How to Spot Fake Retail Websites
Fake retail websites are becoming more common, and they can look surprisingly similar to legitimate retailers with copied logos, product photos, branding and even secure-looking checkout pages.
The FTC specifically warns about scams by fake online retailers. These scams are often promoted through social media ads, search results, and emails and texts, but knowing what to look for can help you avoid giving your money to fraudsters.
Discover how to spot a fake retail website before making a purchase so you can keep your hard-earned money.
What is a fake retail website?
A fake retail website is a fraudulent website that’s designed to look like a legitimate online store. These fake stores often imitate established brands using copied logos and brand photos, but they can also present themselves as entirely new retailers.
Scammers use fake retail websites to obtain:
- Credit or debit card information
- Account login credentials
- Names, addresses, phone numbers and other personal information
- Payments for products that are counterfeit, significantly different from what was advertised, or never delivered
Why can fake shopping websites be difficult to spot?
Fake shopping websites are designed to look like legitimate online stores, which makes them hard to spot if you don’t know what to look for. Here’s why these websites can be so tough to spot:
- Scammers can copy logos, product images, descriptions and other elements from legitimate retailers
- Professional-looking design does not automatically make a website trustworthy
- Fake sites may also use HTTPS and display the padlock symbol. The FTC notes that HTTPS means the connection is encrypted, not that the retailer itself is legitimate
- Social media ads and search results can make fraudulent retailers appear more credible
10 signs a retail website could be fake
Looking out for the warning signs that an online retailer may be fake can help you avoid scams. Here are some tips for how to recognize fake brand websites and lookalike domains.
1. The URL doesn't look quite right
If you’re not looking closely at online store URLs before making a purchase, you’re putting yourself at risk. Fishy URLs are one of the most common warning signs of a fake online retailer, but they’re not always easy to spot.
One tactic scammers commonly use is called a homoglyph attack. This tactic involves purchasing domain names that use similar characters to trick users into shopping at a fraudulent online store. For example, one URL may contain the word “store” while the other uses “st0re.” Large retailers like Amazon typically purchase these similar domain names to prevent these scams, but that’s not always the case.
You should also check that the website starts with “HTTPS,” which means they use encryption. Legitimate retailers will always use encryption, but fake websites may use it too.
2. The prices seem too good to be true
Finding great deals is one of the best parts of shopping online, but sometimes low prices are too good to be true. It’s not unusual to save a few dollars by comparing prices and shopping around, but you won’t usually find high-quality products for a fraction of their retail price.
If you see a deal that seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you do decide to make one of these purchases, you should do extensive research before you buy.
3. You can't find much information about the retailer
When you’re shopping at an online store you’re unfamiliar with, you should always do your research to make sure that the retailer is legitimate. If you can’t find basic information about a retailer, such as their phone number and address, it may be a fake retail website.
Another warning sign is being unable to find any customer reviews or discussions online. When you search for most online retailers, you can find Google reviews and customers sharing their experiences. If you can’t find any information or reviews for a retailer, they may be scammers.
4. The site has strange or inconsistent content
If you’ve shopped online before, you know what an online store should look like. If you notice an online store has strange content, the product photos are blurry, or there are a lot of spelling errors, that’s a warning sign that you may be shopping at a fake online store.
Fake online retailers often tend to make design and content mistakes that you wouldn’t see on trustworthy online stores. If something seems off about a retail website, trust your instinct and be wary of making a purchase.
5. The return and refund policies are missing or suspicious
Trustworthy online retailers clearly outline their return and refund policies to make sure customers know what to expect before making a purchase. These return and refund policies explain how long you have to return an item, whether you’ll be charged any fees and what condition items must be in.
Fake retail websites may have no stated refund policy, or they don’t explain return timelines or shipping costs. If you can’t find these basic details, it’s probably a scam.
6. The retailer only accepts unusual payment methods
Legitimate online retailers may accept unusual payment methods like crypto, but they also accept credit and debit cards from major providers. If a retailer doesn’t accept credit or debit card payments, it’s probably because they’re trying to scam you.
Credit and debit cards offer buyer protection, and merchants have to provide personal information to accept these payments. Crypto is completely anonymous and offers no buyer protection, which is why it’s a popular payment method for scammers.
7. The site creates excessive pressure to buy
It’s no secret that online retailers want you to make a purchase every time you visit their website, but they use subtle tactics to guide you toward making a purchase. Fake retail websites often use excessive tactics to pressure consumers into making a purchase.
If you receive a pop-up that’s difficult to close when you try to exit the website, you might be dealing with a fake online store. These scammers may also make it look like low prices are only available for a very limited time, pressuring you to make a purchase before you research the website.
8. Reviews don't seem trustworthy
Reviews are generally a good way to figure out if an online store is trustworthy, but the fact that anyone can submit a review means it’s important to read them carefully. Fake retail websites will often create dozens or hundreds of fake positive reviews to make their store appear more legitimate on search engines.
You can start by looking at the profiles of some reviewers to see if they’ve reviewed other websites. If the only review is a positive review for this retailer, it’s likely fake. Fake reviews tend to repeat the same language and positive talking points too, so look out for several commenters making the same observations.
9. You reached the website through an unexpected message or ad
Legitimate online stores will advertise on social media and through emails, but these ads can be a warning sign that you’re dealing with a fake retailer. If you receive an unsolicited text message or ad that takes you to an online store, that online store could be fraudulent.
Real online stores will advertise through legitimate channels like social media, and you’ll typically only receive texts or emails if you opt in to them. If you’re receiving unsolicited texts and emails directing you to a website to find great deals, ignore them.
10. The checkout asks for information that doesn't make sense
If you’ve shopped online before, you’re familiar with the checkout process. Online retailers ask you for basic information like your name, shipping address and billing address, as well as your payment information.
If you reach the checkout page and you’re being asked for information that doesn’t make sense, you’re likely dealing with a fake retail website. Legitimate online stores won’t ask you for sensitive information like your Social Security number and you shouldn’t have to enter your date of birth unless you’re buying an age-restricted product. If a retailer asks for unusual details, don’t provide them.
Is a website safe if it has HTTPS?
If a website begins with HTTPS, that means information sent between the browser and the website is encrypted. While legitimate retailers use HTTPS encryption, scammers can also create encrypted websites.
HTTPS should be treated as one security feature, not an indicator that a store is safe. It’s also important to look at the URL, reviews, payment options, policies and other warning signs.
What to do if you bought something from a fake website
If you bought something from a fake retail website, here’s what you should do:
- Contact your bank or credit card issuer if your payment information may have been compromised
- Ask about disputing a fraudulent or unauthorized charge if necessary
- Change your password anywhere you’re using the same password you used on the website
- Monitor accounts for unusual activity
- Save receipts, emails, screenshots, URLs and other records
- Visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov to report suspected scams
Think before you click “buy”
Shopping online is convenient, but it also opens you up to a lot of risks. Knowing how to spot fake retail websites can help you protect your personal information and avoid giving your hard-earned money to scammers.
Before you make an online purchase, spend some time browsing the website and do your research to prevent scams.