The number of fraudulent online shops – so-called fake shops – has risen dramatically in recent years. In Germany alone, consumer protection authorities regularly warn against hundreds of active fake shops. According to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), tens of thousands of complaints are filed each year, with estimated losses in the tens of millions of euros. And many cases go unreported.
Fake shops use a systematic approach:
They copy real brand websites or create convincing fake storefronts.
They display known brand names, logos, and images to gain consumer trust.
They attract buyers with unrealistic discounts or “clearance” sales – often in clothing, electronics, outdoor gear, or sporting goods.
For consumers, this often means: no product, no refund, no recourse – and in many cases, the loss of sensitive payment data.
But fake shops don’t just hurt buyers. Brand owners and online retailers suffer significant damage:
They lose revenue to fraudulent competitors,
face customer complaints and confusion, and
suffer long-term reputational harm that’s difficult to repair.
Fake shops are not just unethical – they are clearly illegal. In nearly every case, multiple legal violations occur:
Fraudulent shops use protected brand names, logos, or lookalikes to impersonate official sellers. This constitutes a clear violation of trademark law – both nationally and under EU/IP law.
Product images, texts, and website layouts are often copied directly from official sites, violating copyright law – regardless of whether the fake shop profits directly.
Fake shops mislead consumers about their identity and services. This violates laws on fair competition and can be prosecuted civilly.
When fake shops collect payments without delivering goods, this constitutes fraud. Depending on the case, data protection, telecom, or consumer laws may also be breached.
The challenge: These operators often act anonymously, across borders, and hide behind offshore registrars, intermediaries, or CDN services that mask their technical infrastructure. This makes legal enforcement more complex – but not impossible.
The good news: Brand owners are not powerless. There are multiple legal, technical, and strategic tools available to fight fake shops.
These may include:
Legal enforcement through cease and desist letters, injunctions, or damage claims;
Takedown procedures targeting hosting providers, domain registrars, or content delivery networks (CDNs);
Notifications to payment providers (e.g. PayPal, Stripe, Klarna) to suspend fraudulent accounts;
and working with specialized monitoring and takedown services to track and remove fake shops globally.
Which combination of steps is most effective depends on the individual case – especially the site’s infrastructure, location, and visibility.
We help brand owners, e-commerce businesses, and retailers develop tailored strategies to detect and remove fake shops – effectively, legally, and with long-term protection in mind.
Are you affected by a fake shop or want to proactively protect your brand?
Contact us – we’ll support you in identifying threats and taking targeted action to secure your brand and your customers.