Influencer Jessica Foster defends online business Ecom Hq after it was attacked as a scam
A Versace-loving influencer has returned fire after being accused of promoting an online business that customers claim scammed them out of hundreds of dollars.
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Prominent Melbourne influencer Jessica Foster is accused of plugging an online business course run by an alleged kidnapper that some customers claim is a scam.
Ms Foster has defended Ecom Hq, a company operated by Abdullah Al Kobeissy, against allegations it took money for nothing.
Several people have accused Mr Al Kobeissy and Ms Foster, an influencer who is an affiliate of the online business, of scamming them out of hundreds of dollars for a fake e-commerce course purporting to help boost their online brands.
The Versace-loving glamour girl recently took on critics of Ecom Hq, a company that says it trains people in online marketing methods.
The firm hit turbulence recently when Mr Al Kobeissy was charged with the Queensland kidnapping of Adelaide businessman Eli Dangerfield.
His charges included violent armed robbery, kidnapping, sexual assault and extortion.
Dozens of complaints about the company have surfaced on social media, seemingly from frustrated customers.
They include threats to take legal action against the e-commerce brand for failing to deliver refunds or improved sales for their online businesses.
Correspondence between Ms Foster and several customers links her to the controversial business, which she says did provide customers with the course material they were promised.
“You paid for a service and you receive the service. There is no frauds (sic) involved here lovely,” she said to one.
Ms Foster told another customer: “A refund won’t be applicable unless you follow what we teach you and you see no results.”
Speaking to the Herald Sun, Mr Al Kobeissy denied fleecing students out of up to $1000 each for what some branded a “fake” online course, saying the majority of his students were happy with his service.
“I’m doing things the right way, I’m doing things the legal way, making money the right way, selling products online, teaching people … how to market and advertise and build the economy up in the right way,” he said.
“Part of me being under investigation (for the alleged kidnapping) is to look at my bank account.
“Look at what’s coming into my account, and there’s no such thing as charges for fraud and scams against me.
“I’m working hard for everything, every dollar that I get.”
Mr Al Kobeissy filed a statement of claim, since withdrawn, with the courts in Queensland alleging that dissatisfied customers were slandering his business by sharing complaints about the course that had surfaced on social media.
Ms Foster got caught up in these claims after becoming an ambassador for Ecom Hq’s lesson content, which reportedly helped her market her own successful online store.
Ecom Hq says it specialises in developing marketing for online retailers.
The course material is marketed to “dropshipping” business owners – online stores that do not have their own inventories and rely on third-party suppliers to deliver stock to customers on a needs basis.
It says dissatisfied students are issued a refund within 45 days of purchasing access to the course if they can prove they followed all the lessons provided without seeing improved sales results.
Ms Foster was invited to comment.
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