We Need Your Help! Copy-CATs are scamming fellow cat lovers!

Dear loyal customers and kitty lovers,

We need your help and support! I know what you’re probably thinking, another message about cats, but this time it’s something else and it is serious. Not only is it damaging to our brand and reputation, it is completely illegal and fraudulent, we need to put a stop to this immediately!

Some of you may even have been a victim of fraud yourself by these ‘scammers’ – for the purpose of this email I will call them ‘scammers’. I apologise this is a very lengthy post but I would be hugely appreciative if you could take the time to read it.

These scammers, of which we can identify two by name, have been creating multiple websites for the sole purpose of stealing people’s money and scamming them. They have been copying Cat Cave Co using all of my images and videos on Facebook and Instagram to advertise their business, luring customers in with ridiculously low prices! They are not selling our Cat Caves as pictured, they instead ship a cheap version from China that bears NO resemblance to our caves - see below. If you ever see Cat Caves listed for a low price be aware it is a scam, since it is not possible to produce GENUINE Cat Caves in China or cheaply.

A few of you have asked if we have been hacked - we have not, but we have had our website copied at least 20 times already by the same people! They have firstly committed copyright infringement against Cat Cave Co and secondly committed fraud against customers like yourself. These are both serious crimes and they must be stopped!

I am sorry if you have been a victim of fraud by these fake companies using elements of our site to pose as us. We’ve been working really hard with social media and store platforms to get them removed however it is harder than you would think to stop them as they just create new websites, new PayPals and emails and continue to scam customers.

So here’s what you can do about it and how you can help!

First identify the scammers!

We have been receiving 100s of emails and calls of people thinking they have ordered from us but they have not. These people are using our videos on FB/IG adverts and my images and copy online however please be warned I have not consented to this. If you look at the PAGE NAME above the video you will see who you are ordering from and the URL once you click on the link. For example below – you will see these videos and images all belong to The Cat Cave Co so initially you might think you have ordered from us. But if you look you above the video you will see the name ‘Shineestars_’ and the link will take you here - https://shineestars.com/collections/cat-cave.

If you were ordering from Cat Cave Co the link would take you here https://catcaveco.com/ to our website and the name above the ad would be The Cat Cave Co and pictured below with our logo or Cat Cave Co, but it will always have our logo in and URL and also the email should be coming from @catcacveo.com. Please be aware they have been using our logo too on their PayPal but if you check the email it is coming from it does not end with @catcaveco.com.

If you see anyone using our videos or pictures please be warned they will not be shipping a GENUINE cat cave like ours. If you scroll to the bottom of this email you will see a list of 20 different websites claiming to be us. You can also check the name on your PAYPAL receipt or credit card statement and the email it has come from. So here’s what to do next…

REPORT THEM TO PAYPAL AND/OR YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY

If you’re unfortunate enough to have purchased from these scammers, or know someone that has, you must report them to PayPal immediately. You can dispute the charge by saying ‘item not as described’ and this will help you to get your money back and the scammers removed from PayPal.

REPORT THEM ON INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK

Any time you see one of their ad’s on Facebook or Instagram you can report them by following these steps below. BUT please make sure you do not report ads or pages that are actually us - Cat Cave Co.

STEP 1: Report the ad

Click the “…” on the top right of the ad
Select “Find support or report post”
Select “Something else” then “Fraud or Scam”

STEP 2: Report the page

Go to impersonating page
Click the “...” below the Page’s cover photo
Select “Find Support or Report Page”
Select “Scams or fake pages”
Select “Pretending to Be Another Business”

SEND THEM EMAILS DIRECTLY

There are a number of emails associated with the scammers, please see ‘SUPPORTING EVIDENCE’ below. You can email them directly and urge them to stop and let them know they have been reported to ‘insert body’ eg ACTION FRAUD UK, PAYPAL, FACEBOOK etc. Or you can also go to the ‘Contact Us’ page on their websites listed below and email their support emails.

REPORT THEM TO ACTION FRAUD UK

By going to the ‘Contact Us’ pages and ‘Shipping/Returns’ pages on their websites we were able to see these Chinese companies have also registered as UK companies and are using these details on the website. You can report them using this link here:

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

You will see on the homepage ‘Start Reporting’ and can report them with or without making an account. See the bottom of this email for ‘SUPPORTING EVIDENCE’ and company details you can use for supporting evidence.

If you are aware of any other trading standards or regulatory bodies in the USA or China that they can be reported to please let us know.

SHARE THE DETAILS WITH US

If you’re unfortunate enough to have purchased from these scammers, or know someone that has, then please share any information about them you can with us. Any of the information below can help us to report them faster too:

Transaction ID (if purchased through PayPal)
PayPal or contact email
Website purchased from
Images of the fake products
Email correspondence with them (in some instances they have asked customers to share their card details by email)

SHARE THIS PAGE & TELL ANYONE YOU KNOW TO REPORT THEM TOO

Get as many people as possible to go on Facebook and/or Instagram and report their ad’s as fraudulent to Facebook/Instagram. You can also leave comments and post images of the fake products on their ads and Facebook pages to help other customers see that they are fake.

Let’s work together to take them down and put a stop to their fraudulent and illegal operation! Please contact us if you think you can help further.

Thanks for your help and support as always,

Holly

Co-Founder

Cat Cave Co

SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

REGISTERED UK COMPANIES:

Name - Yuan Yuan Zou of Marul Company Ltd

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/10715473

Name – Jun Tian of Beimac Company Ltd

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/12186267

FRAUDULENT WEBSITES: