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SupportedInternet scamsLast updated: January 15, 2025

Fake Webshop Discounts

Fraudulent online shops and deceptive pricing practices — including fake discounts, inflated reference prices, and copycat shopping websites — are a documented and widespread form of consumer fraud. Regulatory bodies including the FTC, the European Commission, and Europol confirm these practices cause significant financial harm to consumers globally.

What we know

Fake webshop fraud takes several forms. Copycat websites impersonate well-known brands with professional designs, seemingly legitimate contact details, and extremely low prices. After a consumer pays, they receive nothing, receive counterfeit goods, or have their payment details stolen. A separate but related category involves legitimate-appearing retailers that systematically inflate 'original' prices to create fictitious discounts — a practice sometimes called phantom markdowns or false reference pricing.

A 2026 European Commission sweep of 314 online traders found that 30% referenced discounts incorrectly under EU consumer law, 18% used pressure-selling techniques based on false scarcity, and 10% used 'drip pricing' (concealing fees until checkout). The FTC's Consumer Sentinel data and Europol's reporting confirm that fake shopping websites are among the most reported forms of consumer internet fraud, commonly promoted through social media advertisements.

Social media advertising significantly amplifies the problem: fraudulent accounts impersonate real brands on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, offering deeply discounted products to drive traffic to fake checkout pages. The FTC has issued specific consumer alerts warning about social media ads offering brand-name goods at implausible discounts. Consumers who pay are frequently charged for a product they never receive, and in many cases credit card details or personal information are harvested for further fraud.

Consumers can protect themselves by checking URLs carefully, verifying sellers independently before purchase, comparing prices across multiple retailers, and paying by credit card rather than irreversible methods such as bank transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.

Common claims

  • Fake webshops are easy to spot because they look unprofessional.False. Modern fraudulent sites often use professional designs, copied branding, and fake reviews; visual quality alone is not a reliable indicator.
  • If I see a '70% off' ad for a well-known brand on social media it must be legitimate.False. Scammers systematically impersonate brands on social media. Extreme discounts are a common lure.
  • Sale prices shown on e-commerce sites accurately reflect previous pricing.Not always. A 2026 European Commission sweep found 30% of online retailers referenced discounts incorrectly.

Evidence hierarchy

01EU Check Reveals Misleading Sales Practices Online — European Commission2026 EU sweep of 314 traders found 30% showed incorrect discount references, 18% used fake scarcity, and 10% used drip pricing.02Social Media Ad with Super Low Prices — FTC Consumer AlertFTC warning about scammers impersonating real companies on social media with big discounts leading to fake websites.03Online Fraud Schemes: A Web of Deceit — EuropolEuropol spotlight report documenting how criminals create fake websites and fake ads to direct consumers to fraudulent checkout pages.04The Growing Threat of Fake Online Shops — AV-Comparatives2025 AV-Comparatives report on the proliferation and detection of fake online shops, including security testing methodology.

All sources

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