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Online Shopping Scams
Fake online stores take your money and deliver counterfeit goods, nothing at all, or steal your payment information.
$392M
Annual losses (US)
72,000+ annually (US)
Reported victims/year
Report Now
FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
🎭 How Scammers Do It: Tactics
- ▸ Create professional-looking fake e-commerce websites
- ▸ Advertise on social media with deep discounts (80-90% off)
- ▸ Copy product images and descriptions from legitimate retailers
- ▸ Deliver counterfeit or drastically inferior products
- ▸ Collect payment info for future fraud without delivering anything
- ▸ Impersonate real brands with slightly misspelled domain names
🚩 Red Flags: Stop If You See These
⚠ Prices that seem impossibly low compared to other retailers
⚠ No physical address or phone number on the website
⚠ Only accepts wire transfers, Zelle, or gift cards
⚠ Domain was registered very recently (check WHOIS)
⚠ No SSL certificate (http:// not https://)
⚠ Poor spelling and grammar throughout the site
⚠ Reviews are all generic and 5-star with no details
🛡️ How to Protect Yourself
1. Shop only from established, well-known retailers
2. Check domain age using WHOIS before purchasing
3. Read reviews on third-party sites, not just the store itself
4. Pay by credit card for chargeback protection
5. Look for physical address, phone number, and return policy
6. Search "[store name] scam" before making a purchase
📋 How to Report This Scam
Report to FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your credit card company.