How a Web Design Scam Launched Our Business

It was 2016, and we were wrapping up our first software product for public debut. After 18 months on this project, it dawned on us that we didn’t even have a website to showcase it. While software was familiar, web design was not, so we decided to find someone who could build a website without breaking the bank. After some searching, we landed on a small web design firm. The catch? They were in another country.

A virtual interview assured us that they were a promising small business. They were professional, confident, and ready to go. The co-owners promised a fully completed website hosted on our AWS account. We provided everything they needed, sent the payment, and were told the project would take six weeks, with biweekly check-ins.

By the end of week two, we hadn’t heard a word. A few days later, we finally got one of them on the phone. They blamed a “staff emergency.” We gave them the benefit of the doubt.

Week four passed and still no word. Then, out of nowhere, we received an email saying the project was complete. But when we checked, it was just a default WordPress theme. Total work time? Maybe an hour. That was the last we ever heard from them.

We were furious. We had spent $1,400- 60% upfront- and had nothing to show for it. Our lawyer advised that recouping the money from an international company would be more expensive than it was worth. Terrified and broke, we had no choice but to figure out web design ourselves.

This disaster ended up teaching us invaluable lessons- not just in web design, but in customer service. We always start client meetings by sharing this story because every setback is a learning opportunity. Communication, accountability, and transparency became the core of how we operate.

Without being scammed, we wouldn’t be where we are today. That painful experience forced us to develop skills that have since built a thriving company. It taught us the importance of clear communication, realistic expectations, and integrity in business dealings.

Instead of dwelling on the loss, we channeled our frustration into learning. We built our own website, and to our surprise, it wasn’t just functional- it was good. Soon, other businesses started noticing and asking if we could build websites for them too. What started as a painful mistake turned into the foundation of Webizyte.

We share this story not just as a cautionary tale, but as proof that every failure has a silver lining. That one terrible experience shaped us into who we are today: a company dedicated to doing things the right way, with honesty, transparency, and respect for our clients.