7 Ways Online Shopping Scams Can Hide Behind Familiar Retailer Names

Online shopping scams can copy familiar retailer names, logos, and checkout pages to trick consumers into sharing money or personal information.

Phovoir/Shutterstock A holiday advertisement pops up offering 70% off a product you’ve been considering for months.

The retailer’s name is familiar, the photographs look professional, and the checkout page appears nearly identical to the store’s regular website.

You might even recognize the company’s logo from years of shopping there.

There’s just one problem: the retailer may have absolutely nothing to do with the advertisement.

Online shopping scams have become increasingly convincing because criminals don’t always invent fake businesses from scratch.

Instead, they borrow the names, branding, and reputations of companies consumers already trust.

The financial consequences are substantial.

In an August 2026 consumer alert, the Federal Trade Commission reported that consumers lost more than $95 million in 2025 to scams that began with purchases prompted by social media advertisements.

And the damage doesn’t always end with a missing package.

Some fraudulent websites collect payment card details, passwords, and other information that criminals can use for additional fraud.

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