Fake online shops often look professional and lure you in with offers that are never delivered. Anyone who orders there can lose money and goods. This guide shows how to recognise a fake shop, which checks are worthwhile and what to do if you have already paid.
Short answer: Check the legal notice (Impressum) for a real address and reachable contact options, avoid advance payment with shops you do not know, and place the domain in context. According to the Verbraucherzentrale NRW (consumer advice centre of North Rhine-Westphalia), a domain under six months old counts as relatively new. A single warning sign proves nothing, so the overall picture matters. Last updated: November 2026 (source status: October 2025).
The most important points
- A missing legal notice is a warning sign, because commercial websites must have one.
- Consumer advice centres advise against paying in advance to unknown shops.
- A young domain is a hint, but not proof.
- Several features together form the picture, not one alone.
- An unclear check result does not automatically mean that a shop is fake.
Why fake shops are hard to spot
Fake shops often look professional. They have home pages, product pictures and payment options that resemble those of real shops. The outward impression is therefore not enough as a check. What counts are details you can verify, such as address, contact options and payment method.
The Verbraucherzentrale also stresses that an unclear result does not mean a shop is fake. In that case, your own check of the legal notice and the contact options remains the most important step.
The legal notice as the first check
Commercial websites must have a legal notice. If it is missing, that may mean the shop does not give a real address or does not want to be found. Check whether the stated address exists and whether you can reach the shop through several routes, such as email, telephone or a contact form.
Also check whether the details on company name, management and registration match. Contradictions between the legal notice, the privacy policy and the footer are a reason to look more closely.
Payment method: avoid advance payment
The Verbraucherzentralen advise against paying in advance to unknown shops. Anyone who transfers money beforehand has hardly any way to get it back if no goods arrive. Where possible, choose a payment method that gives you something to act on in a dispute.
A shop that offers only one payment method should also make you pause. The variety of payment options is not a reliable sign on its own, however, and is only one point within the overall picture.
Placing the domain and hosting in context
The history of a domain gives some hints. The Verbraucherzentrale classifies it roughly, as the following table shows.
| Feature | Classification by the Verbraucherzentrale |
|---|---|
| Domain younger than 6 months | Relatively new. Short lifespans are common with fake shops but are no proof. |
| Domain 6 months to 2 years | Established |
| Domain older than 2 years | Long-standing |
| Many shops on one IP address | May point to copies run by one operator. Shared servers are common, though. |
| Hosting within the EU | Stronger data protection. Not a fake sign in itself. |
| Cloudflare in use | Used by both reputable and dubious shops, relevant only in context. |
Changes to domain data can also be legitimate, for example after a new company name or address. That is why they never count on their own.
What to check concretely before you order
- Compare the legal notice and contact details, and check whether the address really exists.
- Use the Fakeshop-Finder of the Verbraucherzentrale if you are unsure.
- Avoid advance payment with unknown shops and choose a payment method with a way to reverse the payment.
- Take your time, especially when an offer pushes you. In sales periods pressure to order quickly tends to rise, and unreliable shops exploit that.
If in doubt, write a short checklist and work through it before every order from an unknown shop. It takes a few minutes and can save a lot of trouble later.
Frequently asked questions
Is a legal notice enough to identify a trustworthy shop?
No. A legal notice is only one point. Check the address, contact options and payment method together before you order.
Is a shop with a new domain automatically a fraud?
No. A domain under six months old counts as relatively new. That is a hint, which is weighed together with other features.
What about hosting outside Germany?
The country of hosting is not a fake sign in itself. According to the Verbraucherzentrale, hosting within the EU offers stronger data protection.
What do I do if I have already paid?
Contact your bank or payment service at once. Secure receipts, screenshots and the order confirmation. A report to the police can be sensible so that the case is documented.
How reliable is the fake shop check?
It gives hints, but not a final decision. A yellow result does not mean that the shop is fake. Then you check the legal notice and the contact options yourself.
Why a complaint must be documented
If a shop does not deliver, documentation decides how well you can argue your case. Keep the order confirmation, the payment record, your contact attempts and dated screenshots of the shop. Set a deadline for delivery or refund in writing and record when you sent it.
Speak to your bank or payment provider at the same time, because they can tell you which options exist. The steps for a complaint with a legitimate retailer are explained in our guide on complaints about online orders, linked below.
Taking time as a protection
Fake shops often work with urgency, such as a limited stock message or a countdown. Real retailers rarely need you to decide within minutes. A pause before payment is therefore one of the most effective safeguards you have.
- Close the tab, wait a few minutes and check the shop again.
- Look for independent reviews, but read them critically, as ratings can be faked.
- Ask a friend to look at the offer with you before you pay.
So what do you do now?
- Check the legal notice and the contact details of the shop.
- Avoid advance payment and choose a payment method you can reverse.
- Use the Fakeshop-Finder if you remain unsure.
- Keep all documents and raise any problem in writing.
Related reading
- Consumer rights in everyday life: protection against fraud and unfair contracts
- Defective online order: how to complain properly
- Right of withdrawal for online purchases: which deadlines apply
- Spotting fake reviews: how to check online ratings (in German)
- Fraud on marketplaces: warning signs when buying and selling
Sources:
Verbraucherzentrale NRW: glossary on fake shop features (status 23 October 2025, German original)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
