Fake online store scam : fonctionnement, signaux et que faire

Shopping scams · médio

Fraudsters build stores imitating well-known brands or invent shops with popular products at very low prices, promoted through sponsored ads, email and SMS.

At checkout the site offers a big discount for Pix or boleto, or harvests card details. The order is "confirmed", sometimes with a fake tracking code.

The product never arrives, arrives counterfeit or is very different. The site vanishes within weeks and reappears under another name.

Sinais / Signs

Prices far below market.
Big discount only for Pix or boleto.
Site address with typos, hyphens or an odd domain.
No company ID, physical address or verifiable customer service.
Store created recently with no complaint history.
Pix goes to an individual or a name different from the store.

Prevenção / Prevention

Type the store's address instead of clicking ads.
Look up the store's company ID and reputation before buying.
Prefer credit or virtual cards, which allow chargebacks.
Check the payee name before confirming a Pix.
Distrust deals received by SMS or email with a link.

O que fazer / What to do

If you paid by card, ask your issuer to cancel and dispute the charge (chargeback).
If you paid via Pix, ask your bank to open a MED (Special Return Mechanism) claim as soon as possible — time matters because funds move fast.
File a police report (many Brazilian states accept online reports) and keep screenshots, receipts, numbers and links.
If a company was involved (store, carrier, lender), file a complaint at Consumidor.gov.br and with Procon.
In the US, report to the FBI IC3 (ic3.gov) and the FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov); if your identity was misused, follow the plan at identitytheft.gov.

FAQ

How can I tell if an online store is trustworthy?

Check company ID, address, site age, reputation on complaint sites and whether the Pix payee matches the store's name.

I bought from a fake site with my card. What should I do?

Block the card, dispute the charge with the issuer and watch your statement for unknown charges.

APWG Year in Review — scams via social media, SMS, email and QR · CERT.br — Cartilha de Segurança para Internet · Consumidor.gov.br · FTC — ReportFraud