Shopping scams involve fraudsters setting up fake online stores or apps aiming to fool you. Often they are advertised through social media or other genuine sites and yes, these fake stores appear in search engine results. Most or all of these 'fake stores and shops' showcase items at temptingly low prices. Avast's Nyrmah J. Reina shares us info/tips about 'Fake e-Shop scams[/i]

Quote:The holiday season may be over, but cybercriminals aren’t done shopping for victims. Check out how you can stay protected from these scams that put your payment details and personal data at risk.


Our researchers (Avast researchers)  first detected a surge in fake e-shop scams preying on bargain-hunting consumers during Black Friday and Christmas shopping sprees. However, just because the holiday season ended, doesn’t mean that shoppers are off the hook.  

According to the Gen Q4/2024 Threat Report, fake e-shops accounted for 23% of all social media scams. Those are staggering numbers. If you shopped online in the last few months, you might have been one click away from a scammer’s trap. 

The impact goes beyond losing money on a never-arriving package. These scams steal personal data, payment details, and even identities, leaving victims with empty wallets — and sometimes with long-term financial damage. But don’t fret! Here’s how these scams work, and more importantly, how you can help protect yourself.  

More than just a bad purchase

Fake e-shops look like legitimate online stores, but instead of delivering your order, they deliver fraud, financial loss, and identity theft. Something to note is that most fake e-shops follow a tried-and-true formula. Here’s how they operate: 
 

• Step 1: The too-good-to-be-true deal 
  
  - You see an ad for an expensive item at an unbelievable price. 
  - These ads often appear on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and even Google search results. 
  - Many use AI-generated ads and fake reviews to make their sites look more convincing.  
  
  
• Step 2: Fake website, real payments 
  - The scam website looks professional, with stolen images, fake customer reviews, and even trust badges. 
  - Victims enter their credit card information and personal details to complete the purchase. 
  
  
• Step 3: Vanishing act 
  - After payment, the customer never receives the product, or they get a low-quality counterfeit. 
  - The scam site shuts down within weeks, leaving victims with no way to get a refund. 
  
  
• Step 4: Identity theft and fraud 
  - The stolen credit card details are used for unauthorized purchases or sold on the dark web. 
  - Personal data — think email, phone number, and address — is used for future phishing scams or identity theft. 
  

Where are fake e-shops popping up?

Scammers don’t just rely on random website traffic. They use highly targeted methods to trick victims, like: 
 

• Social media ads: Facebook and Instagram are hotspots for fake e-shop promotions. 
  
• Poisoned Google Search results: Scammers manipulate search engines to push fake stores to the top.