Is a website selling designer goods at huge discounts legit?
Almost never. Websites offering branded goods at 70-90% off retail are typically selling counterfeits, or will take your money and ship nothing at all.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Counterfeit goods sites are built to look like genuine discount retailers. They invest in professional photography (stolen from real brands), convincing brand logos, fake reviews, and secure-padlock HTTPS certificates — none of which verify the business is legitimate. Prices are set low enough to tempt bargain-hunters but high enough to seem plausible as a sale.
Outcomes range from receiving a poor-quality fake that bears a passing resemblance to the real thing, to receiving the wrong item entirely, to receiving nothing at all. Card details entered on these sites are also at risk of being harvested for separate fraud.
The age and reputation of a website are among the most reliable signals. A site registered within the past 12 months, lacking any verifiable business address, with no findable customer service history, and carrying only five-star reviews that all sound alike is almost certainly fraudulent. Legitimate discount retailers have traceable histories, return policies, and real customer complaints mixed in with positive reviews.
Before buying from an unfamiliar site, check the domain age (tools like WHOIS provide this), search the site name plus 'reviews' or 'scam,' look for the site on Trustpilot or similar independent review platforms, and verify that a real return address exists.
Common red flags
- Prices are 70% or more below known retail value for luxury or branded items
- Site was registered within the past year and has no review history
- No verifiable physical business address or company registration
- Reviews are overwhelmingly five-star and sound templated
- Contact is only through a web form or email — no phone number
- Social media links lead to empty or newly created pages
- Checkout requires a wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift card payment
What to do now
- Check the domain age using a WHOIS lookup tool before purchasing
- Search the site name plus 'review' and 'scam' to find other customers' experiences
- Look the site up on independent review platforms such as Trustpilot
- Verify the business address using a map service to confirm it exists
- If you already ordered and received counterfeits or nothing, dispute the charge with your card issuer
- Report the site to your national trading standards or consumer protection agency
Frequently asked questions
Does HTTPS mean the site is safe?
No. HTTPS only means the connection between your browser and the site is encrypted. It says nothing about the honesty of the business operating the site. Fraudulent sites routinely use HTTPS.
What if I paid by credit card — can I get a refund?
Yes, credit card chargebacks are one of the best protections against non-delivery or misrepresented goods. File a dispute with your card issuer as soon as possible, typically within 60 to 120 days of the transaction.