In early November 2024, I noticed that some Google users searched for details about a MushPlushies reviews scam. This scam specifically concerned Facebook and Instagram advertisements promoting cheap stuffed animals for relaxation — including a special “Relief Otter” or “Mush Sleepy Otter” — described as “your sleep & anti-anxiety best friend.” The advertisements for the special stuffed animals pointed to MushPlushies.com, which automatically redirected to MushPlushies.eu. The website’s owners designed MushPlushies.eu to misleadingly resemble a trustworthy online store.
Some users looked for help after first viewing advertisements that offered purported deals on a Facebook page named MushPlushiesco — a page apparently tied to a previous and very poorly-reviewed iteration of the scam on MushPlushies.co and MushPlush.co. As of this writing, the MushPlushies reviews scam website’s homepage on MushPlushies.eu promoted various stuffed animals. (I referred to the scam as the “MushPlushies reviews scam” for keyword purposes.)
In my research, I looked into the MushPlushies reviews scam website and its promises of a special “Relief Otter,” “Mush Weighed Plushie” and other items. I advise consumers to not order anything from MushPlushies.eu or any similar websites. The owners of MushPlushies.eu misrepresented their website. Mainly, the homepage displayed a fake U.S. mailing address for Redwood City, California, while the Facebook page featured a fake “555” phone number. Anyone who fell for this scam can find advice later in this article, as well as an open comments section.
MushPlushies Otter Scam Facebook Advertisements
One example of an advertisement displayed by the MushPlushiesco Facebook page was a video claiming with a narrator’s voice generated by artificial intelligence (AI), “Ever wonder why our ‘Relief Otter’ works wonders, your secret weapon against stress and anxiety? The soothing sound of its breathing and heartbeat mimic the rhythm of a calm and relaxed state by aligning with the natural frequency of human breath. When you hold the ‘Relief Otter’ close, its gentle heartbeat and breathing create a sense of comfort and security, calming your mind and soothing your soul. Ready to experience the power of the ‘Relief Otter’? Visit our website now and discover true relaxation.”
The text of the ad also read, “Your sleep & anti-anxiety best friend. Soft Australian cotton and weighted. Perfect for anxiety and sleep. 3 trees planted for every order. Get yours. >> https://mushplushies.com.”
The post also displayed the words, “MUSHPLUSHIES.COM. ONLY $10. The perfect sleep pal <3.”
MushPlushies Poses as Legitimate Website
One primary reason why I believe consumers should not purchase items on the MushPlushies reviews scam website was that MushPlushies.co — a previous iteration of MushPlushies.eu and MushPlushies.com — received very negative reviews. Also, the website looked just like other scam shopping websites I reviewed in the past, in particular around the holiday and Christmas shopping season.
A GoDaddy.com search confirmed the owner or owners of the MushPlushies reviews scam website appeared to register the domain name MushPlushies.eu on a domain registrar located in Germany. The registrar’s name displayed as, “Key-Systems GmbH.” Whether or not that registration information proved accurate, the fact was that the MushPlushies.eu website published a fake mailing address. It read, “2083 W. Flagstaff Rd., Redwood, CA 94061 USA.” Redwood is not a city in California but Redwood City is. Redwood City does not feature a W. Flagstaff Rd. or Flagstaff Rd.
The MushPlushies reviews scam website featured a “Shipping Policy” page that displayed a lengthy number of days purportedly needed to mail purchased products. The page read, “Your order will ship within 1 to 5 business days. The delivery is within 7 to 20 business days for U.S. and 10 to 25 business days for International Shipping.” It’s possible the items shipped from China.
One of the more concerning aspects of the MushPlushies reviews scam about the otter and other comfort stuffed animals was that the website hosted several product photos the scammers possibly obtained from other and perhaps more credible websites. In other words, there would be no guarantee of shoppers receiving the same quality item they might expect from a well-known brand if they ordered an item from MushPlushies.eu. Customers would possibly receive cheaply-made knockoff items or something completely different from the products they ordered.
Need Help After Buying Something from MushPlushies.eu?
If any consumers who purchased products from the MushPlushies reviews scam website about otters and other comfort stuffed animals need help and cannot reach the owner or owners residing in Germany, China or elsewhere, I recommend calling your credit card company on the phone. Credit card companies often share good advice about how to handle situations involving potential scams. I suggest any consumers who fell for this scam to ask your credit card company if they can refund the money. Mention your years of loyalty to the company and — hopefully — your on-time payments. Further, ask if it’s possible to block all future charges from the same scammy seller.
Additional Notes
In my research, I noticed that the MushPlushiesco Facebook page displayed a creation date of Feb. 20, 2022. The pages listed managers located in the U.S., Philippines, Nepal, Argentina, Indonesia, Pakistan and Vietnam. The page also showed the fake phone number (213) 555-9282.
A search of the Trustpilot.com website showed 187 reviews averaging a score of 1.2 out of 5 for MushPlushies.co. Meanwhile, the U.S. Better Business Bureau (BBB) website displayed an average rating of 1 out of 5 for 28 customer reviews, an “F” score and 74 complaints. Dozens of users submitting complaints and reviews mentioned the people behind MushPlushies charged consumers’ credit cards numerous additional times in an unexpected manner — the sure sign of a scam.
The GoDaddy.com registrar information said the owners of the MushPlushies.eu reviews scam website created its domain on Nov. 11, 2022.
If any readers find a potential scam that they want me to research for inclusion in a future article on this website, please contact me.
For further reading, I recommend my article looking at the Mini Mobile ATM reviews scam. The ruse claims a mobile app and a “2-minute phone trick” can earn users hundreds or thousands of dollars a day “on autopilot.”
I sent my friend one of these MushPlushies. She said it did not work.