Is Crab Big Sale Legit? Why You Should Avoid This Suspicious Site

With food prices going up, we’re all looking for ways to save money on groceries So when you come across a website like Crab Big Sale advertising 9lbs of wild Alaskan king crab legs for just $63 – with free shipping! – it’s tempting to think you’ve stumbled upon an unbelievable deal. But before you enter your credit card information, it’s important to investigate whether a site like Crab Big Sale is trustworthy. In this article, we’ll examine the red flags that indicate Crab Big Sale is likely a scam and explain how to spot similar suspect sites.

Too Good to Be True Prices

One of the first things that should make you skeptical of Crab Big Sale is the seemingly unbelievable price King crab legs typically retail for $25-$40 per pound at local grocery stores and specialty seafood markets. So finding 9lbs of king crab advertised for $7/lb should immediately raise some eyebrows Reputable crab suppliers simply cannot offer prices that low – the math doesn’t add up. Any time you come across prices that seem too good to be true online, it’s smart to do some further research before making a purchase.

No Company History or Physical Address

If you start digging around on the Crab Big Sale website for more information about who is behind the business, you won’t find much. No company history, no about us page – not even a physical address listed. This lack of basic business information is a major red flag when shopping online. Legitimate companies have no reason to hide details like their location and origins. The fact that Crab Big Sale does not provide this information indicates they likely do not want customers looking into the company too closely.

Reviews Indicate it’s a Scam

One of the best ways to gauge whether an unfamiliar online retailer is trustworthy is to look for reviews from past customers. A quick Google search for “Crab Big Sale reviews” turns up overwhelmingly negative feedback. On consumer advocacy sites like Trustpilot, the majority of reviews warn that Crab Big Sale is a scam, noting customers paid for crab but never received any products. Many report having no luck getting responses from customer service about their missing orders. With no track record of actually delivering products to shoppers, it’s clear this company cannot be trusted.

How the Crab Big Sale Scam Works

From piecing together the various negative reviews and reports, here is how the Crab Big Sale scam typically works:

• A shopper lands on crabBigSale.com and is drawn in by promotions for cheap Alaskan crab legs, seafood combos, and free shipping.

• They go through the checkout process, entering their credit card or debit card information to pay. The site does take payment, so money is deducted from the shopper’s account.

• Shortly after placing the order, the customer gets an email confirming purchase and stating the crab will ship quickly.

• But days and weeks go by and the customer never receives any products. Their credit cards are still charged by Crab Big Sale, however.

• When the shopper tries to reach out to Crab Big Sale to inquire about the status of their order, they get no reply. The customer service email bounces back and phone numbers don’t work.

• At this point, the shopper realizes they have been scammed out of their money and Crab Big Sale never intended to fulfill the order. All they can do is issue a chargeback via their credit card company to try and get their money refunded.

This scenario has played out for dozens of unsuspecting shoppers, as evidenced by the negative reviews piling up about Crab Big Sale at Trustpilot and other watchdog sites. It’s always best to look for reviews before ordering from an unfamiliar online company to avoid this type of scam experience.

Look Out for These Red Flags

Crab Big Sale displays a number of typical red flags that should tip off savvy shoppers that it is likely a scam site:

• Too good to be true pricing – Far lower than typical market prices for king crab legs and seafood combos.

• Lack of company details – No business history, physical address, or background info provided.

• Poor website design – Amateur looking site with stock images and multiple typos.

• No customer service response – Email bounces back and phone numbers don’t work.

• Overwhelming negative reviews – Many reports of paid orders never arriving and no customer service.

• Pushy sales tactics – Language urging you to “order now” before you “miss out” on this deal.

When you come across these types of red flags, the safest option is to avoid placing an order. If it seems too good to be true, it almost always is.

How to Avoid Seafood Scams

Here are some tips to protect yourself from seafood scams like Crab Big Sale when shopping online:

• Research the company – Google the website name along with words like “reviews” and “scam” to find feedback from past buyers. Look for a long history, physical address, and About Us section.

• Price check – Use search engines to compare the advertised price against typical market prices and listings at major retailers. If it’s dramatically lower, it’s likely bait for a scam.

• Pay with a credit card – Never pay suspicious sellers directly from a debit account or via sketchy payment processors. Credit cards allow chargebacks.

• Look for secure checkout – Ensure the website has HTTPS in the URL and the checkout page says Secured by SSL or equivalent.

• Trust your gut – If something just doesn’t feel right about the website or offer, move on. There are plenty of legitimate seafood sellers online.

Following these tips when searching for deals online can prevent you from losing money to operations like Crab Big Sale that sound tempting but turn out to be shady schemes. Monitor your credit card statements closely and don’t hesitate to contact your card issuer if you suspect fraudulent activity.

Is Any Site Offering Cheap Seafood Legit?

With Crab Big Sale confirmed to be a scam, you may be wondering if it’s even possible to get a good deal on premium seafood like king crab online. The good news is there are legitimate e-commerce seafood retailers that provide high-quality products at reasonable prices by cutting out middlemen. Here are a few reputable options to consider:

Wild Alaskan Company

Founded in 2014, Wild Alaskan Company sells canned and vacuum-sealed wild seafood shipped directly from Alaska. They are able to offer prices up to 50% lower than many grocery stores by operating their own fleet of boats and processing facilities. The company has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating after hundreds of reviews.

Vital Choice Wild Seafood & Organics

Family-owned Vital Choice has been sourcing sustainable wild seafood since 2002. Their Alaska king crab legs are flash-frozen at peak freshness. Prices are typically 15-20% below retail locations. Vital Choice carries 2,700+ positive reviews on the independent review site Trustpilot.

Sitka Salmon Shares

Sitka is a community-supported fishery program that ships freshly frozen salmon and other Alaskan seafood nationwide. Subscribers can customize shipments and save up to 25% off traditional retailers. Sitka has a 4.8/5 star rating averaged across multiple consumer review platforms.

The bottom line is that buying direct from responsible Alaskan seafood producers and co-ops enables you to get high-quality crab, salmon, halibut, and more for prices noticeably cheaper than many supermarkets and fish markets. Just be sure to verify the reputation of any online seafood retailer before ordering.

How to Get Your Money Back After a Scam

If you placed an order with Crab Big Sale or any other website that turned out to be fraudulent, don’t panic. Here are some steps you can take to try and recover lost funds:

• Report unauthorized charges. Call the card issuer for any credit or debit card you used to make purchases from the scam website. Alert them to the fraudulent charges so they can start an investigation.

• Initiate a chargeback. Request to chargeback any transactions related to the scam website purchase. Provide details on how you were defrauded and ask that the amounts be credited back.

• File complaints. Submit complaints to organizations like your state attorney general’s office, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Better Business Bureau so investigations can be launched into the scam operation.

• Call the website. On the off chance the site is legitimate but just incompetent, try contacting their customer service one last time before disputing charges. Get delivery confirmation if products were truly shipped.

• Cancel accounts. Change any account passwords you used to sign up with the scam website. Close accounts completely if you shared financial information.

• Spread the word. Post honest reviews about your experience to warn others. Report fake review pages used to promote the scam site.

By taking quick action and leveraging protections offered by your bank, credit card company, and consumer advocacy groups, you have a good chance of recovering funds lost to online shopping scams.

Bottom Line – Crab Big Sale is Not a Legit Site