Nearly 1 in 8 online shoppers in Germany have been scammed

Nearly one in eight online shoppers in Germany have been victims of counterfeit stores in the past two years, with complaints soaring 47% in just one year, underscoring the growing problem of online fraud.

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

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

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

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

Complaints about fake online stores have increased sharply in recent years. In 2024, consumer protection agencies recorded more than 10,000 complaints, up 47% from 2023. In the first three quarters of 2025, the number was more than 8,000.

VZBV accused major online platforms like Google and Meta of having a greater responsibility to fight fraud, as half of the fake stores they examined had placed ads on these platforms.

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

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VNA

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