Woman lost 48,000 euros: How to recognize fake websites

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A woman from Salzburg (48) from Flachgau actually wanted to save money when buying a vignette. But instead, she lost 48,000 euros.
The 48-year-old used a search engine to find a “fake” online store. Believing that she had purchased a vignette for only 96.40 euros instead of the 103.8 euros offered by ASFINAG, she confirmed a so-called SMS-TAN.

However, as she did not receive a confirmation by email but another request to confirm an SMS-TAN, the woman from Flachgau became suspicious and subsequently discovered that almost 48,000 euros had been debited from her credit card account. How the fraudsters accessed the money so quickly is being investigated.
As a result of this incident, the police are warning against “fake stores” and giving tips on how to recognize fraudsters.

Typical characteristics of fake stores:
Unusually low prices: Very low prices for popular products often indicate a dubious supplier and a “bait offer” to attract buyers quickly.
Missing or incomplete imprint information: Reputable sellers provide full information on the company’s identity and accessibility, while fake stores often omit this or use fictitious addresses.
Suspicious payment methods—payment in advance: Fake stores often only offer payment in advance or payment methods that are difficult to trace (such as cryptocurrencies), making it difficult for victims to get their money back.
Inadequate contact options: If only an email address is given, no telephone number is provided, or the contact form does not work, buyers should be sceptical.
Poorly translated content and errors in the text: Much of the content on such websites is poorly translated or full of spelling mistakes, which may indicate an unprofessional origin of the pages.
Fake seals of approval: The seal of approval must be linked to the seal provider. Check the provider’s homepage to see whether the online store has a valid certificate.

Prevention recommendations from the police

There’s nothing to give away on the internet either—beware of cheap offers! If an offer seems too good to be true, it could be a fraudulent fake store. Check the usual prices from other, well-known providers.
Use trustworthy websites: If possible, buy from well-known, established online stores or look for seals of approval and certificates that prove the provider’s trustworthiness.
Read reviews about the store: Research customer reviews on independent portals and look for consistently negative or overly positive comments that could appear fake.
Use secure payment methods: Use secure payment methods such as credit card or payment on account. Avoid unsecured advance transfers to unknown providers.
Check the online store on the Watchlist Internet and Fake Shop Detector websites.
What to do in the event of damage?
Take screenshots of messages, chats, emails, and bank transfer confirmations.
Try to cancel or reverse the payment with your payment service provider.
File a complaint with the police and provide reliable evidence.