Tips For Spotting Fake E-commerce Websites & Staying Protected

15^th Mar 2025...

Online shopping has become a part of our daily lives, offering endless choices at fingertips. But not every website is what it seems. Hidden among trusted platforms are deceptive ones, designed to trick shoppers. Knowing what to look for can mean the difference between a great deal and a costly mistake.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you.

How to identify fake e-commerce sites?

Below are some ways to check if the e-commerce website you’re looking at is fake:

1. Too good to be true deals: Scammers know how tempting deep discounts are, especially on premium products. Unrealistically low prices are a red flag. They often lure buyers into unsafe transactions.

2. Malicious pop-ups: Beware of pop-ups urging you to click for exclusive offers or quick deals. They lead to harmful links designed to steal your data or infect your device.

3. Non-traditional payment options: Fraudulent sites may push for payments through wire transfers, cryptocurrency or unfamiliar gateways, as these are harder to trace or recover.

4. Fake reviews: Look closely at product reviews. An overload of overly positive or generic comments can indicate that they’re fabricated to build trust.

5. Domain age: Many fake websites are newly created. You can check the age of a domain using online tools - be cautious if it’s just a few months old.

6. Website flaws: Poor grammar, low-quality images or inconsistent branding are telltale signs of a hastily assembled website, often a hallmark of scams.

Kinds of scams that take place on e-commerce websites

Here are some of the most common types of scams on e-commerce websites:

1. Counterfeit products: Scammers often sell fake products disguised as popular brands. This leaves buyers with substandard or unusable items.

2. Products never get delivered: After payment is made, some sites vanish or fail to deliver the purchased items. Thus, leaving customers with empty hands and no recourse.

3. Identity theft: Fake websites may capture sensitive information like credit card details or personal data during checkout. The data is then used for unauthorised activities.

4. Payment fraud: Fraudsters often manipulate payment systems. This way, they charge customers extra or divert funds without providing the promised product.

5. Product not matching the picture: Some buyers receive items drastically different from what was advertised. They do not offer refunds or exchange options, worsening the situation.

Consequences of e-commerce scams

Getting scammed online can cause a lot of problems. You might lose money that you can’t get back. Your personal information, like your address or bank details, could be stolen and misused. This can create more trouble later. On top of that, it can make you feel upset and worried because your trust was taken advantage of.

Tips to stay protected against e-commerce scams

To stay safe, follow these simple tips before buying anything online:

1. Research the internet: Spend a few minutes searching online to see if the website is real. Look for reviews or comments from other people who’ve shopped there. If you can’t find much about the website or see many bad reviews, don’t trust it. Also, check if the website shows an address, return policy or privacy details.

2. Contact customer service: Send a message or call the customer service team to see if they reply. Real websites usually have people ready to answer questions. If there’s no contact information or no one answers, it’s better to avoid buying from that site.

3. Pay on delivery: If the website offers cash-on-delivery (COD), choose this option. It’s one of the safest ways to shop because you only pay after getting the product. This way, even if the site turns out to be fake, you won’t lose money.

Make the most of the virtual cards offered by Kotak811?

Even if a website looks real, it’s always safer to be extra careful when shopping online. A virtual card helps protect your main account by keeping its details hidden. Kotak811 gives you virtual cards that are easy to use and great for online payments. You can use them for one-time shopping, which makes them a smart way to stay safe and avoid risks while buying things online.

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