Resourceful fraudsters manage time and again to gain the trust of eager customers on the Internet. Not even our editors are safe from the criminal machinations of online crooks. We ourselves actually fell for a fake shop while searching for the cheapest MTB offers currently available online.
The in
BIKE 10/2020
The website mtb-markt.net (now offline) mentioned on page 64 could have tempted us with the offer of the Bulls Copperhead 3S (
here in the BIKE test
) must have struck us as dubious. However, the discount of 300 euros (around 20 per cent) on the 1500 euro hardtail was cleverly chosen - namely not too high - and the shop page was so well done that we didn't notice the fraud. We apologise for this.
Because mistakes are human and it is always necessary to remember the rules, here are the most important tips for recognising a fake shop. We have the
General warnings from the consumer advice centre
supplemented with our own MTB-specific recommendations:
Conspicuous Internet address
Does the shop's well-known web address have a conspicuous extension of the address with other domain endings - such as ".de.com" instead of simply ".de"? Or does the site name not match the content at all (in this case: mountain bikes)? Suspicious! Positive counterexample :
www.liquid-life.de
- the name of the bike shop page contains an abbreviation of the company philosophy and has nothing to do with liquids.
Insecure payment method
Fake shops can often be recognised by the fact that the customer only has the option of paying in advance. This is not customer-friendly and indicates fraud. The safest option is to pay by invoice - after receiving the goods - or to issue a direct debit authorisation. Internet payment services such as PayPal also work.
Low prices and full availability
If there are particularly favourable offers in a shop compared to the usual prices, you should be careful. If models or frame sizes that are out of stock everywhere else are a matter of course and preferably available immediately, you should also be extremely careful. The following applies: If an offer is too good to be true, it probably isn't true!
False seals of approval
Some shops invent their own seals. You can check whether a seal is being used legitimately or actually has real added value. For example, simply by clicking on it. If the seal is not linked to the corresponding certificate of the seal operator, it is probably a fake.
Customer ratings
Customer reviews are sometimes misleading. Exclusively or predominantly extremely positive comments are a warning sign - especially if they contrast with some very negative reviews that indicate fraud.
Imprint
A website must have an imprint. Full stop. But internet scammers now know this too, so fake shop pages often contain an imprint, which usually turns out to be dubious. A reputable legal notice contains comprehensible information about the shop operator - at least a verifiable address, the name of the authorised representative, an email address or telephone number and, if applicable, a reference to the entry in the commercial register.
AGBs
In the past, fraudulent websites were increasingly characterised by bumpy wording and poor translations in the general terms and conditions (GTCs). Nowadays, the texts are simply copied from other shops. Today, you should definitely check the information on the cancellation and return policy for irritating regulations. If the right of cancellation or withdrawal is even explicitly excluded - hands off!
Fallen for: What fake shop victims can do
Anyone who has been taken in by a fake shop and has already transferred money should contact their bank immediately and try to stop the payment. This may still be possible, but depends heavily on the individual case - every second counts.
You should always collect and keep this evidence of online purchases: Purchase contract, proof of order, emails, but also a screenshot of the offer - fake shop sites are quickly shut down again.
In any case, internet fraud is a criminal offence. Victims should contact the nearest consumer advice centre and file a criminal complaint with the police.
Sebastian Brust
Editor
