The boom in online business is bringing with it an increase in dubious online offers and fake shops.
Fake shops, cold calls and co.: Corona puts rip-offs on the screen - The most important thing to start with:
The coronavirus business means an increase in fake shops, dubious online offers, but also cold calls and telephone sales. The Saxony Consumer Center warns of fraudsters.
Online shops are booming
Public life is increasingly being paralyzed by the corona virus. While offline shopping is limited indefinitely, online business is booming.
“Dubious providers are shamelessly exploiting this extraordinary, extreme situation,” warns Stefanie Siegert from the Saxony Consumer Center. “They don’t miss any opportunity to get consumers’ money.”
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The legal expert assumes that even more dubious online offers and fake shops will soon mix with reputable websites.
“We are observing that many new websites are popping up on which dubious providers offer seemingly sold-out goods such as disinfectants or respiratory masks at very high prices,” Siegert continued. “You want to make big business out of people’s fear. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a fake shop. However, the approach is just as morally reprehensible.”
Beware of dubious shops
Dubious online shops often contain neither an imprint nor a direct contact option for the provider. Payment in advance is usually the only possible method of payment.
At fake shops, customers usually receive no goods after ordering or only receive goods of very poor quality. Once the money has been transferred, there is no return.
Testimonials from other users outside the website can help to assess the seriousness.
Advertising and sales via telephone
Cold calls and telephone canvassing are also increasingly on the agenda again.
“We know of savings investments or credit cards that dubious traders want to sell over the phone - supposedly because cash will soon be devalued.
Of course that’s not the case,” explains Siegert. “Here, too, dubious providers want to get people’s money and data.”
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You don't have to simply accept telephone advertising that you haven't agreed to. Strict rules apply to this in Germany. Report the numbers to the Federal Network Agency. It can switch off phone numbers and impose heavy fines on operators.
“Consumers who have a contract foisted on them over the phone can usually revoke it within 14 days,” explains Siegert.
Source: Saxony Consumer Center
Article image: Shutterstock / By Ascannio
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