Online Shopping Scams to Avoid

Most online shopping goes smoothly. But scammers follow shoppers wherever they go, and the tricks have become more polished over time. Fake shops look professional, ads appear in trusted social feeds, and fake delivery texts arrive just when you are expecting a parcel.

The good news is that most scams share a few warning signs. Learn them once and you will spot them again and again.

Fake online shops

A fake shop is a website that takes your money and either sends nothing or sends something far cheaper than advertised. Some copy the look of real brands; others invent a brand from scratch. Many appear for a few weeks, especially around holidays, and then vanish.

Warning signs

Prices far below every other retailer, often on popular or sold-out items.
A newly registered website, or a web address that is a slight misspelling of a known brand.
No real contact details: no physical address, only a contact form or a free email address.
Poor grammar, copied product photos and policy pages that mention a different company name.
Only unusual payment options, such as bank transfer, crypto or payment apps.
Reviews that appear only on the shop's own site, with none anywhere else.

What to do

Search for the shop's name plus words like "scam" or "reviews" before buying. Look for independent reviews on other sites. Pay by credit card or a protected method, so you can dispute the charge if nothing arrives. See our guide to the safest ways to pay online.

Many shopping scams now start with an ad or post on social media. The ad may show a viral gadget, designer goods at a huge discount, or a "closing down sale" from a small business that does not exist. The FTC has reported that social media is a major source of online shopping fraud reports.

Do not assume an ad is trustworthy because it appears on a platform you use every day. Ads are not checked the way many people imagine.
Before clicking "buy", open a new tab and search for the seller independently.
Be wary of comment sections full of praise and no criticism, or with comments turned off.
Watch for videos that show a product doing something that looks impossible.

Too-good-to-be-true prices

A price far below the market is the oldest hook there is. Sometimes it is a fake shop. Sometimes it is a real marketplace listing for a part, accessory or copy rather than the item you think. Read the whole listing, compare prices with reputable retailers, and be extra careful with high-demand electronics, designer goods and tickets. For marketplace-specific advice, see how to spot counterfeit products.

A useful rule: if a deal requires you to act within minutes, pay in an unusual way, or keep it secret, it is not a deal. Pressure and secrecy are tools scammers use to stop you thinking it through.

Fake delivery texts and emails

These messages claim to come from a postal service or courier and say your parcel is held, a delivery failed, or a small fee is due. They include a link to a convincing fake site that asks for your card details or personal information.

Do not click links in unexpected delivery messages, even if you are waiting for a parcel.
Go to the carrier's website yourself, or use its official app, and enter your tracking number.
Carriers do not normally ask you to pay small redelivery fees through a text link.
Delete the message and, if you like, report it as spam or junk through your phone or email provider.

The FTC explains how to recognize and avoid phishing scams.

Fake customer service and refund scams

Some scammers pose as a retailer's support team. They may call about a "suspicious order", answer your complaint on social media from a lookalike account, or appear in search results with a fake support number. They then ask for remote access to your computer, login codes, or payment to "process a refund".

Only contact support through the official website or app you used to order.
Never share one-time passcodes sent to your phone. A real company will not ask for them.
Never install remote-access software at the request of someone who contacted you.

Payment red flags

Stop immediately if any seller or "support agent" asks you to pay by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or a payment app as a personal payment. These methods are very hard to reverse, which is exactly why scammers prefer them. Read the FTC's advice on gift card scams.

On marketplaces, be wary of any seller who asks you to complete the purchase outside the platform. Once you leave, you lose the marketplace's buyer protection.

Fake reviews and paid praise

Scam shops and poor products are often propped up by fake reviews and undisclosed paid endorsements. Learn the signs in our guide on how to spot fake reviews.

If you think you have been scammed

Contact your bank or card issuer straight away. Dispute the charge and ask about blocking or replacing the card.
Change passwords on any account where you used the same password, and turn on two-step verification.
Keep evidence: screenshots of the shop, ads, messages and receipts.
Report it. In the US, report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. USA.gov has a guide on where to report scams. Also report the ad or account to the social media platform.
Watch for follow-up scams. People who have been scammed are sometimes targeted again by "recovery services" promising to get the money back for a fee.

Outside the US, your national consumer protection agency or police fraud reporting service is the right place to report.

Quick checklist

Search for the shop independently before buying.
Compare the price with reputable retailers.
Pay by credit card or a protected method, never gift card or wire.
Do not click links in unexpected delivery messages.
Contact support only through official channels.