Fake Online Store Scams via Klarna / BNPL
How fraudulent online shops exploit Klarna and buy-now-pay-later options to appear credible while leaving victims with debt for goods never received.
Part of: Fake Online Stores
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) services such as Klarna, Afterpay, and Clearpay are integrated into checkout flows on thousands of e-commerce sites, and their presence is widely interpreted by consumers as a signal of legitimacy. Fraudulent stores exploit this trust by enabling BNPL checkout to make their store appear vetted.
Victims who purchase through a BNPL service for non-existent goods can end up owing the BNPL provider money for items they never received, because the BNPL provider has already paid the merchant. Dispute resolution exists but can be slow and is not guaranteed to succeed if the merchant has already received funds and disappeared.
How this scam works on Klarna / BNPL
A fraudulent store is set up on a Shopify-like platform, often selling trending items such as trainers, electronics, or seasonal goods. BNPL integration is added through a straightforward API connection — BNPL providers cannot vet every merchant at the speed new stores are created. The store runs paid social media ads to drive traffic during a peak period, collects orders via BNPL, and ships either nothing or a low-value substitute before deactivating.
Victims then owe BNPL instalments for the full order amount. Some discover the issue only when their first BNPL payment is due weeks after the non-delivery. By the time disputes are filed, the BNPL provider has already disbursed payment to the fraudulent merchant's account.
Common red flags
- Store domain registered within the past few weeks or with no physical business address
- Prices significantly below retail across the entire catalogue
- BNPL offered but no other recognisable checkout options such as PayPal or major card brands
- No genuine contact email, phone, or live chat — only a web form
- Social media profile was created very recently and promotes the store exclusively
- Reviews are sparse, uniformly five-star, and posted within a short time window
- No clear returns policy or the policy contains vague or contradictory language
How to protect yourself
- Check the domain creation date and registered owner using WHOIS before purchasing from an unfamiliar store
- Verify that the store's physical address exists and corresponds to a real business
- Search the store name plus 'scam' or 'reviews' before completing any order
- Understand that BNPL presence does not guarantee legitimacy — it only means the store signed up with the BNPL provider
- If goods do not arrive, raise a dispute with the BNPL provider immediately and document all communication
- Use a credit card where possible — credit-card section 75 or chargeback rights may provide stronger protection than BNPL disputes
How to report it
- Raise a dispute with the BNPL provider (Klarna, Afterpay, etc.) through their app as soon as non-delivery is confirmed
- Report the store to Action Fraud (UK) or the FTC (US) with order confirmation and communication evidence
- Report the store's domain to ICANN's WHOIS Inaccuracy Reporting System and the domain registrar's abuse team
Frequently asked questions
Do I still have to pay Klarna instalments if the goods never arrived?
You should immediately raise a dispute with Klarna rather than pausing payment unilaterally. Klarna has a buyer protection process and can pause instalments while investigating. If the dispute is resolved in your favour, the remaining balance is cancelled. If you stop paying without raising a dispute, your credit score may be affected and debt-collection proceedings can begin.