How do I recognize fake shops?
Fake shops often send e-mails on behalf of companies that are active in the field of the goods on offer. For example, for hygiene products such as protective masks, a trustworthy company is mentioned in the e-mail, which also supplies pharmacies. If you click on the link in the e-mail, however, you are redirected to a fake site, which is often indistinguishable from the real company site.
Please note the following points:
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offers that are too good to be true are often too. If a product has a much lower price than other suppliers, you should be careful.
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if you have received an email, check the email address. Fraudsters often send from an address that is similar to the real one, for example "service@ebay.de.site" instead of "service@ebay.de".
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search the company name on a search engine and open the website displayed in the search results. Compare the website URL with the link in the email. If there is a difference, you should never make a payment.
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check the imprint. If the imprint is missing or incomplete, be careful.
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for companies, a telephone number is often mentioned in Google. If in doubt, call them and ask them whether the e-mail was really sent by the company.
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if you can only pay in advance, keep your distance if other items on the list are conspicuous.
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if seals of approval from TÜV Süd or Trusted Shops are displayed, please verify the authenticity of the seals by searching for the shop on the page of the seal exhibitors.
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use a search engine to look for ratings of the shop. Serious shops should have good ratings, for example on Google or trustpilot.com.
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do not rely on professional-looking e-mails or websites. Many fake shops are now very well made and cannot be distinguished from real shops in terms of appearance and operation.
If you have already paid to a supposed fake shop, contact the local police immediately.