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Safe shopping · · 2 min read

How to spot a fake online shop

Fake shops pop up around anything that's hard to get. Here are the warning signs, and what to do if you think you've found one.

Whenever something is hard to find, from a new console to a limited trainer drop, fake shops appear offering it in stock and at a great price. They often look professional, and they rely on you being in a hurry. Here's how to spot them.

Warning signs

  • It's in stock everywhere it shouldn't be. If every big shop is sold out and one site you've never heard of has plenty, at a discount, be very careful.
  • The web address is slightly off. Extra words, odd spellings, or an unusual ending to the address are common tricks. Look closely before you trust the name in the logo.
  • The site is brand new. Many fake shops are only weeks old. Free tools like Get Safe Online's website checker can give you a quick idea of how trustworthy a site looks.
  • No real contact details. No phone number, no address, or just a contact form and a free email address.
  • Strange payment options. Bank transfer only, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or a "discount" for paying a way that's hard to reverse.
  • Pressure. Countdown timers, "only 2 left" banners and pop-ups saying other people are buying right now are designed to stop you thinking.
  • Copied content. Product photos lifted from the real brand, spelling mistakes, and terms and conditions that mention a different shop's name.

Fake "back in stock" posts

Scammers know people are hunting for restocks. Be careful with social media posts, messages and adverts saying something is back in stock with a link to buy. Go to the shop directly instead of following the link.

This is one reason Shopwatchr only ever watches the product pages you choose. When we alert you, the link goes to the page you added, not somewhere we picked.

Think you've found one?

Don't enter any details. If you've already paid, contact your bank or card provider straight away. You can report a suspicious website to the National Cyber Security Centre through its website, ncsc.gov.uk, forward suspicious emails to [email protected], and forward scam texts to 7726.

The best defence is the simplest one: if it looks too good to be true, it usually is.

Never miss a restock. Never miss a price drop. Shopwatchr watches the products you want and tells you the moment they're back, or cheaper.

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