As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw an increase in the number of consumers who shopped online, especially on clothing websites. According to the 2020 Annual Retail Trade Survey (ARTS), e-commerce sales increased by 43 percent in 2020–the first year of the pandemic. During this time, fast-fashion sites such as Boohoo, Cider, Rihoas, and Shein gained popularity for selling affordable, trendy, and designer-inspired products worldwide.

Unfortunately, scammers are often one step ahead of us; they impersonate your favorite online shopping website with the goal of stealing personal information. They do this in many ways:

• Stealing credit card information, including bank details if you use a debit card.
• Stealing personal and financial data stored on your computer or phone, which is valuable if sold on the black market. Once your information is sold, it can be resold repeatedly.
• Stealing your identity by hacking your accounts to gain access to personal and financial information. This access allows them to download dangerous malware to gain deeper access to your online life. With your information, they can open retail accounts, credit cards, bank accounts, or even take out a loan in your name.

As online shopping has grown, so too has the number of scammers targeting consumers. According to Statista, in 2020, over 38 percent of all scams were online scams, and in 2023, online scams accounted for 41.9 percent of all scams- a 10.2 percent increase over three years. Our awareness lags behind the creative ways in which scammers target us.

Scammers often create fake websites that closely mimic the appearance and functionality of trustworthy, well-known retailers. Spotting these websites before it’s too late can be difficult; to help you better protect yourself and loved ones you can spot these websites by:

• Checking for suspicious URLs: a secure website will always have “HTTPS” at the beginning of the URL. Be on the lookout for any spelling or grammatical errors for websites not accompanied by “HTTPS.”
• Pay attention to the website design: authentic retailers invest in professional website design, so if you encounter a website with outdated or poor graphics, it’s most likely illegitimate.
• Always look for contact information: legitimate and trustworthy retailers will include clear contact information on their websites including a physical address, phone number, and customer support email.
• Never click on an attachment or “special deal” embedded in the site. We all love good deals, especially when it’s so easy to click “Buy Now.” If the website is offering

expensive or luxury items at a fraction of the cost, exercise caution. Browse on credible sites and verify pricing before proceeding, and search directly for sites to avoid being directed by algorithms.

One well-known shopping site, “Shein,” gained attention in the U.S market during the COVID-19 pandemic. It became so well-known that scammers took advantage and created fake websites that seemed to perfectly imitate the original. One such fake website is sheingonline.shop. Sheingonline copied the layout and graphics from the original Shein brand’s website in efforts to add legitimacy to the fake website’s appearance. SheingoOnline no longer exists but shows how easy it is to manipulate our favorite websites.

Below are some ways that you can protect yourself while online shopping:

• Verify the website’s age: for example, websites such as WHOIS (whois.com), can be used to verify the domain’s age. Newly registered domains could imply that it’s a fake/impersonated website.
• Pay using secure methods: avoid using wire transfers or gift cards because they are essentially cash and can’t be traced; instead, use secure methods like your credit card, which has fraud protection, or secure payment apps like PayPal.
• Check the reviews: many credible shopping sites include customer’s product reviews, look for customer reviews on the website. No reviews are a red flag, proceed with caution if this occurs. Also be cautious of overly positive reviews lacking detail, these may be fake. You can also enter in the search bar the name of the store combined with the word “scam” or “fraud.”
• Use security software: to help block access to fraudulent websites, protect your personal and financial data, and warn you about possible fraudulent sites, install security software.  

Online shopping shouldn’t be scary but relaxing and convenient. Rest assured that there are many ways you can protect yourself from being scammed. In the event that you have been scammed, or are a victim of identity theft, there are resources to help you and others.

1. ftc.gov - the primary platform for reporting fraudulent activities, scams, and bad business practices to the federal government.
2. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - You may report identity theft online at identitytheft.gov or call 1-877-438-4338.
3. Contact your bank immediately if you suspect someone has access to your financial information.

As consumers, it’s crucial to stay vigilant and trust your instincts when using an online marketplace. By slowing down, doing a little research, and following our safety tips—check URLs, verify websites, use secure payment methods—we can protect ourselves from falling prey to these deceptive scams.

You can also contact the Department of Consumer Protection to report fraud and scams. (860) 713-6050 or by email at DCP.complaints@ct.gov.

And as always, pass it on!

This article is written by Abbygail Shaw, the Education and Outreach Intern at the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.

References

Best Antivirus Software 2025 | Get The Top Virus Protection Software Best Antivirus. (2025, January 30). Best antivirus software 2025: Get the top virus protection software. Best Antivirus.https://www.bestantivirus.com/best-antivirus-software-2025

E-Commerce Sales Surged During the PandemicStatista. (2025, January 30). E-commerce sales surged during the pandemic. Statista.https://www.statista.com/e-commerce-sales-surged-pandemic

How to Avoid Scams on Fast Fashion Sites | ExpressVPN Blog ExpressVPN. (2025, January 30). How to avoid scams on fast fashion sites. ExpressVPN.https://www.expressvpn.com/blog/avoid-scams-fast-fashion-sites

Online Purchase Share of All Scams Globally 2023 | Statista Statista. (2023, January 30). Online purchase share of all scams globally 2023. Statista.https://www.statista.com/online-purchase-share-scams-2023