Polish cyber watchdog warns of surge in fake online stores

Poland’s cyber watchdog has reported a sharp rise in fake online stores that mimic trusted brands and platforms, as more consumers shift to internet shopping, the state research institute NASK said.

Consumers should be alert to unusually low prices, limited or unusual payment options, repetitive or uniformly positive reviews, and missing company details such as a tax ID or email address, NASK said.

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CERT Polska, which operates within NASK, received nearly 1,600 reports in 2024 about bogus e-commerce sites selling non-existent goods or stealing banking credentials. It also logged about 14,000 cases of misuse of the image of major platforms such as Allegro and OLX.

The warning comes as 78% of Poles say they prefer to shop online, mainly for clothing, cosmetics, books, electronics and car accessories, according to a September “E-commerce in Poland” report by research firm Gemius.

NASK said cybercriminals build trust by copying logos of well-known brands and using attractive product photos and glowing reviews, often combined with time pressure and emotional manipulation. Some fake stores vanish after a short time, while others deliver items that are inferior or not as advertised.

Consumers should be alert to unusually low prices, limited or unusual payment options, repetitive or uniformly positive reviews, and missing company details such as a tax ID or email address, NASK said.

If fraud is suspected, shoppers should secure their bank accounts, change login data, notify their bank and report the case to police, it added.

(jh)

Source: PAP