Nearly one-eighth of online shoppers in Germany have been scammed.

Nearly one-eighth of online shoppers in Germany have been victims of fake stores in the past two years. The number of complaints surged by 47% in just one year, highlighting the growing problem of online fraud.

A model enters data into a laptop after checking the sizing of a pair of shoes about to be sold on the online store of a fashion retailer in Berlin, Germany - Photo (illustration): REUTERS

On November 6th, the German Federation of Consumer Organizations (VZBV) published a report based on a survey conducted by the Forsa polling institute from September 1st to 12th with 1,503 people aged 14 and over.

The report found that fake online stores are often designed to look exactly like the real ones, accepting payments but never delivering the goods to customers.

Nearly 70% of consumers who have shopped online in the past two years reported encountering suspicious or fraudulent websites, with 51% experiencing them multiple times.

Complaints about fraudulent online stores have increased sharply in recent years. In 2024, consumer protection agencies recorded more than 10,000 complaints, a 47% increase compared to 2023. In the first three quarters of 2025, this number exceeded 8,000 complaints.

VZBV accuses major online platforms like Google and Meta of bearing greater responsibility in combating fraud, as half of the fake stores they examined had placed ads on these platforms.

Ramona Pop, a member of the VZBV board of directors, emphasized: "Those who profit from advertising cannot escape their responsibilities."

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VNA

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/gan-1-8-so-nguoi-mua-sam-online-o-duc-bi-lua-dao-20251107094347196.htm