Consumer organizations: Beware of unreliable online stores, as fraud is increasing

Always check the reliability of online stores carefully, and warn the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM), the Consumers Association, the European Consumer Center (ECC), the Fraud Helpdesk and the National Online Fraud Reporting Center (LMIO) of the police.

Fraud is increasing

LMIO expects more than 40,000 reports of purchasing and sales fraud this year. At least 14,000 of these reports relate to online stores that were not delivered after payment. The organization has already removed 1,000 malicious web stores from the Internet, more than 30 percent compared to last year.

The Anti-Fraud Helpdesk is also seeing an increase in the average damage caused by fraud in online purchases.

Not good, no money

Fraud reports mainly relate to orders being delivered too late or not being delivered at all. Return costs are often unexpectedly high and in many cases there is no contact option. Refunds are rarely or never given.

With the holidays approaching, no one wants to make a bad purchase or an order that arrives too late or not at all, says consumer director Edwin Van Houten of ACM. “So first check the review carefully before ordering anywhere. With this quick check, you can always filter out scammers or online stores that are not doing well.”