Consumers need to be aware of the fraudulent website Top Maine Lobster, which claims to sell lobster and seafood at unbelievably low prices. This site is a total scam that will take your money without sending any products.
Overview of the Top Maine Lobster Scam
Top Maine Lobster promises huge discounts on lobster, claiming to sell fresh Maine lobster tails for just $29.99 per pound when the typical market price is $100 per pound. The website showcases mouthwatering images of lobster rolls, king crab legs, and lobster tails while touting discounts of up to 90% off.
At first glance, the site looks professional with its high-quality images and polished web design. However, upon closer inspection there are many red flags that indicate Top Maine Lobster is a fraudulent operation set up to scam customers.
Here are some of the glaring issues with Top Maine Lobster:
- Uses fake discount countdown timers and constantly changes “limited time” offers to create a false sense of urgency.
- No business address, phone number, or adequate contact information provided.
- Bogus delivery estimates designed to string customers along.
- Plagiarized terms of service, privacy policy, and other legal pages copied from other websites.
- No mentions of who owns or operates this business.
- No social media presence or signs of real customer activity.
- Reviews seem fake and are likely fabricated.
- Lobster images are stolen from legitimate businesses.
According to our research, Top Maine Lobster is likely connected to a broader network of scam websites run out of China. This fraudulent network manages numerous shopping websites that pretend to sell various products at unrealistic prices. Their only purpose is to take orders and payments but never fulfill any real purchases.
The sophisticated scammers behind Top Maine Lobster make the site look extremely legitimate at first glance. However, it is all a facade with the sole intent of defrauding customers.
How the Top Maine Lobster Scam Works
The scammers running Top Maine Lobster use clever psychological tricks and persuasive sales tactics to deceive online shoppers. Here is an outline of how their lobster scam operates:
1. Drive Traffic to the Site Through Social Media Ads
The fraudsters aggressively market Top Maine Lobster on social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. They run a constant stream of flashy ads promoting unbelievable deals on lobster. The ads target lobster lovers with “Going out of business” and “Flash sale” messaging to attract attention. This gets thousands of people to the site.
2. Dupe Visitors with Convincing Website Design
The Top Maine Lobster website features a modern, polished design with enticing photos of lobster dishes. It uses the colors and images people associate with fresh premium seafood. This instantly builds trust and credibility with visitors.
3. Hook Shoppers with Deceptive Discounts
The site advertises specific lobster products like tails or rolls for 90% off retail prices. For example, 5-ounce lobster tails supposedly cost just $29.99 instead of $169. Countdown timers create false urgency by warning the amazing deals will expire. In reality, the prices are completely made up.
4. String Customers Along with Fake Delivery Estimates
When customers place orders, the site provides deceptive delivery windows to keep them patiently waiting instead of immediately demanding refunds. Order confirmation emails estimate 10-15 business days for shipment.
5. Make Up Excuses for Delayed Orders
As the delivery window passes, Top Maine Lobster sends emails blaming problems like “bad weather delaying the catch.” This extends the scam by keeping hopes alive that the order is still coming.
6. Disappear After Receiving Payments
Ultimately, no lobster or products will arrive since Top Maine Lobster is a fake store. The scammers will cease communication and disappear with the payments. Credit card chargebacks may be the only recourse at this point.
7. Leave Victims Empty-Handed
Shoppers are left frustrated, angry, and still craving the lobster they paid for but will never receive. The scammers have already moved onto their next victims by duping social media users with more irresistible lobster deals.
This is the typical blueprint Top Maine Lobster follows to defraud lobster lovers out of their money. They lure in victims with unrealistic prices, make false promises about shipping, then abscond with the payments. It is an effective scam that leaves many feeling embarrassed, cheated, and reluctant to purchase lobster online again.
Warning Signs of the Top Maine Lobster Scam
There are many red flags that expose Top Maine Lobster as an outright scam:
- No business address – Top Maine Lobster does not provide a physical address or show where it is located. This lack of verifiable location is highly suspicious.
- No phone number – The site does not list a working customer service phone number to call with questions or order issues.
- No live customer chat – There is no way to directly speak with a company representative in real time.
- Plagiarized legal pages – The Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and other legal pages seem duplicated from other sites rather than custom written.
- No transparency – Nowhere does the site reveal who owns, operates, or manages this so-called lobster business.
- No social media ties – There are no links to any active social media profiles for Top Maine Lobster.
- No signs of real customers – No legitimate customer reviews, lobster-loving community, or brand recognition can be found.
