The article Reporting fake shops online – this is how it works by Maria Gramsch first appeared on BASIC thinking. You can always stay up to date with our newsletter.
The number of sales platforms on the Internet continues to increase. This also applies to fake online portals run by fraudsters. We will therefore tell you how you can report such fake shops online.
Online trading has experienced an absolute boom, especially during the Corona pandemic. But not only did sales numbers increase, but also the number of fake platforms that criminals distributed across the Internet.
In 2020 alone, online shopping fraud increased 38 percent of all scams reported worldwide a. In 2023 it was almost 42 percent. That’s why it’s important to be vigilant when shopping online. We will explain to you how you can recognize fake shops online and report them online.
Recognize fake shops and report them online – this is how it works
As early as 2023, the consumer advice center set up the so-called fake shop finder to expose fake shops. With the tool you can insert the URL of a respective shop and have it checked by the consumer advice center.
You will receive the result in the form of a traffic light system. Green stands for a shop that has positive characteristics. These include: the country in which the website was hosted, the existence of an imprint or the length of time this website has existed.
But even if the consumer advice center considers a shop to be trustworthy, it always points out that, for example, shipping and return options as well as payment methods should be checked.
If a shop is less trustworthy or not trustworthy at all, it receives a yellow or red rating in the traffic light. It then shows, for example, what signs there are of a fake shop.
Submit a complaint to the consumer advice center
If you have discovered such a fake shop or perhaps even ordered there, you can also contact the consumer advice center. The organization has set up a complaint page for such cases.
There you can, for example, leave information about dubious providers or defective products. You also have the option of reporting fake shops using the consumer advice center’s online complaint tool.
You can also use the tool if you are not entirely sure whether it is a fake shop. If in doubt, you will receive further information from the consumer advice center.
The website “Konsumerschutz.com” also offers you a similar option. There you can report attempted fraud online. However, you don’t just have the option of reporting fake shops. The operators also record and investigate fraudulent emails or phishing SMSes. If the issue is questionable, assistance is also offered.
Also interesting:
- New speed limit study: “Enormous CO2 savings” and fewer accidents
- This is how you can use ChatGPT via WhatsApp
- “Annoying” and “confusing”: AI-generated advertising is not well received
- Fraud: “Buying without a PayPal account” – hardly any protection against new scams
The article Reporting fake shops online – this is how it works by Maria Gramsch first appeared on BASIC thinking. Follow us too Google News and Flipboard.
As a Tech Industry expert, I am deeply concerned about the prevalence of fake shops online and the impact they have on consumers. These fake shops often use deceptive tactics to lure in unsuspecting customers, such as offering incredibly low prices or using fake reviews to build credibility.
One of the most common ways fake shops operate is by creating a website that looks professional and legitimate, but in reality, it is just a front for scammers to steal personal information and money from consumers. They may also use social media platforms to promote their fake shops and reach a wider audience.
To combat this issue, it is important for consumers to be vigilant and do their due diligence before making a purchase online. This includes checking the legitimacy of the website, reading reviews from reputable sources, and verifying the contact information provided by the shop.
Additionally, tech companies and online marketplaces need to implement stricter measures to detect and remove fake shops from their platforms. This includes utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to identify suspicious activity and patterns, as well as collaborating with law enforcement agencies to take down these fraudulent operations.
Overall, the fight against fake shops online requires a collective effort from both consumers and tech companies to protect the integrity of the online marketplace and ensure a safe and secure shopping experience for all.
Credits