You’re probably here because you suspect something is off with track718.com.
Maybe you ordered something online and the tracking shows your package was delivered… but it never arrived.
Or perhaps the “too good to be true” prices on that website you found via a Facebook ad made you a bit suspicious.
Either way, you’ve got a nagging feeling that something isn’t quite right with track718 and the companies using it for shipping.
Well, your spidey senses are spot on. Track718 is at the center of an elaborate scam that has duped countless online shoppers out of their hard-earned money.
In this post, I’ll pull back the curtain to expose exactly how the track718 scam works. You’ll learn the telltale signs to watch out for, the steps to take if you’ve already fallen victim, and tips to protect yourself from similar schemes in the future.
Let’s get started.
What is Track718.com?
Track718.com portrays itself as a legitimate package tracking and delivery confirmation service.
The site provides tracking numbers to online shoppers who have purchased products from third-party seller websites. Customers can then supposedly monitor the status and location of their order using the tracking info from track718.com.
However, track718.com is not actually affiliated with any real shipping carriers. It’s a fake tracking site that provides bogus delivery information to deceive customers.
When you enter your tracking number on track718.com, it will inevitably show a status of “delivered”… even if you never received your package.
This false delivery confirmation allows shady ecommerce stores to keep customers’ payments without having to ship anything.
Track718 enables this scam by giving these sketchy online sellers fake “proof” that orders were successfully delivered. Whenever a customer complains about a missing package, the seller can just point to the tracking info as supposed evidence that it arrived.
So in summary, track718.com is a fraudulent tracking service that collaborates with scam ecommerce websites. It provides fabricated shipping updates that allow these shady stores to trick customers and avoid issuing refunds for undelivered orders.
How the Track718 Scam Operate
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how the track718 scam typically works:
- You find an enticing online store (often via a Facebook or Instagram ad) selling products at prices that seem too low to be true. Getting a great deal, you place an order and pay up front.
- The ecommerce store sends you an order confirmation email with a tracking number from track718.com to monitor your shipment status.
- Over the next few weeks, you get periodic tracking updates from track718 showing your order is in transit and on its way.
- Then one day, track718 claims your package was successfully delivered to your address. But when you check, no such package ever arrived.
- You contact the shady online store asking about your missing order. They point to the “delivery confirmation” on track718 as proof it was sent and received.
- When you protest that no package ever came, the store refuses to issue a refund or reship your order. They insist the tracking doesn’t lie and claim no responsibility since track718 confirmed delivery.
- You’re left feeling angry, confused, and scammed out of your money with no recourse to get your order or your payment back.
In reality, track718.com isn’t connected to any legitimate shipping carriers. The tracking info and delivery updates were completely fabricated.
The site is simply a prop used by scam ecommerce stores to provide fake “evidence” that orders were shipped. This allows them to pocket payments from victims while avoiding having to actually send anything.
The lack of a real package delivery gives these shady operators plausible deniability. They can just point to the track718 tracking as supposed proof they held up their end of the bargain.
Meanwhile, since track718 claims no accountability and isn’t an actual shipping company, customers are left holding the bag with no way to get their money or products.
It’s an unfortunately brilliant scam that has widespread proliferated across the internet.
Red Flags and Warning Signs to Watch Out For
While the track718 scam is sophisticated, there are some red flags and telltale signs to watch out for:
🚩 Generic, Nonsensical Domain Name
Legitimate shipping carriers like FedEx, UPS, USPS, and DHL use domains directly related to their business names. Track718.com is an ambiguous, seemingly randomized URL that doesn’t inspire much trust.
🚩 No Contact Information Listed
Visit the websites of any real shipping company and you’ll find customer support phone numbers, physical addresses, and other legitimate contact information prominently displayed. Track718 lacks any such details, which is a red flag.
🚩 Reports of Non-Delivery Despite “Delivery” Status
A quick Google search for “track718 reviews” or “track718 scam” reveals countless reports from victims who had orders marked “delivered” but never actually received them.
🚩 No Logos, Branding, or Design Consistency
Official shipping carrier websites have consistent branding with recognizable logos and visual designs. Track718’s generic interface lacks any of these polished or professional elements.
🚩 Identical Tracking Portals Across Sites
If you look at the tracking pages for real carriers like FedEx or UPS, you’ll notice they each have a unique layout and style even though they offer similar functionality. In contrast, the tracking portals on sites like track718.com, runnaroo.com, and zneo.net are virtually identical.
🚩 Suspicious Affiliation Claims
Scam sites will often claim to be “powered by” or “in partnership with” legitimate shipping companies in an attempt to appear legitimate. These affiliations are almost always fraudulent, as is the case with track718’s claims.
🚩 Poor English, Typos, and Errors
Official sites for major shipping carriers tend to have error-free copy with excellent English. Low-quality writing riddled with grammatical mistakes is a common issue on scam sites set up hastily.
The old adage rings true: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Extremely low prices on websites you’ve never heard of should be an immediate cause for skepticism.
My advice? When you encounter enticing online deals from obscure stores, always proceed with an abundance of caution. Closely analyze their site for any red flags before entering payment details.
And if track718.com is listed as the shipping tracker, that’s a huge red flag and likely indication it’s a scam operation.
What to Do If You’re a Victim of the Track718 Scam
Sadly, countless online shoppers have already fallen for the devious track718 shipping scam and lost money in the process. If you fear you may have been duped, don’t panic.
