Don't let these fake shops lure you into a trap! Mimikama cooperation partner Watchlist Internet clarifies.

Photovoltaics and solar energy are in demand among consumers!

Winter is approaching and energy costs are constantly rising. Many consumers therefore want to switch to photovoltaics or solar solutions in order to avoid high electricity costs. When looking for highly sought-after but almost sold out inverters, solar modules or home storage systems, numerous consumers come across online shops like Elektrox Solar. Devices that are sold out everywhere else are still offered here, and are said to be available for delivery in just a few weeks!

But the lucky find soon turns out to be deceptive: fake shops like elektrox-solar.at and horizon-shot.com are taking advantage of the high demand for solar products to lure consumers into a trap.

How to recognize solar and photovoltaic fake shops

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elektrox-solar.at lures consumers into the trap with unbeatable offers and professional design, Image: Screenshot: Watchlist Internet

Beware of fake legal notices

Particularly cunning: Many of these shops have provided complete legal information on their website. The catch is that this data is stolen from real, reputable companies!

Since the imprint data belongs to a real existing company, these shops are difficult to recognize as fake shops. Evidence of elektrox-solar.at's fraudulent intentions can only be found when the invoice is issued. Here it becomes clear that the account information does not match the information provided on the website.

Check the imprint details of online shops carefully! Use Google Search to search for the company name and address separately. If you notice any inconsistencies, exercise caution. These online shops often provide phone numbers that actually work. However, instead of a real company, you only reach the criminal fake shop operators.

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The design is professional and the imprint is fake. Beware of horizon-shot.com! Image: Screenshot Watchlist Internet.

How to recognize fake shops

Fake shops often impress with their professional design and unbeatable offers. Once the money has been transferred, it is often lost and cannot be retrieved by the bank. This makes it all the more important to recognize fake shops early and, above all, before payment is made. Before purchasing from an unknown online store, ask yourself the following questions:

  • How do you pay? If you can only pay in a shop by bank transfer or advance payment, caution is advised. Even if payment is only possible using cryptocurrency (e.g. Bitcoin), you should stay away!
  • Is the offer realistic? A product that is sold out everywhere else is suddenly offered for a good price on an unknown website? A lot of items are reduced or have noticeably uniform or low prices? Be careful, it could be a fake shop!
  • Correct imprint data? Check the legal notice of an online shop before you order! If there is no legal notice or the data is incomplete, this is a warning signal. The imprint data is often stolen from reputable companies. Look for the imprint data and pay attention to any inconsistencies.
  • What do the reviews say? Search for testimonials online. If there are no online reviews of a shop, this is often suspicious, as fake shops only exist for a few days or weeks. If you find negative reviews, exercise caution!

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If the offer is too good to be true, it is often a fake shop. Image: Screenshot Watchllist Internet


Have you already ordered? This is what needs to be done now

If you paid with a credit card or PayPal, the money may still be able to be recovered. Unfortunately, the chances are worse with a bank transfer. In any case: Contact your bank or payment service provider immediately and try to stop the payment!

  • Paid with a credit card? Contact your credit card provider and describe the situation. Request a refund of the amount. There is no legal right to this, but you can seek a goodwill solution.
  • Be careful of unjustified charges on your credit card, as criminals may have gained access to them through your order. According to § 67 ZaDiG 2018, amounts that were debited without your consent must be refunded by your payment service provider!
  • Paid with PayPal? Try to get your money back through Buyer Protection.

Be sure to file a police report.

Advice & help

Check online shops before you fall into the trap with the Fake Shop Detector . Simply enter your online shop address and shop more securely.

Source:

Watchlist Internet
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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 )