Ausverkauf und Betrug: Geld weg, kein Bike: Fahrrad-Fakeshops surfen die Sale-Welle

Many bicycle shops are running out of stock, indicating the arrival of autumn. Numerous good or even excellent offers are available for mountain bikes and e-bikes. However, fraudulent shops are also riding the sale wave, throwing up deceptive discount deals online, warns the consumer protection portal "Watchlist Internet". Is that unbelievably cheap? - Beware, fraud!

Most fraudulent sites now have professionally designed sites with fake terms and conditions and false contact information, making them difficult to spot at a glance. The first and most important indicator of potential fraud is the price: if it's suspiciously low, it's a red flag. Sometimes, the fake offers are even around 15 percent lower than genuine dealer offers, warn consumer protection experts.

To get a sense of realistic and unrealistic deals, it's recommended to use various price-search engines. Paying by bank transfer? Never and never! Another strong indicator of a fake shop is the payment method. When a fake shop is involved, the only payment method left at the counter is the bank transfer, with all other promised payment options disappearing.

The reason? A bank transfer is almost impossible to reverse. Helpful and important when checking: use the consumer advice center's "Fake Shop Finder". This tool analyzes websites based on various factors and assigns a likelihood assessment (green, orange, or red traffic light) of whether the site is likely to be a fake shop. Fake shop finder?

It kicks off the detective work! In this context, it's crucial to remember that even if a website gets a "green light" from the fake shop finder, it only means the shop hasn't been flagged negatively yet. Nevertheless, check the shipping and return options, especially the secure payment method, or it's best to abandon the deal. Doubtful?

A good rule of thumb is to enter the website address into a search engine or the supposed shop address into a payment service to see if the listed company appears there or maybe somewhere else, or perhaps not at all. This can sometimes reveal warnings from others about the specific shop in the vast network. Dialing or emailing can also make a difference: fakeshops often have no one to reach or no response at all.

If you've fallen into the trap, inform your bank and the police immediately: they might still be able to stop or recover the payment, though the chances of getting a refund are slim for already executed transfers. Additionally, file a police report using your order confirmation, payment receipt, emails, and screenshots of the website. You can either visit a local police station or utilize your federal state's online watch service.