Dubious providers often spread advertising for their offers via social networks. These can be, for example, supposed vouchers for grocers, counterfeit brands or cosmetics.
As our cooperation partner Watchlist Internet reports, advertising often does not deliver what it promises and can even pose risks for consumers. This problem is the focus of the International Fraud Prevention Month (“ICPEN Fraud Prevention Month”) in March 2018. On the occasion of World Consumer Day on March 15th, the Watchlist Internet explains to you what the dangers are, how you can recognize dubious offers and how you can protect yourself can protect against them.
Consumers see different advertisements on social networks. For example, WhatsApp users can receive the message from their contacts: “Look: atgustcheine.com/anniversary .200€ voucher from Spar. They are celebrating their anniversary. I think it's a limited offer. I already got mine.”
Facebook users, in turn, are informed about cheap branded goods or cosmetics via advertising. In all cases, advertising leads to dubious offers. In the case of the voucher competition, for example, consumers pass on their personal data to strangers, in the second case they end up with an online shop that sells counterfeit brands and in the third case the mere disclosure of information leads to an unwanted subscription contract.
Case 1: Fake competitions
There are advertisements for free vouchers from food retailers such as Billa, Lidl or Spar on social networks. Consumers should take part in a competition so that they can receive these. To do this, they have to answer very simple questions, such as “How many people live in your household?” Once you have finished, you will be informed that you have to share the competition with ten of your WhatsApp contacts.
As a result, they receive the message: “Look: atgustcheine.com/anniversary .200€ voucher from Spar. They are celebrating their anniversary. I think it's a limited offer. I've already got mine." Anyone interested who also wants to take part in the competition via WhatsApp message should repeat the same steps. Last but not least, consumers must provide their personal information on the website. The promised voucher is not available for this. Rather, there is a risk that consumers will conclude an unwanted contract that their mobile phone provider will charge for. They find out about this via an SMS that informs them about the contract costs incurred.
How do you protect yourself from fake competitions?
Basically, it is best if you find out who is running it before taking part in a competition. To do this, please see the imprint, “About us” or the contact section of the website. If you cannot find any information about the competition operator, this is a clear indication of a lack of seriousness. In this case you will not take part in the competition. If you find information about the competition operator, find out what others say about them by doing an internet search. If the opinions of consumers are predominantly negative, leave the website and do not provide any data.
Further information on dubious competitions for vouchers can be found here:
250 euro Billa voucher
200 euro savings voucher
500 euro HM voucher
Case 2: Counterfeit brands from the Internet
Product pirates advertise cheap branded products. To do this, they use keywords such as sale or clearance in the advertisements. Consumers who are interested in the offers come to a professionally designed online shop. What you notice is that all products are in stock and discounted. This could basically be explained by the advertised sale or clearance sale. However, the reason for this is different: these are counterfeit brands that are sold here.
Buyers who order these must expect significant disadvantages: the goods are billed in a foreign currency, which leads to additional costs. Customs can confiscate the ordered goods and, if there is no objection, destroy them. If the purchased product arrives, it does not correspond to the actual order. There is no possibility for buyers to enforce their rights against the shop operators because they cannot be reached. Last but not least, the rights holders can take legal action against the buyers of counterfeit brands.
How do you recognize brand counterfeiters?
Online shops that sell counterfeit brands have typical characteristics: They offer every product - usually items that are out of stock everywhere - at low prices and heavily discounted. There is no information about who runs the online shop. Fields such as About Us, Contact Us or Imprint lead to a page that does not provide any further information about the shop operator. Some of the information and information provided by the counterfeiters is written in English or in very poor German. There are no references to mandatory legal provisions, such as the right of withdrawal. If you notice these abnormalities in an online shop, it makes sense to leave it and shop with another provider.
You can find further information about counterfeit trademarks on the Internet here:
Counterfeit trademarks
Subscription traps with cosmetics
Users see advertisements for cosmetics on social networks. You are interested in this and visit the website mentioned. The problem is that you cannot find any further information about the product. You can only see this once you provide your personal information. The disclosure of the data supposedly leads to a valid contract and a delivery of goods. Consumers receive the goods every month and are supposed to pay for them, even though they never agreed to this.
There is no obligation to pay because the subscription trap operators violate the so-called button solution. It stipulates that the button that leads to the paid order must be marked with the words “Order with payment” or another clear wording. Otherwise there is no reason to pay the requested amount.
Have you fallen into the trap?
If you receive goods and are asked to pay for them without entering into a contract, please inform the company that you never placed an order. Have a return label sent to you and return the cosmetics. If the company refuses to comply with the request, you can keep the goods. You don't have to pay the bill for this.
Further information can be found here:
Digital Sourcing
If you enjoyed this post and value the importance of well-founded information, become part of the exclusive Mimikama Club! Support our work and help us promote awareness and combat misinformation. As a club member you receive:
📬 Special Weekly Newsletter: Get exclusive content straight to your inbox.
🎥 Exclusive video* “Fact Checker Basic Course”: Learn from Andre Wolf how to recognize and combat misinformation.
📅 Early access to in-depth articles and fact checks: always be one step ahead.
📄 Bonus articles, just for you: Discover content you won't find anywhere else.
📝 Participation in webinars and workshops : Join us live or watch the recordings.
✔️ Quality exchange: Discuss safely in our comment function without trolls and bots.
Join us and become part of a community that stands for truth and clarity. Together we can make the world a little better!
* In this special course, Andre Wolf will teach you how to recognize and effectively combat misinformation. After completing the video, you have the opportunity to join our research team and actively participate in the education - an opportunity that is exclusively reserved for our club members!
Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )




