CMOLO Co. is a Scam Site and PayPal Knows It

[FlintStryker]

Bottom line - CMOLO Co. is a Scam Site. Avoid them. Sadly, if you are reading this your have probably already been scammed, you've tried to get PayPal to help, and assistance has been denied. Welcome to the club.

My story...

I have a friend who I camp with quite a bit. We discuss gear regularly, and often share deals we've discovered. It's pretty common practice for us. A few days ago I got an email from him about a flash sale on Amok Hammocks. Only $54, including the hammock, bugnet and rain fly. Supplies were limited, as is typical for flash sales. These things usually go for $200-$400+, depending on accessories. As a DIY gear-maker myself, $54 seemed about right for materials alone. Maybe Amok was selling the hammocks to get them in circulation and increase sales - you know, the reason manufacturers have flash sales.

Well, the site looked legit. Descriptions and pictures were spot on. I placed an order. Then I went back to my friend's email, intending to reply back and thank him for the tip. That's when I noticed the signature line "Sent from my iPhone 10." He doesn't have an iPhone. In fact, he still owns and uses an old LG flip phone. That's when alarm bells went off. I checked the PayPal transaction details and saw that payment went to CMOLO. Looked them up and found this forum and now fully expect that I have been scammed. 

Yes, I contacted PayPal immediately. They rejected my initial claim. I'm still waiting on my goods to be delivered. I'll try again after I wait a couple of weeks to see if anything is actually delivered. I also checked with Amok. No flash sales on their end, but the were familiar with the CMOLO scam. Sigh.

Of course, I changed my PayPal password and security questions and other settings. And I finally signed up for 2FA authentication. My account is safe, but I'm out some cash. Too bad PayPal doesn't protect the buyer in these situations. 

[GelmoB]

If you paid by credit card through PayPal try calling them to help get your money back. Tell them the full story. They will take money back from PayPal and then PayPal can either eat it or take it back from Cmolo

[Angrybird2]

@Anderson331 let us know the outcome, pls. Thank you. 

[manmoon1]

I order what believed to be from the Political site for a yard sign and thought the money was going to the campaign for our chosen candidate. I realized within fifteen minutes this site was NOT the correct site and tried to cancel. NO response to the email, nothing, email was sent back to me. I knew I was scammed. Then I got an International Postage Fee on top of the initial price and shipping! PayPal is working on contacting seller, won't get in touch with fakes, however, they know this CMOLO Company is a scam site..............STOP doing business with them!

[GelmoB]

If you paid by credit card through PayPal try calling them to help get your money back. Tell them the full story. They will take money back from PayPal and then PayPal can either eat it or take it back from Cmolo

[Beachbum13]

I placed and order and received the wrong items.  CMOLO CO wanted me to return the items which cost me $45. Shipping to China was $20. Why the hell should I have to pay for their mistake? I contacted PayPal and they want to me to fill out a criminal report? Really??? Now I find out this CMOLO CO routinely screws people over and yet PayPal continues to do business with them.  Well I'm done with PayPal!!! Lot's of other payment apps.....

[GelmoB]

If you paid by credit card through PayPal try calling them to help get your money back. Tell them the full story. They will take money back from PayPal and then PayPal can either eat it or take it back from Cmolo.

[Angrybird2]

I made a report about this scam but the police told me that as the company is in china, therefore there is nothing they could do. They do not have jurisdiction over. As i have also made payment to the cc company and therefore the cc company is ignoring me. But its always good to try, i am just waiting and see how Paypal is going to resolve my resolution. My case is escalated since 21 July 20.

[Congerr]

Me too same deal ! I have reported PayPal and Cmolo to Australian tax office and financial ombudsman !

[GelmoB]

If you paid by credit card through PayPal try calling them to help get your money back. Tell them the full story. They will take money back from PayPal and then PayPal can either eat it or take it back from Cmolo.....

[FlintStryker]

This thread is now 5 pages long. Clearly there are lots of us who have been scammed, with PayPal's cooperation. 

I don't do social media any longer. Can any of you start discussions on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat, etc.? Maybe if we can get a #PayPalPromotesFraud hashtag to trend their practice will get nationwide attention. If a major news outlet gets hold of this the story will go viral.

For the record, I want PayPal to succeed. Online commerce is the future and we need to companies like PayPal to make that happen. I don't want them to implode. Instead, I want them to clean up their act and quit knowingly promoting fraud. This fraud has been documented by many of us on these pages, in PayPal's own community forum. It will be difficult for them to claim ignorance. We just need to get this story out beyond the five pages of this forum thread.

eCommerce is based upon trust. PayPal's promotion of fraud erodes trust and hurts us all. As an eCommerce leader PayPal needs to be proactive and get in front of this now.

Have a great day!