How do I spot a fake online store?
Learn checks to make before buying from an unfamiliar store.
A fake store may copy a real brand and show very low prices. A neat design does not prove it is real.
Check contact details, returns, and reviews from separate sources. Some reviews can be fake too.
Use several checks before you decide. AI can make a checklist, but cannot guarantee that a shop is safe.
Try this
- Search the store name with words such as complaint or scam.
- Check its actual web address and contact details.
- Compare reviews from more than one source.
- Read the full price, delivery, and return terms.
- If you buy, consider a credit card with dispute protections.
- Do not pay an unknown seller by gift card or wire transfer.
A message you can copy
Make a checklist for researching an unfamiliar online store. Explain why no single sign proves it is real.
Paste the message into ChatGPT, then fill in any blanks before you send it. ChatGPT opens in a new tab. Opening it does not send the message.
Buddy says
Credit-card dispute protections do not guarantee a refund. Contact the issuer promptly if an order goes wrong.