Scammers in online shops: Too cheap to be true!

Discounts and promotions attract buyers and often offer the opportunity to purchase the things they are looking for at a reasonable price. Especially during the upcoming Christmas season, many people are drawn to the pages of online shops in the hope of finding cheap gifts for their loved ones.

But be careful! There are dangers lurking between all the possibilities and offers.

The South Hesse fraud commissioners are therefore warning about increasing fraud and rip-offs on the Internet, also in view of the upcoming “Black Friday”.

Criminals operate fraudulent sites to deceive prospective buyers and profit from them. Among other things, they create websites that are similar to existing sites and in many cases give a serious impression at first glance.

The price on these sites is often significantly lower than on other sites. What often initially leads to euphoria often turns out to be a failure shortly afterwards. The operators of these fake shops usually deliver defective or counterfeit goods. As if that wasn't bad enough, customers often receive nothing at all for their money.

A man from Dieburg also had to go through this bitter experience

After his food processor broke down last year, he started looking for a replacement so he could start baking cookies in time for Christmas. He already knew which machine it would be. He narrowly missed a discount campaign at a local electronics store, so he took his request to the Internet.

During his search he came across the online shop of an electronics retailer

The apparently reputable website offered the food processor we were looking for, even with better features than originally sought, for an unbeatable 380 euros. He had never heard the name of the site before, but because the site made a professional impression on him, he trusted the offer. He transferred the money to an account details that were sent to him in the invoice by email. After that, he heard nothing more about his order or the online shop. The food processor he ordered never arrived either.

After he realized that he had been cheated, he filed a report with the fraud commissioner in Darmstadt. He also bought the food processor he had originally chosen, with less features, for 330 euros from a local electronics store. Because of the fraudulent online shop, he paid a total of over 700 euros for the kitchen appliance. What was supposed to be a bargain turned into an expensive purchase.

The company name used on the fake shop actually belonged to an existing company. They have already warned on their social media profiles that fraudsters are using their company names to deceive customers. The investigation into the case is still ongoing.

In southern Hesse alone, several hundred similar cases are reported every month. Due to high demand and comparatively low supply, fraudulent online offers for cheap firewood are currently appearing.

So that you don't fall for such fake shops, the police provide the following tips:

• The first question is how you can identify such sites early when shopping online. Noticeably low prices and large price differences compared to conventional offers should always arouse your suspicion. Compare the prices on well-known and trusted websites as well as local retailers. Under no circumstances should you be tempted to make impulse purchases.
• Check the name of the online shop on search engines for previous reviews from other customers. This often gives you a helpful impression of how satisfied other customers were with the shop.
• You can also find information about known dubious online retailers at the consumer advice center. Many online shops try to express their seriousness with seals of quality. These seals of approval can often be recognized as a quality feature. However, it should be noted that fraudsters also give their fake shops false seals of approval in order to inspire trust.
• If possible, pay for your purchases on account. This gives you the opportunity to check the ordered goods for any defects before paying for them. Even with direct debit, debits can be reversed after a few days. However, transfers you have made can only be reversed at short notice. When buying online, you should also avoid payment services such as Western Union or paysafecard.
• Do not order from online shops where you feel unsure or have doubts. Use local dealers or trusted websites you know to avoid unpleasant surprises.

I fell victim to scammers while shopping online. What should I do?

• If you have made a transfer, contact your bank and find out about the options for reversing the transfer. This is usually possible within a certain period of time.
• Save any data they have related to the scam. This can be, for example, order confirmations, emails, a purchase contract or proof of payment.
• Take the information to the police and file a criminal complaint. We will of course also advise and support you on how to proceed if you suspect that you have become a victim of fraud.

source

South Hesse Police Headquarters

Also read: Warning about these fake Black Friday competitions!