Online Shopping Scams

Online shopping scams involve fake stores, fraudulent listings, and deceptive sellers who trick customers into paying for products that never arrive or are significantly different from what was advertised.

Scammers often create professional-looking websites, steal product photos, and advertise unrealistic deals to convince shoppers to make a purchase.

How Online Shopping Scams Work

The Catch

They use fake reviews, copied product images, and professional-looking websites to appear like a legitimate seller.

The Scam

After receiving payment, scammers may disappear, send a fake product, or refuse refunds and customer support.

Protect Yourself

Browse the manual below to learn tips on how to stay safe.

Warning Signs / Red Flags

Prices are much lower than other websites
The website was recently created or has little information
The seller has few reviews or only suspicious reviews
Product photos appear copied from other websites
The website has poor grammar or unusual formatting
The seller pressures you to buy quickly
Payment methods do not offer buyer protection
There is no real customer service information
The product descriptions seem unrealistic or exaggerated
The seller refuses to answer questions about the product

How to Stay Safe

Research the seller and read reviews from multiple sources
Buy from trusted websites and official stores
Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true
Use payment methods with buyer protection
Check website information before making purchases
Avoid clicking shopping links from unknown messages
Compare prices with other legitimate sellers
Look for secure payment options and contact information
Do not share unnecessary personal information
Save receipts and order confirmations

What To Do If You've Been Scammed

Contact your payment provider or bank immediately
Request a refund or dispute the transaction
Save order details, emails, and conversations with the seller
Report the fake website or seller platform
Change passwords if an account was compromised
Monitor your accounts for suspicious activity
Report the scam to consumer protection agencies
Be careful of fake refund or recovery scams

Quick Checklist

Have I researched this seller before buying?
Are the prices unusually low compared to other stores?
Does the website have real contact information?
Are there trustworthy reviews from multiple sources?
Am I being pressured to buy immediately?
Does the payment method offer buyer protection?
Do the product photos and descriptions seem legitimate?
Would I trust this store if I found it randomly online?

Don’t wait until it happens to you.

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