Online shoe shopping has never been extremely easy, with retail stores such as Zappos and Nordstrom providing free return shipping and unrivaled customer service.
Unfortunately, it has never been easier to build a bogus website. To help protect novice sneaker lovers from these swindlers, I created this guide that demonstrates a variety of methods for determining whether a website is counterfeit, a scam, or fake.
You will soon be able to determine if the website you are purchasing on is only out to cheat you without even doing a server search, a domain name registration verification, or whatever technical.
The following eight alarm signs should warn you right away that a website is a fraud. I will also show you a fake shoes website list to avoid so that you will not waste your money on such low-quality, fake shoes.
The URL Appears To Be Incorrect Or Suspicious
A valid transaction cannot be expected from a website with the URL “cheapdesignersneakers,” “designershoeswholesale,” or “brand-name-sneakers-outlet.” Some fraud websites, on the other hand, have gotten inventive.
In the picture below, you can clearly see how they got all around the suspect URL issue by using other, apparently wrongly convicted, but quasi URLs.
And if you click on them, you will be redirected to another website, which is a strong indication that the online shopping website is a forgery.
The Website is Written In a Poor English
If an ecommerce website prompts you to wonder whether you are on a web retailer or Engrish.com, you should actually want to close the window.
No legit e-commerce website will indeed publish spelling errors and grammatical errors. Legitimate websites would devote more time and effort to brand names, item names, descriptions, as well as overall content.
Avoid any website that directs you to get your shoe size in the following manner:
There is so much more room for error in product reviews, but be wary if a purchaser reviews “cute flat shoes” when the product is actually a pair of high-heel shoes.
The Product Images Have Been Stolen
If the images of the items on a website are not consistent, it is a huge alarm sign that they were stolen from other websites.
Valid websites always use their own photographs, which are taken by their own photogs. Scam sites, on the flip side, simply copy and paste images from the internet.
Two obvious examples of pictures that were clearly got from other websites are provided below. I have been regular at Bergdorf Goodman for quite a long time, so I know the shoes on the left are original.
The famous person can even be seen cropped out of the real photo in the image down below to the right.
Fraud websites also frequently offer many of the same items with the same images.
Credit Cards Are Not Accepted
It is very simple to just copy and paste credit card pictures onto a website, but they’re only for show on scam websites.
Credit card payments are disliked by scammers since credit card businesses can refund the client’s money if a dispute is submitted.
Keep an eye out for websites that accept Moneygram and Western Union. Scammers can get away with your money by using unknown direct money payment services.
The Offers Appear To Be Too Good to Be True
Christian Louboutins that are limited edition and no longer in production for $205. Let’s get out of here! No, sincerely, leave the website.
The sneakers sent to you will almost certainly be illegally copied or counterfeit, if they are delivered to you at all. The old saying holds true: if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.
The Email Addresses Used for Contact Are All Free
You don’t even need to contact a site that uses a free Gmail email account to realize it is a forgery. If they immediately give you a phone number, call it during office hours and see if anyone answers or not.
If they give you a street address, try looking it up on Google Maps to see whether there is a company at that address.
Be cautious if a site has only a contact form and no other contact information at all.
The Checkout or Payment Page On The Website Does Not Start With “https.”
A URL that begins with “https” must be used for any checkout, payment, or shopping cart page.
If a site requests you to fill in a form and the URL for that site only starts with “http,” don’t fill in it and leave the page right away.
Anybody can hack your information on improperly secured pages, and you could lose a lot much more than your difficult-earned money.
Still Have Reservations? Conduct a Google Search
Zappos, a well-known shoe retailer, has been stated loads of times on the Internet. Look up the seller from which you intend to purchase.
You should also be able to rapidly determine how long the site has been around and which sites connect to it.
Fake Shoe Websites List
If you plan to buy shoes from any of the websites listed below, proceed with caution. They are suspected of stealing item images from other stores, and the sneakers are frequently low-quality Chinese counterfeits.
AliExpress
Ameliazz
AMZ Shoes (Amzshoes)
Annoey
Bagsincart
BeautifulHalo
BeckyDress
Bellelily
Calceus (always be suspicious of retailers using .org domains)
Charryme
Cheerupshoes
Chellysun
Chic Me
Chicindress
Chicwish
Choies
Coochic
DHgate
Discoverfine
Diva New Look
Dress Lily
DressAir
Dresswe
Dudubiz
Eilyken
Elegant Shoe Girl
Fairy Season
Filleshoes
Flamechill
Floralmoda
Forishoes
FSJ Shoes
Fullino
Fullino
Funny Girly
Gift Her Shoes (Gifthershoes)
Girlsintrendy
Hizada
Honey Star
Honeycocoon
IVRose
J20Style
Janenobly
Joy Shoetique
Joygos
Kaaum
Lazajoy
LovelyWears
Loyida
Luckyhrs
MeetYoursFashion
Micasahi
Missgaki
Modlily
Mollyca
Monavogue
MoonMandy
Newinshoes
Oxanne
Pearlfeet (Pearl Feet)
Pearlzone
Pinkfairys
Pinkysmoon
Popsgirl
Putshy
Romwe
RoseGal
RoseWe
Rotita
SammyDress
Sandkini
Shein
Shewin
Shoedoes
Shoespie
Showyone
Sneaker Wholesale
Storenvy
Sundaychoice
TBdress
Teacalgary
Thishoes
Tidebuy
Trend Gal
Tristta
Twinkledeals
Vickymoda
Volajoys
Yeesone
Yokest Shoes
Zaful