- Unrealistic prices – Lobster is advertised at $29.99/lb when the fair market price is over $25 per pound wholesale.
- Countdown timers – The site uses countdowns like “Only 2 hours left for this amazing deal!” to manufacture false urgency.
- Stolen photos – Product photos seem lifted from other websites selling actual lobster.
- Bogus shipping estimates – Order confirmations provide misleading delivery timeframes that will never be met.
With so many clear warning signs, consumers should stay far away from Top Maine Lobster and its questionable “deals”. This scam site has multiple dishonest indicators working against its credibility.
How to Spot the Top Maine Lobster Scam on Facebook
The scammers behind Top Maine Lobster heavily promote their fraudulent website on Facebook to reach lobster lovers. Watch for the following signs when seeing lobster deals advertised on Facebook:
- Ads using urgent messages like “flash sale!”, “going out of business”, or “last chance for 90% off.” These create false scarcity.
- Prices suspiciously low, like whole lobster tails for $29.99 each. Compare to fair market rates near $40 per tail.
- Too-good-to-be-true offers like “Buy 2 Get 3 Free” that real companies could never profitably provide.
- Stock photos showing perfect lobster instead of real company photos. Scammers often steal photos.
- Links go to shady domains unrelated to lobster like “acmenifty.com” instead of branded domains.
- No mentions of company history, location, practices, or ownership details.
- Comments seem astroturfed by fake accounts and lack authentic customer interactions.
- Ad targets lobster hashtags and interest groups but company has no subject authority.
Stay skeptical of any Facebook lobster promotions using manipulative tactics, unrealistic pricing, and zero transparency. Research unfamiliar brands making outrageous claims in ads to avoid scams.
How to Spot the Top Maine Lobster Scam on TikTok
On TikTok, Top Maine Lobster runs flashy in-feed ads touting lobster deals in short video formats. Watch for:
- Videos hyping prices like “$200 of lobster for just $29.99!” or “50% off our best-selling lobster.”
- High-pressure tactics like “24 hours left!” and “Today only!” to manufacture fake urgency.
- Accounts with generic names replying “Wow, amazing!” to seem like satisfied customers.
- Links in bios and captions sending to dubious domains with no ties to known lobster companies.
- No business details provided in TikTok profile, website, or anywhere else.
- Commenters asking logical questions but getting no responses from the account.
- Videos blatantly stolen and reposted instead of showing any real facilities, products, or staff.
If a TikTok account promotes lobster in unbelievable ways, use caution. Dig deeper to assess legitimacy before placing any order or giving your information.
How to Spot the Top Maine Lobster Scam on Instagram
On Instagram, be watchful for these signs an account may be connected to the TopMaineLobster scam:
- Lavish photos and videos of lobster dishes not traceable to any restaurants or known chefs.
- “DM us to order!” messages urging direct orders through Instagram messages.
- Comments like “Amazing quality!” and “So delicious” seem astroturfed by fake accounts.
- Geotags showing locations in Maine used to fake legitimacy – but linked website shows no real Maine presence.
- No evidence of real facilities, docks, boats, catches, employees, etc that would exist for a lobster company.
- Link in bio goes to a suspicious site unrelated to the Instagram username.
- No credentials shown for alleged chefs or company staff seen in photos and videos.
- Literally no authentic interactions – just photos of lobster with generic captions about quality and flash deals in comments.
Use rigorous scrutiny for any Instagram accounts peddling premium lobster at implausible prices. Verify legitimacy through independent research before engaging.
What to Do If You Are a Victim of Top Maine Lobster
If you already placed an order and provided your credit card details to Top Maine Lobster, take the following steps right away:
Immediately Contact Your Credit Card Company
Tell your credit card provider you believe you have been scammed and wish to dispute the charges. Provide transaction records showing payments to Top Maine Lobster. Your credit card company can reverse the charges if you report fraudulent activity promptly.
Place a Fraud Alert on Your Credit Report
Contact one of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion) to put an initial 90-day fraud alert on your credit file. This warns lenders to verify your ID before issuing new credit. Also order a free copy of your credit report to check for any suspicious activity.
Change Any Reused Passwords
If you used the same password on Top Maine Lobster as other accounts, change your passwords immediately. Assume your email and credentials are compromised. Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible for enhanced security.
Watch for Suspicious Activity
Keep monitoring your financial accounts and credit reports closely for fraudulent charges. Scammers sometimes sell stolen payment information. Report any suspicious transactions or accounts opened in your name.
