In the era of dynamic e-commerce development, more and more people decide to shop online. The ease and convenience of this solution are undeniable, but with the growing popularity of online stores, the number of fraudsters who try to extort our money is also growing. How to recognize a fake online store and avoid unpleasant surprises? Here are some good practices worth following.
One of the most common warning signs is, of course, suspiciously low product prices. If the price is significantly different from what the competition is offering, a warning light should go off in your head. Of course, there are promotions and sales, but a permanent offer with prices 50% or 70% lower than the market is certainly suspicious. Here are the first steps you should take:
- check prices in several other reputable online stores;
- pay attention to other users’ opinions about the store.
No contact details
Reputable online stores always provide full contact details, including their registered office address, phone number, and email address. The lack of this information or only providing a contact form should raise your concerns. Good practices:
- check whether the store has full contact details and is listed in the National Court Register;
- try contacting customer service before making a purchase.
No information about the company
Trusted online stores usually provide information about the company behind them, such as NIP, REGON, or KRS number. The lack of this data can be a warning sign.
Suspicious appearance of the website
Fake online stores often have a poor quality website. Language errors, pixelated graphics, and a general lack of professionalism in the design can be signs that you are dealing with a scam.
- pay attention to the quality of texts and graphics on the website;
- check if the page is updated and contains current information.
No reviews or negative reviews
The opinions of other users are a valuable source of information about the store. A lack of reviews or a predominance of negative comments is a sign that you should be careful.
- look for opinions about the store on independent portals and forums;
- pay attention to the date and content of the reviews to make sure they are authentic.
Too many positive reviews
While reviews are an important source of information, overly positive, almost perfect reviews can be just as suspicious as no reviews at all. Fake online stores often post fake reviews to gain customer trust.
Where to look for reviews about online stores?
There are many sites that collect and publish reviews and ratings of online stores. Below are a few of them:
- Opineo.pl – one of the most popular websites in Poland, where users can rate online stores and add detailed opinions about them.
- Ceneo.pl – a website comparing product prices that also allows users to submit reviews of online stores.
- Trustpilot.com – an international website where you can find reviews of online stores from different countries.
- Google Reviews – store reviews and ratings available directly in Google search results.
- Facebook – many online stores have Facebook profiles where customers can leave opinions and reviews.
- Trusted Shops – a service that certifies online stores and allows users to post reviews.
- Skąpiec.pl – another Polish price comparison website that allows users to rate online stores.
- Trusted Opinions Ceneo – Ceneo program in which stores can collect verified opinions from their customers.
No reviews on social media
Social media presence is an important part of building trust with your customers. The lack of profiles on popular platforms like Facebook or Instagram can be a red flag.
Safe payment methods
Secure online stores offer a variety of payment methods, including card payments, bank transfers, and well-known online payment systems such as PayPal, PayU, or BLIK. The lack of cash on delivery options or being limited to one, lesser-known payment method can be a red flag. Avoid stores that accept only one, unknown payment method.
Security certificates on the store website
Reputable online stores care about the safety of their customers, which is why they have SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates, which ensure the encryption of data sent between the user and the website. The lack of such a certificate is a serious red flag. Always check whether the website address starts with “https://” and whether the padlock icon is visible in the browser.
Inconsistent information
Fake online stores often have inconsistent information about products, returns policies, and shipping costs. If you find contradictions in the store’s descriptions or policies, be cautious.
No Return Policy
Every legitimate online store should have a clear and transparent return and complaint policy. Lack of such information or unclear provisions in the regulations may indicate an attempt at fraud.
Check who owns the domain
There are online tools that allow you to check who owns an online store’s domain. Fake stores often register their domains for a short period of time and hide the owner’s details.
- Use domain owner verification tools such as WHOIS.
- Check how long the domain has been registered and whether the owner details are public.
By following all the above tips, you will increase your chances of successful and safe online shopping. Remember that it is always worth taking the time to thoroughly check the store to avoid unpleasant surprises and losing money. Safe shopping!
