How to spot a fake online store

Updated September 30, 2026 · by the IsLegitOrNot team

Fake online stores have become very convincing. Many use professional templates, stolen product photos and paid social media ads. These are the signs that give them away.

They find you through ads

Most fake stores get their visitors from social media ads promising huge discounts, "closing down" sales or viral products. If you did not know the shop before seeing the ad, check it before you buy.

The shop sells everything, cheaply

Designer bags next to garden tools next to phone cases, all at a fraction of the normal price, is typical of dropshipping scams and fake stores.

The photos appear elsewhere

Use a reverse image search on a product photo. If the same picture appears on dozens of other shops or on the original brand's website, the store is probably not selling the real item.

The text does not add up

Look for another store's name in the policies, spelling mistakes throughout, addresses that do not exist, or a phone number that never answers.

The domain is new or odd

Extensions like .shop, .top, .xyz or .store are not bad by themselves, but they are heavily used by fake stores because they are cheap. Combined with a brand name and words like "outlet" or "sale", they are a strong warning.

What to do

Check the store with our fake website checker, pay only with a card or PayPal, and keep screenshots of the product page and your order confirmation.