Contents
Short answer
A single feature rarely proves a shop is legitimate – not even a legal notice (Impressum) or the padlock icon. What counts is the combination: check the domain, legal notice, payment methods, other people’s experiences and trust seals. If warning signs pile up, such as bait prices and prepayment only, better not order.
Warning signs
- Prices well below the usual market price
- Sought-after or scarce goods supposedly only available there
- At checkout only prepayment remains, or you are pushed towards it
- Unusual domain, such as a well-known brand with extra words or an odd ending
- Legal notice missing, incomplete or contradictory
- Commercial register details missing or impossible to confirm
- Copied, flawed or poorly translated terms and conditions
- Trust seals that can’t be clicked or don’t lead to a certificate
- Only perfect reviews, and only on the shop’s own site
- Only a contact form, no reachable address or phone number
Check a shop in 60 seconds
- 1
Look at the domain
Does the address match the shop name? Be careful with brand names plus extras or unusual endings.
- 2
Check the legal notice
Are company name, address, authorised representatives and register details given? Can you find the company independently?
- 3
Check payment methods
Are several payment methods offered – and do they remain selectable at checkout?
- 4
Search shop name + “reviews”
Look for experiences and warnings outside the shop’s site. The Verbraucherzentrale’s Fakeshop-Finder can give an extra assessment.
- 5
Click the trust seal
A genuine seal leads to the certificate at the seal provider. A mere image without a link proves nothing.
- 6
If in doubt, don’t order
If several questions remain open, buy from a retailer you know instead.
Step by step
Example: a games console that’s sold out everywhere is offered 30 percent cheaper in a shop you don’t know. At the last checkout step, paying by invoice disappears and only bank transfer remains.
- 01
Put the offer in context
Compare the price with known retailers. A much lower price for scarce goods is a strong warning sign, but not proof on its own.
- 02
Identify the operator
Check the legal notice and match company name and register number against the German commercial register (Handelsregister or Unternehmensregister). See whether address and company details fit together.
- 03
Look at payment methods carefully
No payment method is safe in every case. With purchase on invoice you pay after delivery. Direct debit and card payments may offer ways to reclaim money depending on the situation; buyer protection schemes have their own conditions. A prepaid bank transfer is usually very hard to recover.
- 04
Read reviews critically
Read reviews on independent sites and look at date and content. Many similar five-star reviews in a short time are suspicious.
- 05
Only order if it feels right
Take screenshots of the offer and legal notice before ordering. If you have doubts, skip the purchase.
Checklist
- The domain fits the shop and doesn’t look like an imitation.
- The legal notice is complete and the company can be confirmed independently.
- Several payment methods remain selectable, not just prepayment.
- Experiences outside the shop’s site have been checked.
- Trust seals lead to a genuine certificate.
- The price is plausible compared with known retailers.
Common mistakes
- Treating a legal notice or the padlock as proof of legitimacy.
- Buying under time pressure because of a countdown or “only 1 left”.
- Trusting reviews that only appear on the shop itself.
- Assuming a particular payment method protects you in every case.
- Ordering via a link from an ad or messenger without checking the shop yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Is a legal notice enough to trust a shop?
No. Fake shops sometimes use invented or copied details. Check whether the company can be confirmed independently.
Is a shop with HTTPS safe?
HTTPS only encrypts the connection. Fake shops use it too. It says nothing about the operator’s legitimacy.
Which payment method is safest?
It depends on the case. Purchase on invoice carries the least risk for you if a legitimate retailer offers it. Other methods offer different ways to reclaim money. Prepayment by bank transfer is especially risky with unknown shops.
How reliable is the Fakeshop-Finder?
It’s a helpful extra check. An unremarkable result is no guarantee – your own check remains important.
I’ve already paid – what now?
Then the immediate steps in our incident help will guide you, for example on contacting your bank and securing evidence.
Sources
Checked on 7 October 2026.