Sam Ash, an online music store that specializes in sound equipment and instruments, has released a new report on musical instrument fraud running rampant in the e-commerce market.
-- The growth of e-commerce sales has led to an unprecedented increase in online fraud. In 2024, it is estimated that $44 billion USD was lost to online payment fraud, with analysts forecasting this number to increase to well over $100 billion by 2029.
Online instrument stores are common targets for fraudulent activity due to their high-value products. As one such store, Sam Ash is warning customers to be wary of purchasing from any website that claims to be a third-party vendor of the brand.
The rising incidence of music equipment fraud in e-commerce spaces coincides with a growing demand for musical instruments. With live events and performances increasing in popularity after the pandemic, many musically inclined individuals have begun investing in guitars, digital pianos, electric drums, and other high-quality, portable instruments, as well as high-grade sound equipment. However, unscrupulous vendors have taken advantage of this boom, often tricking unwitting customers into ordering discounted instruments on third-party websites, only to send low-quality counterfeits. As recently as last November, U.S. law enforcement officials intercepted a shipment of more than 3,000 counterfeit Gibson guitars, which would have been worth over $18 million if they were authentic.
Sam Ash instruments are exclusively sold on samash.com, Reverb.com, or the brand’s Facebook page - all other sites claiming to be affiliated with the brand are fraudulent. The company says that most of these sites operate overseas, and while they will receive the customer’s payment, they will either send a counterfeit product or refuse to fulfill the order altogether. Additionally, as Sam Ash does not claim responsibility for orders placed through these websites, they cannot reimburse customers for any resulting losses.
Individuals looking for authentic, high-quality guitars, electric drum sets, and digital pianos are encouraged to instead purchase the instruments directly through retailers' official websites.
To further protect consumers, Sam Ash recommends conducting due diligence before making any online purchases. This includes verifying website URLs, checking for secure payment gateways (indicated by “https” and a padlock icon), and looking up customer reviews or complaints. Shoppers should be especially cautious of deals that seem too good to be true, as scammers often lure buyers with unusually low prices. Sam Ash also advises customers to report suspicious websites to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or local consumer protection agencies to help combat the growing threat of e-commerce fraud.
Contact Info:
Name: Sam Ash Support
Email: Send Email
Organization: Sam Ash
Address: 278 Duffy Ave Unit B, Hicksville, New York 11801, United States
Website: https://www.samash.com/
Source: PressCable
Release ID: 89164714
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