A familiar setting does not mean a familiar seller
Fictional example: Lea sees a video of a linen blouse. The advert resembles a post from her favourite brand, but leads to a differently spelled domain. Lea opens the brand’s known website separately and cannot find the offer there. This does not establish every detail of the situation. For her, however, the mismatch is enough to avoid entering payment details on the unfamiliar page and to ask the genuine company about it.
Turn the promise into specific questions
Write down what persuaded you: fabric, price, an alleged clearance sale or a celebrity recommendation. Then ask which of those claims you can check outside the advert. Is there a precise product name? Is the actual seller clear? A video does not reliably demonstrate quality or the ability to deliver. Even when someone appears credible, a recording may have been edited, taken from another context or generated artificially. You need more than a convincing presentation.
Compare the domain and seller using your own route
Read the complete address instead of relying on the brand name shown on screen. Open a known website through your own bookmark or a manually entered address. If the brand is unfamiliar, search for its name and exact domain separately. Examine several results; search pages can contain adverts too. Check whether contact information, seller identity and return details are consistent. You should not normally need to provide personal information just to carry out this initial research.
Treat pictures and comments as clues
The same photograph in several shops may be a shared manufacturer image or an unauthorised copy. An image search therefore provides clues, not a verdict on authenticity. Do not upload private photographs or order records to perform it. With comments, look for specific experiences and their context. Many similar compliments or a high follower count cannot replace verifiable information. The absence of negative comments does not mean that customers have never experienced problems.
Pause and keep only useful evidence
If you remain interested, save the advert with its date, shop address and important promises. Ask customer support found through the website a specific question, such as the fabric composition or return address. A reply is another piece of information, not a guarantee. Buy only when the terms and payment route make sense. You can report apparent deception through the platform’s reporting function; publishing personal information does not help you establish the facts.
Your checklist
The checkboxes are for your own reference. No entries are sent to us. To keep a copy, print the page or save it as a PDF using your browser menu.
Common questions
Does “Sponsored” mean the platform has checked the shop?
The label indicates an advertising placement. It does not give you a promise about product quality, delivery or how your particular order will be handled. Check the seller yourself even when the advert looks professionally made.
Should I immediately share every suspicious advert publicly?
Reporting it through the platform’s designated function is usually more targeted. If warning family members, describe the pattern and remove personal details. Avoid circulating active suspicious links as though they were shopping recommendations.
Do many followers or likes prove that a shop delivers reliably?
No. Those numbers do not establish whether the seller will handle your order properly. Review its business details, credible experiences beyond the advertisement and the actual purchase terms. A professionally designed profile does not replace those checks.
Sources and further information
Primary sources from public authorities, consumer organisations and providers. A source may be in another language; follow the guidance that applies to your service and where you live.
- FTC: Avoid online shopping scamsSource review date:
- FTC: Online ShoppingSource review date:
