Be careful on Black Friday: How to recognize fake shops on the Internet
Created: 11/25/2022, 09:49 am
By: Fabian Raddatz
Scammers like to use “Black Friday” to lure customers into a trap.
© Marcus Brandt/dpa
On Black Friday retailers lure with bargains.
But be careful: there are many scammers among them.
How to recognize fake shops on the Internet.
Hanover – A few clicks, pay, done: On Black Friday, November 25, bargain hunters are hoping for the really big deal.
But even fraudsters cannot resist the lure of quick money.
So-called fake shops (counterfeit online shops) have become a mass phenomenon on the Internet, warns the Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office (LKA).
For the criminals, it is a lucrative scam.
They would either ship inferior goods at an inflated price or not even deliver the product after paying in advance.
If those affected threaten to want to reverse the transfer, delivery problems would often be feigned.
Black Friday: This is how you recognize fake shops
With images of products, associated information, general terms and conditions and a fake imprint, fake shops are difficult to recognize at first glance.
The fake online shops can also be copies of real websites.
"They seem serious at first glance," says the LKA.
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In order to dispel customer doubts, the fake shop operators would often advertise with either fictitious or well-known seals of approval, such as “Trusted Shops”.
This means that the fraudulent sites are often difficult to distinguish from those of the real dealers, according to the LKA.
But the experts also have some tips on how consumers can protect themselves on the Internet.
Black Friday tips: how to spot fake shops
Pay attention to the language, numerous fake shops still have problems with the German language.
Although the translation programs have improved in the meantime, the quality on the other subpages is often neglected.
So it is advisable to pay attention to whether the terms and conditions are written in bad German or in another language.
Check the imprint.
Use search engines like Google to find out more about the company name, people, address or telephone number.
In addition, you may also find warnings from other buyers, official bodies such as the police or consumer centers and seal of approval operators.
Map services (including Street View) can also enable an initial assessment of the authenticity of the shop.
If a real online shop was copied by the suspects and placed on the Internet under a similar web address, it is possible that the search will also reveal the provider's real website, which already warns of these fake shops.
Occasionally, manufacturers themselves provide information about reputable providers or fake sites.
Check the commercial register number and sales tax ID: The existence of a specified number can be checked at least free of charge at www.handelsregister.de.
Specific information, however, can only be called up for a fee.
If the number is not assigned, this is an indication of a possible forgery.
The same applies to the sales tax ID, which can at least be checked for validity at https://ust-id-pruefen.de/.
But beware: Positive results do not mean that the shop is real.
Scammers like to misuse such information from real sites.
Just give us a call.
If there is a phone number on the website, call to inquire.
Many fake shops invent phone numbers that lead nowhere.
You may find other phone numbers to contact in online telephone directories or using a search engine.
Don't be fooled by the "S" in https.
The "S" only stands for an encrypted connection.
The customer data you enter will be transmitted securely.
Many years ago, the corresponding certificates could only be obtained with a great deal of effort and testing.
In the meantime, these are also offered free of charge and without examination.
Be careful when paying in advance.
If the shop with numerous logos suggests different payment methods and at the end of the ordering process there is only the option of prepayment - possibly to a bank account abroad - then you should not transfer the money to an unknown seller.
Does the web address match the product being sold?
Again and again, the suspects reactivate old domain names that have already been canceled by other owners in order to be found better in search engines.
For example, if a website whose address suggests a restaurant or architect's office suddenly sells women's handbags or electronic items, vigilance is required.
Cross-check seals of approval.
The criminals like to use invented seals of approval and customer ratings.
Again and again, real logos are displayed illegally on the websites.
If there is a logo, you should click on it to be redirected to the provider's real page and to be able to check the current certificate.
Another indication of a fake shop: fake customer ratings and opinions.
Relying solely on the exclusively positive reviews within a shop is dangerous.
The bargain and availability lure you into the trap.
Professional fake shops do not necessarily lure consumers with offers that are particularly attractive in terms of price, but also with goods at normal prices in order to maintain the appearance of a reputable shop.
In addition, products are often offered that seem to be out of stock in other online shops, for which there are time-limited discounts with a countdown or short-term delivery options.
The same tips also apply to shops on trading platforms.
If the seller there demands payment outside of the platform, you should keep your hands off it.
The purchase is then not secured, and scammers can get your money and personal data by paying in advance.
You can also find detailed tips on fake shops in the guide to cybercrime from the LKA Lower Saxony.
The consumer advice center offers a fake shop finder, which can also provide an initial assessment.
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Fake shops on Black Friday: prosecution difficult
Figures from the LKA Lower Saxony would show that fake shops on the Internet are now a mass phenomenon.
Since 2020, fraudulent sales platforms in the lower four-digit range have been reported to the police every year.
This trend can also be observed for this year, reports the LKA.
From 2020, the amount of damage has risen to almost millions.
So far, this trend has also been indicated for the year 2022.
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Criminal prosecution is difficult because the website servers are often located abroad and the individual fake shops are only online for a relatively short time.
The cash flows often do not flow directly to the criminals' accounts, but rather the scammers use so-called financial agents, who transfer the funds almost anonymously via various payment service providers and thus engage in money laundering.
