Why They Work So Well – and How You Can Spot Them in Seconds
Online shopping often feels like strolling past a glossy storefront—minus the cold wind. Unfortunately, scammers figured this out too: fake shops are popping up everywhere, looking polished and trustworthy while cashing in more money in a few days than a mediocre fence does in a year. Time to expose their tricks.
Why fake shops are so dangerous
• Professional-looking websites can be built in just a few hours.
• Product photos? Simply stolen from manufacturers.
• Quality seals? Screenshot, upload, done.
• Profit? Almost 100%, because nothing is ever shipped.
And the wild part: the risk of getting caught is ridiculously low. Most of these shops vanish within days only to reappear shortly after—same scam, new name.
The 7 most reliable signs you’ve landed on a fake shop
The 7 most reliable signs you’ve landed on a fake shop
- Suspicious domain
Legitimate shops don’t use names like “onlineshopxyz.de.com” or “…xyz.ru”. If the URL feels “familiar but off,” that’s your cue. Scammers often mimic the original domain—with a cheap, sketchy twist. - Suddenly only advance payment
At first, PayPal, credit card, or invoice payment appear available. But on the final checkout page, only one option remains: advance payment. That’s your sign to close the tab like it’s a hot stove. No contact options? No customer service? Then definitely no payment. - The “everything must go” price
If a shop’s prices make even outlet malls jealous, something isn’t right. Especially if every size, color, and variation is magically always “in stock.” Some fake shops now use normal prices to appear credible and capture more victims. Stay alert either way. - Fantasy quality seals
Trusted Shops, TÜV, Norton—sounds legit, right? Too bad these badges can be copied with a screenshot. Quick check: click the seal. If it doesn’t lead to the official verification page → red flag. - Suspiciously perfect reviews
Shop says: “4.9 stars!”
Google says: “0.8 stars… or nothing at all.”
You already know what that means. Never rely on reviews displayed by the shop itself. Always check external sources. - Copied or poorly translated terms & conditions
Many fake shops simply copy T&Cs from other sites or run them through low-quality translation tools. Warning signs: typos, strange phrasing, or references to other countries. - Missing or shady legal notice
Legitimate shops don’t hide. If there’s no legal notice or the information is incomplete—no address, no representative, no proper company details—don’t even think about ordering.
Why fake shops are so profitable
Once the website is live, scammers run Google Ads to appear at the top of search results. Clicks cost money, yes—but since they ship nothing, every “order” is pure profit. These sites run for a few days, disappear, then return under a new domain like nothing happened.
Already been scammed? Here’s what to do
• Contact your bank immediately and try to reverse the transfer (often only possible within hours).
• Save all evidence: screenshots, emails, URLs.
• Check your account and consider filing a police report.
EuroBoxx Tip
To find out who owns a .de domain, use a Whois lookup via DENIC. For .com or .net domains, the Whois lookup at nic.com is your go-to tool.
