Stay Vigilant: Fake Shopping Sites Are on the Rise (and Getting More Convincing)

As we head into the busiest online shopping season of the year, I want to send out a quick reminder to stay extra vigilant when purchasing from unfamiliar websites. Cybercriminals know that people are busy, distracted, and eager to snag a good deal — and unfortunately, fake online stores are becoming more common, more sophisticated, and harder to spot at a glance.

I know this firsthand.

My $50 Dress Lesson

Earlier this fall, I ordered a homecoming dress for my daughter from what looked like a perfectly normal online boutique. Cute dress, good price, decent photos — nothing that immediately raised a red flag.

But the dress never arrived.

When I reached out to customer support, the email bounced. No such address existed. There was no phone number. No chat support. No way to contact a human at all.

I was out $50 with no recourse.

Later, I ran the domain through Gridinsoft’s online website checker (gridinsoft.com/website-reputation-checker). The site’s trust score was 1 out of 100 and flagged as a Suspicious Website. In hindsight, it was obvious… but only after I looked deeper.

And Then It Happened Again (Almost)

A few weeks later, I was about to buy cute Christmas t-shirts for my family from a Facebook ad. Right before checking out, something nudged me to run the site through the same scanner.

Again: trust score 1 — Fake Shop — Blacklisted.

This time, I caught it before paying.

But it was a good reminder that fake websites are getting incredibly convincing. Clean designs. Beautiful product photos. Realistic branding. Even professional-looking checkout pages.

Why Fake Sites Are Increasing

Scammers are taking advantage of:

• Holiday shopping urgency
• Facebook/Instagram ads that look totally legitimate
• Cheap website templates that mimic real stores
• AI-generated product photos that look authentic
• Shoppers who assume that if they see it online, it must be real

The result? More people getting tricked — especially during November–January.

How to Protect Yourself (and Your Family)

Before purchasing from a new or unfamiliar website, take 60 seconds to check these:

1. Look for Real Contact Information

Legitimate businesses always provide:

• • A physical address
  • A working email
  • A phone number or chat

If you can’t find any of those, run.

2. Check Their Domain Trust Score

I highly recommend running the site through a scanner like:
gridinsoft.com/website-reputation-checker.

It gives you a quick trust score, security warnings, and scam indicators.

3. Check Reviews — Not on Their Website

Use Google, Trustpilot, Reddit.
If a site has no real reviews or only 5-star reviews from accounts created last month, beware.

4. Look for Too-Good-to-Be-True Prices

Scammers know how to lure you in — big discounts, limited-time flash sales, urgent countdown timers. If the price seems unreal, it often is.

5. Pay Safely

Never pay by:

• • Zelle
  • Venmo
  • CashApp
  • Direct bank transfer

Use a credit card — they offer fraud protection.

6. Trust Your Gut

If something feels slightly “off,” pause. That moment of hesitation can save you money and stress.

Share This With Friends & Family

I’m sharing my story because it’s becoming way too easy to fall for these fake stores — especially when we're overwhelmed during the holidays.

If it can happen to me — someone who works with websites every day — it can happen to anyone.

Online scams are getting more sophisticated, but so are the tools and habits that protect us. With a quick check and a cautious eye, you can navigate the holiday shopping season safely and confidently.

A little vigilance goes a long way.