"It seems numerous individuals have fallen victim to such frauds. The deceptive creation of false Guitar Center websites aimed at swindling musicians is growing in prevalence. Here's how to spot them and avoid becoming a victim."
In the world of music, the excitement of buying a new instrument can often cloud one's judgement. However, it's crucial to stay vigilant, especially when making such purchases online. A recent scam has been uncovered, targeting musicians and conning them out of thousands of dollars, all while posing as the renowned retailer, Guitar Center.
The scam was first reported by Orlando's News 6, and Guitar Center itself has issued a public statement regarding the increase in fake websites claiming to be Guitar Center. The CEO of Guitar Center, Dalporto, took to Instagram to warn customers and educate them on how to identify and avoid these fraudulent sites.
Dalporto highlighted three red flags to be aware of: deals that are too good to be true, suspicious URLs, and suspicious social media accounts with very few followers recommending the websites. He emphasised that the authentic website is guitarcenter.com, and any domain that differs slightly, such as guitarcenter-us.com, is likely a scam.
Daren Maas, a guitar player, fell victim to this scam. He placed an order for a Les Paul after coming across an advert on social media. However, instead of receiving his guitar, he was informed that his information and the payment of $1,231.56 were sent to someone named Shane Griffin. Maas expressed his concern that he is not the only victim of this scam.
To avoid falling prey to such scams, it's essential to verify the URL carefully, be wary of deals that appear too good to be true, especially if encountered through social media ads or suspicious accounts with few followers. It's also advisable not to click links from ads or unsolicited emails but to type the official website address directly into your browser.
Moreover, checking for official communications, such as emails, which should come from guitarcenter.com domains, not individual names or suspicious email addresses, can help prevent fraud. Consulting trusted resources such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website or Guitar Center’s official social media accounts can also verify legitimacy and report suspected scams.
If selling gear online, following safe selling guidelines can help avoid scams. Guitar Center provides a guide on how to safely sell an instrument on the internet and avoid common scams, which can be found on their website.
This incident serves as a reminder for musicians to visit Guitar Center's website for legitimate deals and to be cautious when purchasing gear from websites claiming to be Guitar Center. By following these precautions, we can protect ourselves against fraudulent sites mimicking Guitar Center and prevent financial loss.
- The CEO of Guitar Center, Dalporto, issued a public statement on Instagram, warning customers to be vigilant when shopping online, especially during deals that seem too good to be true.
- Daren Maas, a guitar player, placed an order for a Gibson Les Paul through a suspicious social media ad and became a victim of the recent Guitar Center scam, losing $1,231.56.
- To protect against such online scams, it's advisable for musicians to carefully check URLs, avoid deals that appear too good to be true, and consult trusted resources like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Guitar Center’s official social media accounts.
- Following safe selling guidelines provided by Guitar Center can help sellers avoid scams and protect their gear when selling it online.
- In the world of music, staying informed about potential scams and following precautions, such as verifying URLs and being cautious of deals and social media ads, can help protect one's guitar lifestyle and finances, especially when shopping for a new instrument like a Fender guitar, and even when dealing with an amp or entertainment equipment.
