A network of fraudulent websites is luring customers into purchasing what they believe to be incredible deals on jewelry. This elaborate scam involves videos featuring individuals who claim to have a secret discount code for revenge purposes. However, these women in the videos were also victims of deception and had no clue they would be participating in a con. Customers who fell for this scam were left disappointed when the products they received didn’t match the premium pieces advertised on the site. Instead, they received cheap, costume jewelry of little value.
One of the individuals involved in this scam, Stacey Wilson, spoke with Insider about her role. She explained that she was hired through Upwork and paid $30 to create a video. However, Wilson never actually worked for the jewelry brand Trugala, nor was she fired from the company. In fact, she had never even purchased anything from Trugala or seen their products before. Despite this, many people believed her story and used her discount code to buy jewelry from Trugala.
Unfortunately, when the truth about the scam came to light, both Trugala and Wilson faced backlash from disgruntled customers. Wilson described the negative impact this had on her mental health, as she became the target of public anger. She desperately pleaded for the videos to be taken down, but they continued to circulate on TikTok, often with burner accounts and variations of her name.
Trugala is just one of several websites using similar tactics. These sites advertise jewelry items at high prices, but offer discount codes that bring the cost down to zero. However, customers are still required to pay a shipping fee. Insider tested this method on five other sites, including Sevatti, Deraldi, Vulosa, and Mazalti, and found that all accepted the associated TikTok discount codes while charging only shipping fees.
One customer, Myra Solana, fell victim to the scam after seeing a video at 3 a.m. and thinking she was getting a great deal. However, after canceling her credit card out of fear for her personal information, Solana discovered that the jewelry she received was worth significantly less than what she had paid. Other creators on TikTok shared similar experiences, highlighting the counterfeit nature of the products.
Insider identified over a dozen creators who used similar scripts to promote these websites, and comments endorsing the discount codes appear to be part of the same fake ecosystem. While these pages strive to appear authentic, a closer look reveals their fraudulent nature.
The impact of this scam on the unwitting participants, such as Stacey Wilson, has been devastating. Wilson, an educated college graduate, expressed shock and regret upon discovering the truth about her involvement. She began researching the person who hired her, only to find no information available. Wilson even contemplated legal action and reached out to TikTok to have the videos removed, although some still remained online.
Other creators who were hired through Upwork for similar jobs, such as Ellison Scarborough and McKenzie Hedrick, also experienced distress and regret over their association with these fraudulent websites. They expressed a desire to remove the videos featuring their faces, fearing the potential consequences.
In conclusion, this network of fraudulent jewelry websites, along with its deceptive videos, has deceived countless customers and caused significant harm to those unknowingly involved. It serves as a reminder to be cautious when shopping online and to always research the credibility of unfamiliar websites and discount codes.
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