Leica has issued a warning to consumers about the dangers of fraudulent websites. The company says there are fake websites using its branding to scam unwitting customers.
What has Leica said?
Leica has added a banner to the top of its official U.S. website. It states, “We are aware of a recent rise in fraudulent websites that are unlawfully using Leica’s branding materials to mislead customers. These sites are not affiliated with Leica in any way and may attempt to scam consumers through counterfeit offers or unauthorized sales. Leica takes this matter very seriously and is actively working to identify and take down these fraudulent websites. Protecting our customers and preserving the integrity of our brand are our top priorities.”
Fake websites
The Leica Rumors website has also run a story about the risks from fake Leica websites. It warned that the sites look almost identical to the genuine Leica site. Some of them also use domain names with the Leica name that seem very plausible.
In addition, the criminals behind the scam have been advertising their websites on social media platforms such as Instagram. These adverts have been offering impossibly high discounts of 80%.
What to look out for
The fake Leica websites have been listing cameras and lenses at hugely reduced costs. One scam site offered the Leica Q3 at $1576.27 against a regular price of $7881.32. That’s a discount of $6305.05 or nearly 80%. The same site also showed the Leica D-Lux 8 at $448.18 down from $2240.94, another 80% reduction. If you see a price that seems too good to be true, you can be sure it’s a scam. There is no way Leica gear could ever be so cheap.
What is Leica doing?
In the banner on its website, Leica stated that it “takes this matter very seriously and is actively working to identify and take down these fraudulent sites. Protecting our customers and preserving the integrity of our brand are top priorities”.
How can I shop safely?
Leica’s warning message included links to authorized dealers, its own official online store, and its seven stores in North America.
- Authorized dealers listed on Leica’s website
- Leica Camera USA’s official Online Store
- One of the 7 Leica Stores in North America
If you want to buy Leica gear, you should make sure you only buy from Leica directly or an authorized Leica reseller.
What we think
Many readers will look at the prices offered on the scam sites and know immediately that the discounts aren’t real. However, some people will be tempted, sucked in by the chance to buy something that they couldn’t otherwise afford. Sadly, they will simply lose their money. Most likely, they will get nothing at all, and these sites will just disappear after a couple of months of taking people’s money. In the unlikely event that the scammers send anything out at all, it will be a poor-quality counterfeit product that may not even work. If you are looking to buy a Leica product, be sure to follow the official links above.
