Attention, Berchtesgaden! Fraud through fake shops is increasing!

Attention, Berchtesgaden! Fraud through fake shops is increasing!

The dangers of online shopping have recently arrived in Berchtesgadener Land. A current survey by Schufa shows that one in four respondents in Germany has already been a victim of online fraud. The fake shops that disguise themselves as local shops and offer irresistible bargains are particularly perfidious. These fraudulent websites, which often come from China, offer inferior goods or do not deliver anything at all, as bgland24.de reports.

The spread of such fake shops has increased rapidly on social media. Scammers pretend to be small family businesses offering a “final sale”. Examples such as an alleged fashion store or the “Jewel Palace Munich” are not uncommon here.

The fraudster's scam

The scammers are imaginative and often manage to make their sites look very realistic. They copy well-known brands and offer counterfeit products at unbeatable prices, as the consumer advice center explains on its website. However, after payment, the hoped-for purchase often does not materialize or inferior goods arrive. In many cases, victims have no right to a refund and their money, once paid, is usually lost. What is particularly dangerous is that criminals often access personal data in order to carry out further fraud.

Another reason to be careful: fraudulent shops often disappear quickly and then reappear under new names. “In the case of fake shops, it is very important to check the legal notice and ensure that there is a cancellation policy,” warns the Bavarian consumer advice center. Consumers can also use the consumer advice center's fake shop finder to check the reliability of the online shop.

Current warnings and tips

The warnings are diverse and concern not only fashion and jewelry, but also heating oil offers. Particularly affected sites include premium-heizoel.com, heizoel-check.de and energieheld24. You should also pay attention to payment methods: convenient options such as “invoice” or “Klarna” are often offered, which are then not available. Instead, only advance payment is accepted.

The survey shows that 61 percent of fraud victims suffered financial damage from such fake shops. The majority of fraud cases were less than 1,000 euros, and for 28 percent of victims the damage was between 1,000 and 10,000 euros. Caution is advised here, as identity theft can cause particularly high damage.

To protect yourself, the consumer advice center recommends using secure payment methods such as PayPal or credit card so that you can file a complaint if in doubt. Anyone who has fallen for a fake shop should act quickly: an emergency check provides useful tips on how to preserve evidence and initiate criminal charges.

In conclusion, we should all have a good hand when it comes to online shopping. The possibilities are diverse, but the dangers are also real. The damage caused by such fraudulent methods is often significant. It is therefore advisable to act carefully and always check the information - because safety comes first when shopping!