SecNews.gr published a 10-point checklist for spotting fake online shops, which copy real stores to take your payment and card details.
A Greek security news site, SecNews.gr, has published a checklist of 10 signs that an online shop is fake. The core idea is simple. Fake shops are built to look like real stores, and their goal is to collect your payment and your card details. The best moment to check a shop is before you pay, not after.
SecNews.gr put together a guide to help shoppers tell a real store from a scam. The material we have does not spell out all 10 signs, so this article does not list them. It does confirm the main danger: a fake shop can copy the look of a store you might trust, take your money and capture your card information.
Anyone who buys online is a possible target. The risk is higher with shops you have never used, and with stores that reach you through social media ads. If you only buy from sites you already know and type the address yourself, you face less risk, though a quick check never hurts.
The alert box above lists the key steps. They come down to a few habits: question prices that look too good, look the shop up for reviews or scam reports, confirm it has real contact details and a clear return policy, and pay in a way that gives you some protection. A minute of checking can protect your money and your family's savings.
The material does not say how many shoppers have been caught, which shops are involved, or which countries are most affected. It is a general warning, not a report on one specific scam. If you think you paid a fake shop, contact your card provider or bank as soon as possible.
Before you pay a shop you do not know, spend one minute checking its price, reviews, contact details and return policy.
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