Big sale events bring fake stores, fake ads and fake delivery messages. How to shop safely.
Big online sales bring out fake shops too. Scammers set up convincing stores and social media ads with huge discounts on well-known brands, take your payment and send nothing, or something worthless. The FTC warns about these every year.
Signs to look for
- Prices far below everywhere else, especially on popular brands
- A shop you've never heard of, found through a social media ad
- A web address that's slightly off from the brand's real site
- Payment only by bank transfer, gift card, crypto or a payment app
- No real contact details, or reviews that all sound the same
Shop safely
- Go to the store yourself by typing its address, rather than clicking an ad.
- Search the shop's name with words like “scam” or “complaint” before you buy.
- Pay by credit card, which gives you more protection if something goes wrong.
- Keep personal shopping off your work account, and don't use your work email to sign up to stores.
Paid a fake store? Contact your card company straight away, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
