Shop online safely and avoid fake stores
Fake shops and payment scams cost people billions every year. Learn to tell a real bargain from a trap, and pay in ways that protect you.
Most online shopping is perfectly safe. But fake stores and counterfeit sellers are common — especially in social media ads. These habits keep your money protected.
How to spot a fake store
- Prices too good to be true — a €500 product for €39 is bait.
- Pressure tactics — countdown timers and "only 2 left" are designed to stop you thinking.
- No real contact details — legitimate shops have an address, working support, and a clear returns policy.
- Odd payment requests — bank transfer, gift cards, or crypto cannot be reversed. Walk away.
- A lookalike address like
amaz0n-deals.shop. Search the store name plus "scam" or "reviews" before buying.
Beware slick ads on social platforms: appearing in a big platform's ads does not mean the seller was vetted.
Pay in ways that protect you
- Credit cards usually give the strongest fraud protection and chargeback rights.
- Trusted payment services add buyer protection and hide your card number from the seller.
- Never pay an unknown shop by bank transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency.
At the checkout and after
Check for https:// and the correct spelling of the address before entering card details, prefer guest checkout for one-off purchases, and keep the order confirmation. On marketplaces, keep chats and payments inside the platform — scammers try to move you to private messages precisely to escape its protection. If goods never arrive, dispute the charge with your card provider and report the store via our reporting directory.