Updated 2 November 2026
In the run-up to Black Friday and Christmas, scam attempts rise sharply. The reason is simple: people are in a hurry, they’re expecting lots of parcels and they’re used to seeing unusual offers.
What a scam looks like
A fake shop. The site looks tidy, prices are half what they are elsewhere, and there are „only 2 left”. After you pay: silence.
A fake delivery notice. „Your parcel is on hold, pay €1.99”. The amount is deliberately small so you don’t stop to think. The goal isn’t the two euros, it’s your card details.
A fake email from your bank. It asks you to „confirm” a payment by logging in to a page that looks like your bank’s.
An ad on social media. An item that’s sold out everywhere is offered cheaply, and you’re asked to pay by bank transfer to a private individual or through a friends-and-family payment app.
What to check before you pay
- The address in your browser: is it really the right domain, not a lookalike with an extra letter? The padlock in the address bar only means the connection is encrypted, not that the seller is honest: fake shops have one too.
- Whether the site shows the company’s details: name, registration number, address. You can check a company number in the official business register in half a minute.
- Whether the price is realistic. Half the price you’ll find anywhere else usually has a reason.
- Whether you can get in touch by phone, not just through a form. A working phone number makes a real difference.
- Whether the reviews aren’t all in the same style and all from the same week.
- Whether the text is free of odd translations and spelling mistakes: fake shops are often generated automatically.
- Whether it clearly says how to return an item and within what period.
How to pay more safely
Use a card rather than a bank transfer: card payments can be disputed. Don’t save your card details in unfamiliar shops. And never enter your details via a link sent by email: open the shop yourself.
- A card is the best option, because chargeback protection applies.
- A bank transfer to a private individual is the worst. Getting the money back is practically impossible.
- A virtual card with a low limit is a handy solution for shopping in unfamiliar stores.
A reputable shop will never ask for a photo of your ID, your card PIN or your online banking login. If it does, close the page.
If you’ve already paid a scammer
- Call your bank immediately and block the card.
- Ask them to start a chargeback: the sooner you do, the better your chances.
- Keep everything: the ad, the messages, the payment confirmation, the website address.
- Report it to the police.
- If you entered your online banking login details, change your password and check your computer.
How technology helps
Safe Money opens your bank’s website in a protected mode, and protection against fraudulent websites stops fake shops from opening at all. Both features are included in all home plans. More about phishing emails in a separate article.
Payment protection and protection against fake shops are already part of the Standard plan. Plus adds a VPN for shopping on public Wi-Fi, and Premium covers up to 20 devices for the whole family.