Watch out for fake shopping sites that could be scams

There’s been a rise in scammers using fake shopping websites to trick people into buying items that don’t exist.  

Lloyds Bank estimate that tens of thousands of people have been conned out of around £6.6m  after buying things online that were never dispatched.

We’ve seen a 211% increase in card payment disputes in the last year. On average, victims have lost £55 from fake purchases.

Scammers advertise huge discounts on social media ads designed to look like popular brands. One company called SM Wallet created fake sites that looked similar to brands like House of Fraser, Office, and Superdrug.

Those who buy from the copycat sites either never receive what they ordered or get a different item worth much less. One Lloyds customer complained they’d ordered a Dior perfume but received a ring for a child instead.

Fake shopping sites

Some of the most common culprits of these types of scams include:

• SM Wallet
• Fines Jewellery
• Honest Concept Trading Hong Kong HKG
• Zinafotec
• Jimacy

How to get your money back

Less than 30% of those who had been conned contacted their banks to dispute the charges, Lloyds’ data shows.

You should first try asking the retailer for a refund. If they refuse, you can contact your bank – they may be able to help by raising a claim to get the money back.

If you used a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express credit or debit card, you may be able to make a chargeback claim. For this, you’ll need to give your bank the details of the transaction, and a description of what went wrong.

You might be able to raise a Section 75 claim if a chargeback didn’t work. Ask your bank how to do this.

If it’s been eight weeks since you made an official complain to your bank and you haven’t gotten your money back, you can reach out to the financial ombudsman.

Reporting a scam

Reporting scams can save other people from getting tricked. Don’t be embarrassed about reporting a scam – they’re designed so that anyone can fall for them.

You can report the scam to Citizens Advice and they’ll pass information onto Trading Standards who will decide whether or not to investigate.

It’s also a good idea to report scams to Action Fraud on their website or by calling 0300 123 2040.

If you spot an online scam advert, you can report it to the Advertising Standards Authority.

Find out more about how to protect yourself in our guide on how to outsmart online scammers.