will all come back to haunt them, and as fellow Jews I pray that they don’t end up in prison. I am saddened by the fact that people could be so desperate for money that it would cause them to stoop so low.

I am writing for one reason only: I thought it would never happen to me, but I was sucked into what looked like a good deal. It is amazing what we allow ourselves to believe when we think we are getting a bargain. Please encourage your friends to be careful where you shop, and do not purchase from websites that are not run by a reputable firm. You might think that you are saving a few dollars, and end up paying much more in the end. It’s worth the extra few dollars to actually get what you are looking for, not having to buy anything that you don’t need, and save yourself the aggravation. Umesaymim Betiov.

P.S. You don;t have to take my word for it. Do the research for yourself. Google “HD Camera World” or “The Camera Professionals BBB” and see what you find. Listen to the recorded phone call on YouTube. Better yet, just for “fun”, order a camera from HD Camera world online, and see what happens. It is sickening.