Facing recent heat waves and surging demand, the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Repression (DGCCRF) warns consumers about the proliferation of online scams selling fake air conditioners. Fraudulent sites are popping up to sell ineffective or non-existent devices.
Impossible Technical Specifications
Behind catchy-named sites like “Epicooler”, “Coolizi” or “Breezo” lie shell companies based overseas, notably in Hong Kong and the United States. Fueled by deceptive sponsored content on social media and mobile apps, these ads tout miraculous performances. But victims of these scams receive, at best, a poor-quality product, or worse, end up facing abusive bank debits without ever receiving anything.
To lure buyers, these sites promise totally unreal technical performances, such as the ability to cool a 50-square-meter room or drop the temperature by 11 degrees in 30 seconds, all without any installation. The main sales pitch rests on so-called “portable air conditioners” that operate without a hose or compressor. Yet the DGCCRF reminds that such operation is physically impossible and noncompliant with European standards. Indeed, a real air conditioner necessarily requires a system to vent hot air to the outside.
Abnormally Low, Attractively Priced
The other major red flag lies in the pricing, often set around roughly one hundred euros. Authorities urge consumers to be highly wary of offers that seem abnormally favorable compared with market prices for products in the same category. An abnormally low price and disproportionate promises are the first signs of an offer that’s too good to be true, justifying thorough checks before making any payment.
To guard against these frauds, fraud repression authorities advise carefully verifying the reliability of websites before buying. Make sure there is at least basic security (address starting with “https” and the padlock symbol) and that there are legal disclosures identifying the site’s operator. Already alerted by nearly 700 reports on the SignalConso platform since early June, the DGCCRF has also launched a market-check campaign and invites everyone to report any suspicious practices.