There are steps you can take to mitigate the damage, protect yourself further, and potentially recoup some of your lost funds. Here’s what you should do if you were scammed by track718.com or a similar fraudulent tracking site:
1. Cease All Communication with Track718 or the Scam Website
First and foremost, stop visiting the fraudulent tracking site and interacting with the shady online store altogether. At this point, it’s clear they are operating illegitimately with malicious intent to take your money. Any further engagement will likely only result in more lies and excuses.
2. Confirm Your Order Was Never Actually Shipped
Before you assume the worst, take a moment to confirm that your order truly never shipped from the supposed seller. Reach out to the actual shipping carrier they claimed to use (likely not track718, despite what they stated) to check if your package was ever entered into their system with shipping labels created.
3. Document Everything as Evidence
If indeed your order was never shipped as suspected, begin collecting and documenting any evidence you have of the scam taking place. This includes:
- Emails or communications with the fraudulent seller
- Screenshots of their website displaying fake shipping info
- Links to any track718 or other tracking pages showing a bogus delivered status
- Details of payments made via credit card statements, PayPal confirmations, etc.
Having thorough documentation will be crucial if you attempt to dispute the charges and recover funds down the line.
4. Report the Incident to Relevant Authorities
With evidence in hand, file reports about the fraudulent incident to all applicable authorities, including: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Report online shopping scams via https://reportfraud.ftc.gov;Â Your state’s consumer protection office;
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) – Submit reports of internet fraud at https://www.ic3.gov;Â Local law enforcement agencies via non-emergency lines
The more reports and complaints authorities receive about scams like track718, the higher priority they become for investigation and enforcement action.
5. Dispute Fraudulent Charges to Recover Funds
For any funds paid via credit card, initiate a chargeback dispute with your card issuer immediately. Explain you were the victim of a scam and the products you purchased never arrived despite fake shipping confirmations provided.
Similarly, if you paid via PayPal or another electronic payment method, you may be able to dispute the transaction and request your money back due to non-delivery of promised goods.
Disputing charges is your best shot at potentially recovering any lost funds. Just be sure to include documentation clearly showing the scam shipping confirmations provided even though no package was delivered.
6. Monitor for Identity Theft and Take Precautions
The shady operators behind the track718 scam may attempt to use any personal details or payment information you provided to facilitate further fraud.
For that reason, keep a close eye on credit reports and financial statements for any signs of unauthorized activity or identity theft.
It’s also wise to update passwords for important accounts, especially those associated with payment methods you used on the scamming website.
You may even want to consider enrolling in an identity theft protection service that monitors your personal data for potential misuse.
7. Leave Honest Reviews to Warn Others
Lastly, take some time to leave warnings about these fraudulent operations on review platforms like TrustPilot or SiteJabber. Get the word out so others don’t fall victim to the same track718 shipping scheme.
The more honest reviews detailing these cons publicly exist, the easier it will be for future potential victims to identify red flags prior to engaging.
8.Learn From the Experience
Scams like track718 prey on the general public’s lack of knowledge about how shipping and tracking processes are meant to work.
Use this incident as a learning experience to increase your awareness. Realize that legitimate shipping carriers provide tracking info directly when packages enter their system, not shady third-parties with generic URLs.
Always pay careful attention to the tracking domain you’re interacting with as well as warning signs like lack of branding, poor English, and any mention of track718.
By staying informed and vigilant about this emerging threat, you can avoid shipping scams and hold onto your hard-earned money.
Tips to Avoid Online Scams Like Track718 Going Forward
Being burned by a scam operation like track718 is an expensive lesson in scrutiny and skepticism when shopping online.
To ensure you don’t get duped again, implement wise habits like:
Only Purchase From Well-Known, Reputable Retailers Stick to the major ecommerce marketplaces you’re familiar with like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and other established stores.
Yes, you may occasionally miss out on a screaming deal. But you’ll gain protection from grifter merchants and eliminate the vast majority of online shopping fraud risks.
Ignore Sponsored Ads and Social Media Promotions It’s wise to be extremely cautious about following links to online stores promoted via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or other social media ads.
These are prime hunting grounds for scammers to lure victims with too-good-to-be-true promises. Heed my advice from earlier – if the deal seems suspicious, it likely is.
Only Track Packages via Official Carrier Websites Make a habit of never tracking shipped packages through forwarding links or third-party tracking sites.
Always verify transit updates by visiting the official websites of USPS.com, UPS.com, FedEx.com, or DHL.com directly. Be wary of tracking instructions pointing you elsewhere.
When in Doubt, Use Credit Cards Over Debit For any online order that raises even the slightest of suspicion, use a credit card for payment rather than a debit card or services like PayPal. Credit cards offer superior fraud protection and dispute resolution options compared to debit cards or e-wallets.
Conclusion
Although track718 has developed a widespread reputation for shadiness, online scam operations are constantly evolving.
Just when the public becomes wise to one popular scheme, nefarious operators shift tactics and launch new fraudulent ploys.
So while track718 may eventually fall out of favor, you can expect plenty of similar services eventually popping up in its place offering the same fake tracking and delivery confirmation functionality.
The takeaway? Always remain vigilant, skeptical, and cautious when shopping online at unfamiliar stores. Be on the lookout for any shady attempts to validate shipment of orders you’ve placed.
And never take shipping notifications at face value if they seem suspicious in any way. More often than not, your gut instinct is correct – it’s likely another fraudulent scheme aiming to steal your money in exchange for nothing.
Stay informed, scrutinize every purchase closely, and don’t let these scammers stop you from enjoying the convenience of online shopping.
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