Submit Complaints to Authorities
File formal complaints with the FBI, FTC, state attorney general, and BBB to aid investigations of Top Maine Lobster. You may not recoup losses, but your information contributes to stopping these scams.
Warn Others About This Scam
Post reviews and complaints warning people away from Top Maine Lobster. Spread the word on social media to prevent others from being victimized. Make people aware of the deceptive lobster discounts and other red flags.
By acting quickly after discovering the scam, you can limit the damage and prevent further issues. While recouping losses from Top Maine Lobster will be difficult, you can take steps to protect yourself from additional harm.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Top Maine Lobster Scam
Many consumers have questions about the fraudulent website Top Maine Lobster and its supposed incredible deals on lobster. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about this scam operation.
Is Top Maine Lobster Legitimate?
No, Top Maine Lobster is a 100% scam website that will take your money without ever shipping lobster or seafood. It uses deception to appear as a real business, but has no actual capability to fulfill orders. Numerous warning signs like no company information, stolen photos, and unrealistic prices indicate this is a fraudulent site.
Where is Top Maine Lobster Located?
Top Maine Lobster provides no verifiable address, location, or place of business. Scammers conceal their identity and location to avoid accountability for ripping off customers. The site claims to ship Maine lobster but has no provable ties to Maine lobster suppliers or operations.
Who Runs or Owns Top Maine Lobster?
The website offers zero transparency about who owns, operates, or profits from the site. Scam websites hide such information to prevent victims from pursuing the scammers. Research suggests Top Maine Lobster is part of a larger network of fraudulent sites run out of China.
Why Are the Prices So Low on Top Maine Lobster?
The unrealistic lobster prices like $29.99 per tail are meant to hook unsuspecting shoppers. In reality, wholesale lobster costs suppliers over $25 per pound. Top Maine Lobster falsely claims such low prices knowing it will never fulfill orders. This is a manipulation tactic to manufacture irresistible deals.
Are There Real Customer Reviews of Top Maine Lobster?
No, the website has no legitimate online reviews confirming delivery of actual orders. The few reviews shown seem fabricated. There are no social media communities or credible lobster forums discussing this company. This lack of real customer activity proves it is a scam operation.
What Payment Methods Does Top Maine Lobster Accept?
Top Maine Lobster accepts credit cards and PayPal to maximize its scam revenue. These payment methods offer buyers reversal options if fraud is reported promptly. The site does not accept checks or methods with buyer protection. Paying through credit card provides the best chance of recovering lost funds.
Is My Credit Card Information Safe with Top Maine Lobster?
No, never trust this scam website with your personal or payment information. Report any credit card data given to them as compromised. Their entire purpose is to steal money, so they cannot be trusted to handle sensitive data properly either. Assume your information is at risk.
How Can I Get My Money Back If I Ordered From Top Maine Lobster?
Immediately contact your credit card company and file a fraud dispute. Also watch for suspicious charges and report unauthorized transactions related to potential stolen payment data. Submit official complaints to the FTC, IC3.gov, BBB, and state attorney general. Unfortunately, recouping payments already lost to this scam is unlikely.
Consumers should steer clear of Top Maine Lobster. It exhibits all the signs of an online scam selling imaginary lobster. Be extremely wary of unbelievable deals, always research unfamiliar companies, and never send money to fishy websites. Stick to reputable seafood retailers with transparent information and fair market pricing.
The Bottom Line: Avoid Top Maine Lobster
Top Maine Lobster exemplifies an effective and deceitful online scam preying on lobster lovers’ desires for incredible deals. While the website presents a convincing facade, it is filled with deceptions meant to trick customers and steal payments without shipping anything.
Consumers should steer clear of Top Maine Lobster and its absurd lobster pricing. The multiple warning signs of a scam include no physical address, no real contact information, fake reviews, countdown timers, stolen photos, and constantly changing “limited time” offers. This fraudulent site gives no indication of having actual ties to the Maine lobster industry despite the misleading domain name.
Anyone who has ordered from Top Maine Lobster needs to urgently dispute charges with their credit card company and monitor accounts closely for further unauthorized activity. Although recouping already-lost money will be nearly impossible, victims can take actions to prevent additional damages from stolen payment information.
When an offer seems too good to be true, it almost always is. There are no shortcuts to getting premium lobster below fair market prices. Conscientious consumers should stick with trusted, reputable seafood retailers and avoid scam websites like Top Maine Lobster claiming to deliver lobster at improbably low prices. Caution and researching unfamiliar sites is the best policy for avoiding lobster scams preying on shoppers’ appetites for delicious crustaceans.
