How do scammers target frequent online shoppers?
Online shoppers are targeted with fake storefronts, counterfeit product listings, non-delivery scams, and fake return portals because the frequency of purchases creates habits of quick action that scammers exploit.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Frequent online shoppers have established behavioral habits: clicking buy with minimal friction, receiving multiple delivery notifications per week, and managing returns across several platforms. Scammers design their attacks to blend into these habits almost invisibly.
Fake online stores are sophisticated. They use stolen product photos, copied review text, and nearly correct brand names to mimic legitimate retailers. Social media advertising drives traffic to these sites before they can accumulate enough reports to be removed. Products ordered either never arrive, arrive as low-quality counterfeits, or arrive as entirely different items.
Delivery notification phishing exploits the expectation of multiple packages. A text about a 'delivery issue' requiring fee payment or address confirmation looks unremarkable in a week when a shopper has five legitimate packages in transit. The link leads to a credential or payment harvesting site that mimics the carrier's portal.
Fake return portals appear in search results when shoppers search for return procedures for known retailers. These sites collect the product details and customer information provided during the 'return process' and in some cases charge a fabricated 'return processing fee.'
Common red flags
- Online store reached through a social media ad has no verifiable physical address or contact information
- Product price is 60-80% below established retail price with no clear explanation
- Delivery notification asks you to pay a fee to release a package through a link in a text message
- Return portal reached through a search result (not the retailer's direct website) asks for payment
- Checkout only accepts wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards
- No real customer service contact is available after a purchase
What to do now
- Navigate directly to retailer websites rather than clicking links in ads or messages
- Check the URL carefully before entering payment information: look for lookalike spellings
- Pay by credit card when possible — it offers the strongest purchase-dispute protections
- File a chargeback with your credit card issuer for items not received or significantly misrepresented
- Report fake stores to the FTC, your state attorney general, and the platform that hosted the ad
- Use your carrier's official app to track packages rather than clicking notification links
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to buy from a store I found through a social media ad?
It can be, but social media ad platforms have variable vetting standards and fraudulent stores circulate frequently. Before buying from an unfamiliar store, check for an authentic returns policy and physical address, search the store name with 'reviews' or 'scam,' and look for the store on the Better Business Bureau. Pay by credit card for dispute protection.
What is a brushing scam?
A brushing scam occurs when you receive a package you did not order. It typically means a seller used your address to post fake 'verified purchase' reviews on a marketplace. Your address may have been exposed in a data breach. Report unexpected packages to the marketplace and monitor your accounts for unauthorized activity.