Girl pays $400 for an influencer ‘deal’. She gets a nasty surprise instead
“Absolute garbage.”
A recent video from Bo Grant, known as @marriedtoalunatic on TikTok, is making waves for shedding light on a prevalent “mystery box influencer scam” within the secondhand fashion community. Bo details both her own unfortunate experience and that of another TikTok creator Taylor Smith, who goes by @tsmitthh. Taylor’s story went viral earlier this month, garnering over seven million views.
Taylor’s ordeal began when she paid an influencer $400 for what she was promised would be two trash bags full of lightly worn, high-quality clothes. The influencer had specifically asked her about her needs, knowing she had a lot of options from her “Closet Clean Out.” Taylor, who had several trips coming up, made it clear she was looking for summer clothes and workout outfits.
The appeal was strong, especially since Taylor and the influencer were the exact same size, and Taylor loved watching the influencer’s “Get ready with me” hauls. It seemed like a perfect match, a way to get great pieces at a discounted rate from someone whose style she admired.
Was she in for a shock!
However, after Taylor made the payment, the clothes didn’t ship. Days turned into weeks, with Taylor repeatedly messaging the influencer asking for shipping information. The irresponsible influencer kept making excuses, saying things were “just crazy” but promising the items would be sent out.
This went on for three agonizing weeks, leaving Taylor $400 out of pocket and still without the clothes she had paid for. Understandably frustrated, Taylor finally told the influencer she wanted either her money back or the clothes she had paid for.
After a full month, a single small box finally arrived. What was inside was a far cry from what she had been promised. Bo said that instead of two trash bags full of quality items, Taylor found “absolute garbage.” Among other things, the box contained a full-body velvet jumpsuit, a pair of tennis shoes with their soles peeling off and a bathing suit that was supposed to be white but had turned yellow and even had pieces missing.
Taylor also pulled out a bridesmaid’s dress that was five times too big for her. The only true “summer outfit” was a combination with shorts that looked destroyed and were also way too big, paired with a top that was meant to be tied in the middle, except one of the ties had been cut off.
It was clear at this point that Taylor had been completely scammed
She immediately messaged the influencer expressing her upset who instead chose to double down. Taylor then had to painstakingly break down exactly how the influencer had scammed her, as if they weren’t already fully aware of their deceptive actions. Naturally, the comments section on Taylor’s original viral video exploded with outrage, with many viewers demanding to know the influencer’s name.
In a subsequent update, Taylor revealed she wouldn’t name the influencer, stating that she had eventually gotten her money back and the influencer had told her to do as she saw fit with the items from the mystery box. This revelation sparked a whole new wave of anger from commenters, who were now upset with Taylor for not exposing the scammer. It even led some to question whether the entire story was even real, wondering if it was an elaborate setup.
Bo, in her video, highlighted the importance of accountability, sharing her own experience of being scammed by an influencer named Callie Hines. Bo mentioned that Callie Hines continually changes her profile and usernames, making it difficult for people to hold her responsible. Bo firmly believes that if you don’t call out these scammers by name, you’re essentially giving them free rein to continue deceiving others.
It’s a powerful point, and it really makes you think about the responsibility we have as consumers to protect each other. The main takeaway from this whole messy situation is a crucial one: always check reviews or past buyer feedback before you decide to buy anything, especially from an influencer.
Mystery boxes have become a pretty common trend on social media. The ones from fashion influencers are essentially curated secondhand clothing sales where you’d pay a set price, often ranging from $100 to $500, for a bag or box filled with “lightly worn” designer or high-quality clothes. The big draw here is that influencers promote these as a surprise, supposedly tailored to your specific size, style preferences.
These boxes are a fantastic way to snag premium items at a steep discount — a really appealing prospect for anyone looking to refresh their wardrobe without breaking the bank. However, while the allure of a great deal on designer clothes is strong, the potential for disappointment and financial loss is very real.
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