SCAM ALERT: Fake Website posing as S&O Website

**Pirate** · 24-03-2023, 14:44

Hi guys, a colleague of mine almost fell for a fake website posing as S&O's website. it even pops up at the first option on Google. the fake URL is new.safarioutdoor.co.za

Please be on the lookout and spread the word.

Example:

https://new.safarioutdoor.co.za/950266.html

**SoldierMan** · 24-03-2023, 15:04

I done a search for "safari and outdoor" and the site never came up.
Done another search for "new safari and outdoor" and it was result 4,5 and 7. Not good.

**MrKhanZa.** · 24-03-2023, 18:09

Originally Posted by Pirate

Hi guys, a colleague of mine almost fell for a fake website posing as S&O's website. it even pops up at the first option on Google. the fake URL is new.safarioutdoor.co.za

Please be on the lookout and spread the word.

Example:

https://new.safarioutdoor.co.za/950266.html

I have asked them about this in the past, prices were better there

.
They replied saying its a Test site, so atleast not fake but still not usable.

Sent from my NE2215 using Tapatalk

**Pirate** · 24-03-2023, 18:43

Originally Posted by MrKhanZa.

I have asked them about this in the past, prices were better there

.
They replied saying its a Test site, so atleast not fake but still not usable.

Sent from my NE2215 using Tapatalk

that's real shitty. from what I understand the while e-commerce side of the "new" website is functional as well

**MrKhanZa.** · 25-03-2023, 05:29

Originally Posted by Pirate

that's real shitty. from what I understand the while e-commerce side of the "new" website is functional as well

Yeah I'm not sure why it exists, I tried to login but didn't let me.

Sent from my NE2215 using Tapatalk

**414gates** · 25-03-2023, 08:55

Any prefix on a domain name like this one, is a subdomain, and 'new' suggests it's for testing changes to the e-commerce.

The new. is the prefix, when added to the domain name resolves to a subdomain.

https://new.safarioutdoor.co.za/950266.html

Not fake at all, unless the domain is a fake name, which this is not.

**oafpatroll** · 25-03-2023, 09:53

An extremely dumb thing to let your test environment into the wild.

**Pirate** · 25-03-2023, 10:25

Originally Posted by oafpatroll

An extremely dumb thing to let your test environment into the wild.

including purchasing functionality and incorrect prices

**PeaceOfficer** · 25-03-2023, 12:18

Not really.

It's important to test outside of the company network to get a feel for how the site works with:-

different browsers on different OS'
different internet connections
different device capabilities
different geographic locations
to ensure all necessary assets are externally available
blah blah blah

Typically though there'd be some level of security applied so that the site is not generally accessible without credentials but through sheer luck you can access the test sites for some big companies in SA.

I don't care enough to check the link but if it were me, the site would be fully functional although operating in a "test" mode - meaning no active fulfillment behind the order or debit on your card (payment gateways all have "test" modes too). Wouldn't hurt to have a heading stating it's a test site though.

Anyway, much ado about nothing.

**oafpatroll** · 25-03-2023, 14:18

By 'in the wild' I mean accessible to every punter with a browser on the open internet and in a form that makes everyone think its your site before they think it's a scam because it behaves weirdly. Any number of ways to do that. Having said that, their production site sometimes feels like a uat environment.