$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
counterfeit goods online shopping scam
Sellers advertise brand-name products at steep discounts but ship cheap counterfeits or knockoffs that may be unsafe or non-functional.
“online shopping scam”
↑ 184%Key indicators
Usually targetsOnline shoppers
Often hitsSmall business owners
Common regionGlobal
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$120
median reported loss
Typical range$24 – $1.2K
Recovery rate~40%
Annual reports370,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers list popular brand-name products on websites or marketplaces at prices far below retail
2
Buyers receive low-quality imitations made with substandard materials, often with misspelled logos
3
Returns are denied or the seller becomes unresponsive after delivery
What to do first
Report counterfeit products to the brand's official anti-fraud department
Related terms
fake branded goodsknockoff product scamcounterfeit marketplace fraudOnline shopping scamsWebsiteSurgingOnline shoppersBrand-conscious consumersSmall business ownersTech workers and developersCreators and online sellersGlobalfake branded goodsknockoff product scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Sarah, 34, a online shoppers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate online shopping scams situation while using Website. Scammers list popular brand-name products on websites or marketplaces at prices far below retail
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Buyers receive low-quality imitations made with substandard materials, often with misspelled logos
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Returns are denied or the seller becomes unresponsive after delivery
The outcome
Sarah realized something was wrong when luxury or brand-name items priced at 70-90% below retail. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Report counterfeit products to the brand's official anti-fraud department Sarah's experience shows why luxury or brand-name items priced at 70-90% below retail and product photos look slightly different from official brand imagery are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Luxury or brand-name items priced at 70-90% below retail
- Product photos look slightly different from official brand imagery
- Seller has no authorized dealer status or brand verification
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Report counterfeit products to the brand's official anti-fraud department
- ✓File a complaint with the marketplace platform and request a refund through buyer protection
- ✓Report to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center at iprcenter.gov
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The OECD estimates counterfeit goods represent up to 2.5% of world trade, worth hundreds of billions of dollars annually
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Report counterfeit products to the brand's official anti-fraud department
- ✓File a complaint with the marketplace platform and request a refund through buyer protection
- ✓Report to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center at iprcenter.gov
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The OECD estimates counterfeit goods represent up to 2.5% of world trade, worth hundreds of billions of dollars annually
OpenScam research
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. Global has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
Report cross-border scams
econsumer.gov (ICPEN)
International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network portal for reporting cross-border online scams. Reports are shared with consumer protection agencies in 40+ countries.
Interpol financial crime guidance
Interpol
International policing guidance on online financial fraud, romance scams, and investment fraud operating across borders.
Report phishing emails
Anti-Phishing Working Group
Global industry coalition for reporting phishing emails and URLs. Forward phishing to [email protected].
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Online shoppers, Brand-conscious consumers
Geographic concentration
Global
Primary channel
Website — Online shopping scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Online shoppers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The OECD estimates counterfeit goods represent up to 2.5% of world trade, worth hundreds of billions of dollars annually
Source notes
- OpenScam research
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about counterfeit goods online shopping scam
How does the counterfeit goods online shopping scam work?+
Scammers list popular brand-name products on websites or marketplaces at prices far below retail Buyers receive low-quality imitations made with substandard materials, often with misspelled logos Returns are denied or the seller becomes unresponsive after delivery
What are the warning signs of counterfeit goods online shopping scam?+
Luxury or brand-name items priced at 70-90% below retail Product photos look slightly different from official brand imagery Seller has no authorized dealer status or brand verification
What should I do if I encounter counterfeit goods online shopping scam?+
Report counterfeit products to the brand's official anti-fraud department File a complaint with the marketplace platform and request a refund through buyer protection Report to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center at iprcenter.gov
Who is most at risk for counterfeit goods online shopping scam?+
This scam primarily targets Online shoppers, Brand-conscious consumers. It is most commonly reported in Global and typically appears on Website.
Is counterfeit goods online shopping scam getting worse?+
counterfeit goods online shopping scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.