NEVER shop online from Game/ Massmart again - SHAME ON YOU Game/ Massmart for not caring enough about customers and for not taking quick action to protect customers from being ****med!!!!

Since the beginning of September 2024, I have encountered numerous adverti*****ts on social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram) from Game, promoting ongoing specials. Upon clicking the ads, I was directed to a website identified as “gameonline.co.za.” The website appeared entirely legitimate, featuring identical branding, graphics, and design elements associated with Game.

The ads continued to appear on my social media feeds daily, and on September 7, I proceeded to place an order for two items through the website. The online shopping process appeared authentic, consistent with my regular experience as a frequent online shopper. The payment page confirmed the products, pricing, and express shipping fee, all displaying Game’s branding. As part of the process, I made the payment through my bank using a one-time password (OTP), as is customary.

Upon completion of the purchase, I received a confirmation email, including an order number and details of the items purchased, which initially appeared legitimate. However, I noticed that the sender’s email address seemed suspicious. Upon further investigation via my online banking portal, I discovered that the transaction, while reflected on my credit card, was made payable to an entity named “Vanguard Group Enterprises” rather than Game.

Suspecting that I had been the victim of a **** or *****ulent transaction, I immediately contacted my bank’s ***** department and canceled my credit card to prevent further unauthorized transactions. Subsequently, I reached out to Game’s customer service, followed by an email to both Game and Massmart, notifying them that their brand appeared to be compromised and urging them to take prompt action to prevent others from being similarly de*****ed. I took these actions within approximately two hours of the transaction on September 7.

On September 9, I received a brief response from a Massmart representative, acknowledging my report and stating that they would address the issue. However, it was apparent from the response that there was no acceptance of responsibility for their failure to secure their brand. Despite this communication, I continued to observe the same *****ulent ads on social media, and the website (gameonline.co.za) remained active. This indicated that no immediate action had been taken by Massmart/Game to address the situation.

On September 14, I followed up with another email to Massmart/Game, questioning why the *****ulent ads and website were still operational. I reiterated that their brand was being exploited, resulting in unsuspecting consumers being de*****ed. On September 16, I received another response, indicating that the information had been forwarded to their IT team. It was only later that day that I noticed the *****ulent website had been taken down.

Based on the timeline, it appears that Massmart/Game took approximately 10 days from the initial report to take effective action against this *****ulent activity. During this period, I am left to question how many other consumers may have been ****med and suffered financial loss due to the delay in Massmart/Game’s response.

I find Massmart/Game’s failure to promptly secure their brand and prevent further consumer exposure to ***** deeply troubling. The lack of timely action raises concerns about the number of people who may have fallen victim to this **** during the intervening days.

Massmart/Game’s handling of this matter, from customer service to brand protection, reflects a significant failure to safeguard their consumers. Their inaction has likely allowed further *****ulent transactions to take place, causing undue harm to their customers.