The money is gone and the ordered goods never arrive - fraud with fake shops is still booming. This is what the nasty money rip-off looks like:
For weeks our inbox has been overflowing with inquiries about fake shops - no wonder, since fraudsters are in peak season during the holiday season in summer.
Such fake web shops are usually not recognizable at first glance because cybercriminals are becoming more and more sophisticated in their designs. However, there are a few points that point to fake shops. Anyone who wants to buy high-priced branded products online should keep these points in mind to avoid being ripped off.
There are a few points that point to a fake shop, for example:
Limited discount? Every day is the last day for such incredible offers!
If you access the page, you will see a red banner pressuring you to place an order today. But if you want to take the risk and visit the webshop again the next day, you will find that every day is the last day for this sale. The date is simply adjusted automatically. Don't let yourself be unsettled and put under pressure by fake countdowns!
What is still very noticeable are the consistent dumping prices that can be found for every single product. It's definitely worth making price comparisons here. No retailer can afford to sell off their entire range with price reductions of up to -89%.
A reputable dealer should also provide an imprint on the website in order to make the company behind it transparent. If you don't know who you're dealing with, you shouldn't transfer money to them. In most cases, not only are the credit card details gone, but also the money.
Address, contact details and possibly a valid VAT identification number for online shops from the EU should be mandatory in order to check whether it is a genuine dealer. However, anyone who doesn't reveal more than the promise of being a great, world-famous online company doesn't deserve trust. You should also be suspicious of major spelling mistakes.
What's interesting is that all the words here start with a capital letter - marketing gimmick? That cannot be answered at this point. Nevertheless, this seems less serious.
When payment options are limited, alarm bells should ring. Anyone who only accepts credit card payments in advance is very suspicious. And even if various payment options are shown: If you suddenly experience technical difficulties when making the payment and are essentially forced to pay by credit card, you should cancel the payment process immediately.
This trick is often used to obtain bank details, which the fraudsters then use to go on their own shopping spree.
Result:
A purchase recommendation for this shop cannot be made at this point.
No imprint, high-quality products at the lowest prices, only payment by credit card – trustworthy looks different.
I fell for a fake shop – what can I do?
The consumer advice center advises all victims to take the following measures:
- Anyone who has already transferred money should immediately ask their bank reverse the payment . This is usually still possible a few hours after an online order. With other payment methods such as direct debit, the payment can be reversed up to eight weeks after collection. You also have to contact your bank about this.
- All receipts for the online order should be collected and secured. This includes the purchase contract, order confirmation, emails and a screenshot of the offer.
- Legally, such an approach is fraud. have the printed documents checked by the nearest consumer advice center a criminal complaint with the police. This is also possible online .
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 )