How to Spot a Fake Online Shop: 7 Red Flags
Online scam shops are getting more sophisticated. Learn the 7 biggest warning signs to protect yourself from fake webshops.
Fake Shops Are Everywhere
European authorities report a 40% increase in fake online shops since 2024. These scam sites look increasingly professional, making them harder to spot. Here are the 7 biggest red flags.
1. Prices Too Good to Be True
If a shop offers brand-name products at 70-90% discount, it's almost certainly a scam. Real shops can't afford to sell Nike shoes for €29 or iPhones for €199.
2. No Impressum or Contact Details
Legitimate EU shops are legally required to display contact information. If you can't find a physical address, phone number, or company registration number — leave immediately.
3. Brand New Domain
Check the domain registration date using a WHOIS lookup. Scam shops typically use domains registered just weeks or months ago.
4. Poor Grammar and Translations
Many fake shops use machine-translated text with obvious errors. Look for inconsistent language, especially in legal pages.
5. Only Wire Transfer or Crypto Payments
Legitimate shops offer established payment methods (credit cards, PayPal, iDEAL). If a shop only accepts wire transfers or cryptocurrency, your money is likely unrecoverable.
6. Copied Privacy Policy or Terms
Scam shops often copy legal text from other websites but forget to change the company name. Look for inconsistencies.
7. No Reviews on Independent Platforms
Search for the shop on Google, Trustpilot, or CheckShop.eu. If there are no reviews anywhere, or only reviews on the shop's own site, be cautious.
Use CheckShop.eu
Our AI checks all these red flags automatically. Simply enter the shop URL and get an instant trust score with detailed results for each check. It's free and takes just seconds.