Online Shopping Scams

Online shopping scams trick people into paying for goods that never arrive, are counterfeit, or are very different from what was advertised. Scammers often use fake online stores, impersonate real brands, or create convincing marketplace listings to look legitimate.

Common examples include heavily discounted “closing down” sales, ads for popular items that are hard to find, or social media shops with lots of attractive photos but little real information. On marketplace platforms, a scammer may ask you to pay outside the platform, send a fake payment confirmation, or pressure you to use bank transfer, PayID, or gift cards instead of secure checkout.

Warning signs include: a new website with no contact details, vague return policies, unusual spelling/grammar, prices that seem too good to be true, and requests for payment methods that don’t offer protection. Some scams also harvest your card details — the “purchase” is just a way to capture payment information.

To protect yourself, shop through reputable retailers, read reviews from independent sources, and double-check the website address. Use payment methods with buyer protection (credit card or trusted payment services), and avoid paying by bank transfer or gift cards. If buying through a marketplace, keep all communication and payment within the platform. If something feels off, walk away and report the listing or store.