DirectUnlocks Bait and Switch Scam Deception Internet

Saw this on google when I went looking for a service to unlock my phone:

https://i.ibb.co/55X7Knb/1-Google-Ad.png

Went to https://www.directunlocks.com and on the home page you're prompted to put in your country, provider, and IMEI while it identifies your phone and tells you whether or not it can be unlocked;

https://i.ibb.co/dMNTL35/2-Verification.png

You click on the link there and it takes you to the sales page which makes you and UNLOCK your phone offer (the bait). Not a validation check offer (that's the switch):

https://i.ibb.co/84htNj8/Boost1.png

It clearly, as you can see, has absolutely NO indication there that you are being asked to pay for a validation check. You just went through a process that seemed to validate the phone, and are now being told you can get it unlocked, specifically in the language there. They know what they are doing. So you pay the $28.99 and then you are switched:

https://i.ibb.co/P6wz5T0/Boost2.png

It's only now they try telling you that you paid for an eligibility check, but go back to the previous image and see exactly what you were paying for: 

Motorola UNLOCK

and

Unlock HANDSET

Nothing about validation.

So they have a link, because they know the elaborate scam they're putting you through and that people are going to be upset. So they create an image that is only shown on this page. You never see this before you pay:

https://i.ibb.co/QrnBNTh/5-5-This-is-a-lie.png

I used a different computer, browser and IP connection to confirm:

Direct Unlocks, if you are going to charge for eligibility checks, then you need to tell the customer BEFORE they pay that this is what they are paying for, not after. You're not doing that. You're deceiving your customers. That is dirty, as is your customer service teams responses. We'll get to that shortly. Here is, again, what one see’s:

https://i.ibb.co/FD67b1P/7-Another-phone-verification.png

Not how it doesn’t say “validate this phone” but “unlock for any carrier” ? That brings you to the order page which again has NO indication of “Validation” but distinctly says “unlock”

Now, beware. Do not fall for this scam. They bank on you having already pulled out your credit card and are half way through the process. You complain, and they have form letter responses (below) ready, and you reluctantly want to complete the purchase. While already feeling scammed you may be wanting to go through with it just to get it done. Read other reviews. What happens in a majority of the cases reviewed online is that the codes are not able to be inputted into your phone because your carrier has removed that option. At this point, if they have provided you codes, your merchant/visa card/bank may opt to say “but they gave you the codes” so they fulfilled their end of the bargain and that there is nothing they can do. Never complete their second payment request. Rather, show your bank/credit card merchant that they lied about what you were initially paying for. That is, if you find these reviews after being duped the first time…DO NOT GO THROUGH WITH IT. Don’t help enable this group of scammer. 

So with my second attempt this is what is shown on the order page. Again, no request to pay for a validation:

https://i.ibb.co/2SSxdPp/8-Confirm-your-paying-for-an-Unlock-not-Validation.png

Here’s the best part of their deception. They know you’re going to be perplexed and confused, so you’ll go back and try it all over again, perhaps with a new tab, or browser, but they’ve got your IP and likely fingerprinted your browser to know it’s you again. When you go back to the page after doing the initial check on their home page, you get this little switch:

All of a sudden now it says check/validate, not before (as you can see above).

https://i.ibb.co/8M54SD0/9-After-you-pay-28-95-switch.png

So you open a support ticket and you can read for yourself their little deceptive follow up:

1 - https://i.ibb.co/Cmpb7ks/10-support-ticket.png

2 - https://i.ibb.co/FzGLx4x/11-support-ticket.png <— This is a lie, I paid to UNLOCK as you 

     have seen with the screenshots above twice

3 - https://i.ibb.co/hf8YW0B/12-support-ticket.png <— Here we have a glimmer of truth. They   

     admit it’s not clear. Not only is it not clear, but it’s purposefully deceptive.

4 - https://i.ibb.co/nwqnYx3/13-support-ticket.png 

5 - https://i.ibb.co/C1j7KQF/14-support-ticket.png

So there you have it. Read the reviews on Reddit and do not go through with this elaborate scam, and per the reviews especially if it’s locked to a carrier and you are unable to even enter codes if you actually get duped in paying the bait $28.99 and switch $50.00 “second” payment. You’ll be out $80.00 USD and your credit card merchant / bank may be unwilling to help.

DirectUnlock you guys are dishonest.