Fake shops & ad-driven stores

A social or search ad offers steep discounts and links to an unfamiliar or cloned store. You pay and get nothing, a counterfeit, or a cheap dropshipped item — and your card details may be harvested.

What to do: buy from sites you reach directly, not via ads, and pay by credit card so charges are reversible. Be wary of brand names on odd web addresses and "today only" pressure.