Is that online shop real? How to spot a fake retail website
Fake online shops are typically created to capitalise on one of three things: viral products that genuine retailers have sold out of, deep discounts on branded goods (clothing, trainers, electronics), or seasonal demand (Christmas, Black Friday, back-to-school). They're primarily found via paid social media ads on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, but also via Google Shopping.
Outcomes vary: some victims receive nothing and never hear from the shop again; others receive a cheap, counterfeit version of what was pictured; some find their card details are later used for fraud. In all cases, the promised product at the promoted price does not exist.
These sites can look polished — they use stolen product photos, copied 'About' pages from legitimate retailers, and fabricated reviews. Domain age and contact information are the most reliable tells.
🚩 Red flags to watch for
- ▶Prices are dramatically below what the same item sells for everywhere else — typically 60–90% discounts.
- ▶The website domain was registered very recently (check at whois.domaintools.com).
- ▶No physical address, working phone number, or verifiable company registration is listed.
- ▶The 'Contact Us' page only offers a web form or a Gmail/Hotmail address.
- ▶Product images appear elsewhere online under a different brand when reverse-searched.
- ▶Reviews are all 5-star, posted within a short period, with generic phrasing.
- ▶The website URL is slightly different from a well-known brand (e.g. nikeoutletsale.shop vs nike.com).
✅ What to do
- 1Check the domain age (whois.domaintools.com) and search the company name on Trustpilot or Google Reviews before purchasing.
- 2Look for a verifiable physical address and phone number — call it if you're uncertain.
- 3Pay by credit card or PayPal where possible — both provide stronger chargeback rights than debit cards.
- 4If you've paid and received nothing: initiate a chargeback with your card issuer, and report the site to the FTC (US), Trading Standards (UK), or your national consumer protection authority.
📣 Where to report (by country)
🇺🇸 United States
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Action Fraud
- Police Scotland — call 101
🇦🇺 Australia
🇨🇦 Canada
🌍 Everywhere else
- Contact your local police and your bank immediately
- If money was sent, ask your bank about a recall request — act within hours
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Common questions
The site has the padlock icon (HTTPS). Doesn't that mean it's safe?
HTTPS means the connection between your browser and the website is encrypted — it says nothing about whether the website is legitimate. Scam sites use HTTPS routinely. The padlock is not a trust indicator for the site's honesty.
I got a product, but it's not what was shown. What are my rights?
In most jurisdictions, receiving a counterfeit or significantly-not-as-described item gives you chargeback rights under consumer protection law. Contact your bank or card issuer with evidence (photos, the listing, correspondence) as quickly as possible.