Online shopping: Consumer advice centers warn against fake shops and payment methods

Online shopping: Consumer advice centers warn against fake shops and payment methods

Consumer advice centers in Germany have recently recorded a notable increase in complaints related to fake shops. According to the Berlin consumer advice center, the number of complaints received in 2023 will be almost six times as high as in 2020. The focus is also on new payment methods such as “buy now, pay later”. On the occasion of World Consumer Day on March 15th, the nationwide “Watch your mice” campaign by consumer advice centers focused on the topic of online shopping.

Dörte Elß, board member of the Berlin Consumer Center, emphasizes that, despite its convenience, careful examination is essential when shopping online. Last year, over 6,900 complaints related to fake shops were registered nationwide. In order to make online shopping safer, consumer advice centers have launched the fake shop finder.

As part of the fake shop finder, consumers can enter shop addresses to get an assessment of whether they are reputable providers. Shop addresses are checked around 200,000 times a month, which led to the identification of a total of 56,500 fake shops on 1.48 million websites checked. The fake shops are rated using a traffic light system.

The consumer advice centers also warn against online shops that delay payment for goods. According to Dörte Elß, these are often just attractive advertising promises. The “buy now, pay later” payment method may seem simple at first glance, but it often hides a bank loan from a third-party provider, which increases the risk of indebtedness for customers. It is recommended to check the contract documents carefully and use alternative forms of payment when shopping online in order to minimize possible risks.