Best Buy Customers Claim to Be Caught in Web Scam

Best Buy customers are wondering if they haven't been scammed by a second Best Buy website. The website isn't a phishing site, but rather part of a conspiracy by Best Buy to overcharge customers. The story was originally reported by the consumer columnist George Gombossy: Consumer Watchdog of the Hartford Courant.

If the website exists, it would appear to be that Best Buy is luring customers to the store through sale priced items shown on the Best Buy website, then falsely saying that the sale is over. Accusers say that Best Buy runs an intranet website that reports false prices and confirms the passing of sale prices.

The possibility that Best Buy was scamming consumers was first brought to George Gombossy's attention after a Best Buy costumer was overcharged for a computer. The costumer had seen the website's item price and went to a Best Buy store to make the purchase. At the store though, the costumer was told the sale was over and an employee showed him the website for proof. But later, the customer found the computer on the Best Buy website at the lower price.

George Gombossy investigated the accusation and found it to be possibly true. After his account of the Best Buy website scam was online, several people replied to his article claiming similar circumstances with Best Buy. One poster claims to be a Best Buy employee and tells the public that there is three legitimate Best Buy websites. However, the general consensus of customers is that it is deceptive if not illegal. Other posters claim that an innocent explanation must exist. One respondent pointed to the enormous effort, time and money that it would take to run a second look-alike Best Buy web site.

Best Buy admits that they do have an intranet site. However, according to Best Buy, the site is not part of a scam, but rather a website that is available to employees because it contains confidential information.