Are you frustrated by the plethora of online stores purporting to be selling LEGO® sets at a price too good to be true, especially through facebook? So are the folks at the LEGO Group. They have released this guide to spotting a fake LEGO Store online, just in time for the peak shopping season, as we approach Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale season:

The team at LEGO.com recommend the following steps:

• Look closely at the contents of the site. Spend time looking at the entire website before purchasing anything. Check for incorrect language, consumer services addresses, terms and conditions for returns, privacy policy etc. If you are still in doubt have to doing this, try calling the company other phone number is provided on the page. Often, the phone numbers on fake web stores do not exist or they do not answer calls.
• Be cautious of very low prices. When you see very low prices being offered on LEGO products, it may be a fake web store that uses the technique to lure you in to either buy a fake LEGO sets or simply take your money.
• Pay with debit or credit card. When buying a LEGO product online, a credit or debit card will often provide greater protection if you are unfortunate enough to buy fake or nonexistent products.
• Check customer reviews. Look at various websites to collect customer reviews – use multiple sources. Check websites that alert about current scam sites.

If you see a potential fraudulent or scam website claiming to sell LEGO products, please contact customer service at http://www.lego.com/en-us/service

You can open a hi resolution copy of the pdf here:

Images: from LEGO.com

This is timely advice as we prepare for a large number of online sales, as we head towards the end of November. Remember, if prices seem too good to be true, they probably are!

Be careful out there, and until next time,

Play well.